BBS in a Box 5/BBS in a Box -Volume V (BBS in a Box) (April 1992).iso/AMUG Info/AppleLink/$ NAUGC91 Bulletin #1

Text File | 1991-08-02 | 15.9 KB | 345 lines | [TEXT/GEOL]

Item    6559075                         29-April-91        09:39PDT

From:   NAUGC                           Natl Apple User Grp, R Cohen,VCA

To:     UG$                             User Groups

Item forwarded by       REYNOLDS4    to SCHADE
                                        U0745
                                        U0070
                                        U0574

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Sub:    $ NAUGC91 Bulletin #1

Attn: User Groups
SentBy: Raines Cohen
From Remote                   $ NAUGC91 Bulletin #1
NAUGC '91 Bulletin #1: (4/28/91)

- please spread the word by reposting this message on other user group forums.
- If you know other user groups that aren't online, please let them know too.
- time for the best airfares is running short! (see TRANSPORTATION, below).  -
Reserve your space at the conference by May 15th and save $10! See RATES. - We
have an 800#! [phone] from the continental U.S. Get the latest -
information by calling. Yes, there is still room, if you act now.

Announcing:

Powwow - the 1991 National Apple Users Group Conference (NAUGC)

Friday through Sunday, June 7 through 9, 1991 at the University of California
at Berkeley

Hundreds of Apple II and Macintosh user group leaders will gather this June to
their national conference. At this sixth annual "gathering of the tribes,"
leaders will:

>Discuss how to make their groups more healthy, profitable, and fun. >Learn of
industry developments their members should know about. >Share their groups'
unique experiences so others may benefit from them. >Explore the possibilities
for collaborative work to help each other.

At this first-ever west-coast holding of the conference, groups can do all
this - and more, in a relaxing environment. And, thanks to generous
sponsorship and university facilities, a weekend at Powwow can cost less than
ever before - as little as $40 for the conference and all meals, $100
including accomodations.

WHY A NAUGC?

For the last five years, Apple II and Macintosh user group leaders have
gathered annually, at National Apple User Group Conferences. These gatherings,
held mainly in the midwest, have provided a meeting ground for diverse groups
to discuss, explore and share their experiences, as well as talk to industry
leaders and vendors.

By exchanging information, groups can better serve their members. Attendees
can learn about the mechanics of leading groups, motivating volunteers,
recruiting members, and the simple mechanics of day-to-day operation, as well
as teach other groups about their unique experiences. In addition, they can
talk about the particulars of the CONTENT of groups: The latest in Mac and
Apple II hardware and software solutions, system software, and ideas. They can
bring together input from their members and influence the industry in ways
impossible for individual groups to do.

Each year's conference is hosted by a different group, in a different
location.

SPECIFIC CONTENT:

Powwow, the 1991 NAUGC, will feature some really exciting discussions and
panels. It will include small workshops as well as large panels and
presentations. Every attendee will be involved in the program - not just
listening, but sharing your concerns, opinions, and experiences.

The goal is not just professional but social - to get to know other user group
leaders better, and build the contacts that you can tap on year-round. Build
inter-group relationships, exchanges, and the like. We have arranged for
entertainment and free-time as part of the conference, so you can explore the
beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and the wonderful Berkeley city and campus.
Weather permitting, a number of sessions, and some meals, will be held
outdoors.

To help attendees better organize and manage their groups, we'll have speakers
from other non-profit organizations in other fields, as well as organizations
that specialize in helping non-profits. You can learn from the many other
communities out there that resemble user groups in many, many ways - but have
decades of experience.

Of particular interest to Macintosh user groups is System 7. Several members
of the development team from Apple will speak, and selected third-party
developers will show new applications that take advantage of 7.0. A series of
sessions will teach how to teach your members about 7.0, and help them through
the upgrade process.

And Apple II groups certainly won't be neglected. A number of sessions will
focus on their needs, and look at HyperCard IIgs and other recent innovations
that are bringing fresh life to the Apple II community. Although Raines Cohen,
the conference chair, is known mostly as a Mac guy, he's had an Apple II since
1979, and started an Apple II users group, the Newton Apple Kids. Keep in
mind, though, that most groups will be Mac groups, and some sessions and
vendors will be of interest primarily to Mac users. We'll do the best we can
to keep a balance.

We want the conference to be useful to community groups, in-house groups, and
professional groups, even though the logistical needs of these types of
organizations differ. We'll have breakouts for large, small, growing, and
shrinking groups, as well as sessions designed to bring them together.

In fact, don't be surprised to see a few PC groups at the conference as well.
So much about user groups really isn't connected to what kind of computer you
use - it's the experience of running a group that we have in common. We can
gain some useful insights into our own community by bringing in "outsiders" to
share their experiences.

