| John brings up some interesting questions, the most important one in my view is what is the mission or purpose of your user group? In the 1970's we spent all our time "swapping" software like mad - we call it something different today, and explaining to our members what a computer could actually do. In the 80's we saw it necessary to send out newsletters with tons of helpful information, tips, hard and software reviews, and of course a "disk of the Month" to be given as part of membership or sold for a profit. In the 90's we discovered the web and created web pages that at first duplicated newsletters and later replaced them. Today, the Mac has come a long way and our ability to use it to access the internet for all things Macs sort obviates all the prior help stuff. Today there's hardly any topic or question that can't be answered by "Googling" it. So our users have changed, their equipment has changed, the ease of use has changed, and the tenor of our meetings reaches out to a different audience with different needs.
So John, I would be curious as to why your MUG sees the need to continue with an eight page newsletter or look for articles to publish?
In our MUG - the Macintosh Southern Tier (New York) Apple Club (MacSTAC), founded in 1978, we have eliminated our newsletter, our disk of the month, and even our web page. What we have left is a BLOG, and a monthly meeting. And guess what? Our meeting attendance is higher than it has been in years.
Ben Margolius President and Apple Ambassador MacSTAC On Mar 1, 2012, at 10:34 AM, Gary Kampel wrote: Hi John -
Grandma used to say, "If you don't ask you won't get." This is the first step ... asking for assistance.
A
good first source is your UG membership. Have you approached anyone
(not all of them) to help you? This does not mean an announcement at a
meeting, but you identifying some one that might like to try their hand
at writing. You, as editor could, of course, edit it to your liking.
Just remember that the more you "fix" their work, the less they might
want to write for you again.
Most
Apple User Groups have some kind of communication with their members,
either a 'newsletter' or website, where relevant or current articles
appear. With fair and complete attribution as to its source, I think
you'll find most other clubs would be happy to share their knowledge and articles. The Apple Discussion List can help with this. You have joined, haven't you? Click here.
As for "specials on software." I have always preferred the direct approach. Look up (there's that Googeplexing,
again) the kind of software you are interested in. Send a
'business-like' letter identifying you as a representative of a
recognized Apple User Group. Ask for what you want. They may require a product review in your newsletter (or on your website).
Hope this helps.
Gary
----- Forwarded Message -----
HI Gary, I am with the Panhandle Macintosh Users Group and I am also the Apple Ambassador. As an Ambassador I'm trying to assist our newsletter editor with articles to put in to our monthly newsletter. I am having difficulty finding relevant and current and relevant articles to put into our newsletter. Perhaps I missed something when I signed up with your organization, but I just don't know where to look for articles that are good enough to put into our newsletter. Perhaps you can assist me in locating where I should be looking. We also thought that if we could put a few specials on software in the newsletter every month this might also
peek a little interest and make people want to read the newsletter completely, but I have been to the website where specials are listed and we have already placed several of these in the newsletter. Do you have any ideas as to where we can locate additional specials on software. Yours in Macintosh
John Mock <email@hidden>
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