Unlike the NAUGCs of past years, Powwow will not include a vendor fair. We
feel there are so many tradeshows going on now that to exhibit would be very
difficult and expensive for many vendors, and of little benefit to the
attendees. Instead, we're having special hospitality suites and presentations
by selected vendors, and integrating some of the one-on-one vendor functions
into the program. We're encouraging developers to focus on giving us technical
information that we can redistribute to groups, as well as general product
information for your benefit.

SPONSORS:

Powwow is being organized by NAUGC '91, an independent organization started by
Raines Cohen, co-founder of BMUG, Newton Apple Kids, BCS/Mac, and currently a
Technical Analyst at MacWEEK magazine. He says he is putting up the money and
effort to host this year's conference to help groups "raise the standards," to
work together to acheive more than they can individually.

"So many groups that I talk to are just getting by, struggling with the
day-to-day details of keeping the group alive, when with a little help they
could be doing so much more - for their members, their communities, and the
industry," Cohen said. "If I can help just one group avoid re-inventing the
wheel, it's worth it for me."

Apple Computer Inc.'s User Group Connection is leading a number of industry
organizations in sponsoring the conference, to make it more affordable and
productive for you, the attending user groups. If you know of any companies
that want to help out, please let us know, and let THEM know about the
conference, as well! There are a number of neat opportunities, including
sponsoring scholarships, meals, hospitality suites, functions, and conference
proceedings advertising.

Developers will be allowed and encouraged to attend the conference, at a
higher rate (so they aren't getting subsidized by vendors). One of the
purposes of the conference will be to help educate developers about user
groups, as well as vice versa, so several panels will address those issues.

RATES:

We at NAUGC91 recognize that most groups cannot afford to send representatives
to the conference, so we are doing our best to make the entire event as
affordable as possible for those paying out of their own pocket. The
University meeting and food facilities help us keep the entire event within
reach of most:

Basic conference, including all meals (Fri. dinner to Sun. lunch): $50
Conference, including meals AND Fri. & Sat. night housing(2 per room): $110
Conference, meals, and accomodations(single): $130

*** SPECIAL EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT: Register by May 15 and SUBTRACT $10! *** - in
other words, just $100 for the entire conference, meals, and room! - *** YOUR
REGISTRATION MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MAY 15 TO QUALIFY ***********

At-the-door registration (all mail-in registrations must be received by May
31): Add $20 to the above-listed rates. Subject to availability. If AT ALL
possible, register early. If you plan to attend but won't be able to pay until
later, let us know, so we can save room for you!

Non-user group-affiliated attendees: Add $50 to the above rates. Apple and
other companies, through their generous sponsorship, are subsidizing the
conference for the user group attendees.

Parking for the duration of the conference: $15 Extra nights (Thursday or
Sunday): $30/night {double}; $40/night {single}

A limited number of scholarships will be available to help needy groups send
representatives. Please let us know if you wish to apply for one, or if you
wish to contribute to the scholarship fund so others can attend.

We encourage more than one representative per group to attend, to get the most
from the conference's multiple simultaneous sessions. We are working on
arrangements for sessions to be audiotaped and transcribed, so you won't have
to miss one session to join another.

If any of your plans are tentative, please let us know. We can offer a full
refund until May 15, 50% until May 31, and none after that.

TRANSPORTATION:

The official conference airline is Northwest Airlines, which offers frequent
service to San Francisco (SFO) from all over the world. They are offering 40%
off full coach fare, and 5% off SuperSaver fares (more restricted and usually
non-cancellable) for Powwow attendees, as well as some discounts for travel
from Canada.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE BEST FARES IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING. WE RECOMMEND YOU BOOK
YOUR FLIGHT NOW FOR THE BEST RATES. IF YOU SEND AN E-MAIL OR CALL US, WE CAN
GUARANTEE YOU A SPOT AT THE CONFERENCE AND A PLACE TO STAY, PROVIDING WE
RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF YOU CAN SAVE AT LEAST $30 COMING OUT
THURSDAY THE SIXTH, GO FOR IT - ONE NIGHT WITH US COSTS THAT LITTLE.

You can call Northwest's meeting services department at [phone] from 7
AM to Midnight Central Standard Time, seven days a week. The code # is 07185.

San Francisco airport is a short drive from Berkeley; our next bulletin will
include airport shuttle information (about $15). Oakland airport (OAK) is
closer, with (nearly) direct subway access to Berkeley, but fewer airlines
serve it, and discount fares are harder to find.

We don't recommend renting a car, unless you are taking a vacation in
conjunction with the conference. We can provide parking, if we know in
advance, for a small fee.

Greyhound and Amtrak both provide service to nearby Oakland on at least a
daily basis. Let us know if you are planning to come by train; you may well
end up on the same train as other attendees, link up with them, and get a
headstart on the conference.

We recommend arriving early in the afternoon of Friday, June seventh, and
departing late afternoon on Sunday, June ninth; however, we can accomodate
arrivals as early as Thursday afternoon and departures as late as Monday
morning, with advance notice (get out and enjoy the Bay Area!). A slight extra
fee will apply ($30/night). All attendees are welcome to attend the regular
Thursday night meeting of BMUG, a local user group, and join that group for
dinner.

ACCOMODATIONS:

The conference will almost entirely take place in and around the U.C. Berkeley
dorms. Accordingly, we strongly encourage all attendees to stay there. The
spacious, recently remodeled rooms, have carpeting, draperies, solid oak beds,
desk, and wardrobes. They most likely bear little resemblance to the dorm
rooms you may remember from your college years.

Bathrooms are shared among others on a floor, but very private, have
individual showers, and are same-sex (except on designated floors for
couples). All facilities are designed to be wheelchair-accessible; please
indicate on the registration form if you need handicapped facilities.

Several swimming and sports facilities are available for the convenience of
attendees. For $2-6, you can swim in Olympic-size pools; play tennis, squash,
handball, and racquetball; and use the weight rooms.

Special services such as child care will be available; contact us for details.

We encourage attendees to stay at the dorms, for the fullest experience of the
conference. We recommend the double rooms for the best rate; we will match you
with a roommate. If you wish to share a room with somebody in particular, both
of you must say so on the form below.

If you prefer, you can stay at the nearby Hotel Durant, just one block away.
It has single rooms at $69/night, and double rooms at $79. We have a number of
rooms reserved for conference attendees; get yours through the main Powwow
number below. In addition, some local user group leaders are offering space in
their homes for attendees who need it.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Call, E-mail, or write us if you have any questions at all. Electronic mail is
preferred, because we can respond fastest. For the next month we will be
checking all E-mail accounts every other day, so you won't need to wait.

Watch your user group mailbox in the first week of May for our mailing. But
don't wait!

NAUGC91 BULLETIN #2, in the first half of May, will contain specific topics
and sponsors, and other useful information. But DON'T WAIT - act NOW so we can
prepare for your visit. If you are interesting in hosting a future NAUGC, let
us know so we can set up for your presentation at the conference.

HOW TO REACH POWWOW:

U.S. Mail: NAUGC91 1442A Walnut #341 Berkeley, CA 94709

Electronic Mail: AppleLink: NAUGC America OnLine: NAUGC {starting May 1},
RAINES until then. CONNECT: RAINES Internet: [e-mail] FIDO:
RAINES COHEN @ 161/444

[phone] or [phone] (from the continental U.S.), 24 hours a day,
voice or fax.

Make all checks payable to NAUGC91. We cannot accept credit cards at this time
(we're working on it).

NAUGC91 is an independent organization, not affiliated with any user group or
any past or future user group conferences. NAUGC91 retains the right to deny
admission to Powwow for any reason. However, NAUGC91 does not discriminate by
age, sex, religion, race, handicap or sexual preference. Schedule, rates, and
content subject to change at any time, without notice.





------- Fill in all _'s and print out below this line to register

Registration form (please enclose check or money order in U.S. funds):

First Name: _ Last Name: _ Middle initial: _

Your Address: _ Your Address: _ Your City,State,ZIP,country: _ Your Phone: _
Your E-mail services & addresses: _

OK to give out your: ___ Name?  ___ Address?  ___ E-mail accounts? ___ Phone?

%% If you are staying in the dorms: %%  %% Sex: _ %% %% If you want a
particular person as a roommate, who? _ %% That person must also specify your
name for you to be assigned. %% %% Handicapped access needed: _ %%

Estimated date/time of arrival: _ Estimated date/time of departure: _

Special Dietary needs: _

Topics you want covered at the conference: _

Topics you can speak on at the conference: _

Have you been to any previous NAUGC? _ If so please write what you liked most
and least about it here: _


----- --- User Group information:

User group name: _ Group Address: _ Group Address: _ Group
City,State,ZIP,country: _ Group Phone: _

Size of group: _ members Age of group: _ years Type of group: _ Apple II   _
Macintosh   _ Multi-computer Type of group: _ Hobby    _ Professional   _
In-house

Group information will automatically be released unless you specify otherwise.

DON'T FORGET TO ENCLOSE YOUR CHECK. WE WILL SEND YOU A RECEIPT, CONFIRMATION,
COMPLETE SCHEDULE, AND TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A WEEK OF RECEIVING YOUR
APPLICATION. SEE YOU AT THE CONFERENCE!

- END -