Loadstar 1/001.d81/u.grp.art

Text File | 2022-08-26 | 3KB | 208 lines

Newman V1J-2P8

First of all we would like to extend

a warm hello to all viewers of this

super video magazine " Loadstar".

We are British Columbia's northernmost

Commodore Users Group.  We have a

membership of 32 members and have had

over 20 guests at various meetings.

We meet once each month in the Dr.

Kearney Junior Secondary School at

7.30 P.M. on the second Monday of each

month.



       HOW TO START A USERS GROUP

  If you are unfortunate enough to

live in an area that does not yet have

a local users group, perhaps you

should give consideration to actually

being the instigator of getting one

going.  It's not easy, and it takes a

fair amount of leg work, but the

results can be very rewarding.



   What we would like to do, is out-

line what we did to get our group

started here in Fort St. John, B.C.

   First of all, you probably know of

at least two or three others that have

a Commodore VIC-20 or C-64. It is this

nucleus of users that you can draw on

to assist you in doing the groundwork

to start the group.



    First, contact any selling dealers

in your area, and ask them to put up

a brief hand made poster outlining

your intention to start a users group

and looking for anyone interested to

contact you.  Start compiling a list

of names and phone numbers, and be

sure to keep those who have contacted

you advised as to what is going on, so

they don't lose interest and forget

you. Contact the local newspaper and

see if they will run a short story on

your plans, as well as a notice in the

paper 'club column' outlining that a

club is being formed.



    Once you have half a dozen or so

names, contact a local school or

community group that will probably

let you meet there at little or no

cost.  After all, you want to keep

your costs to a minimum. After you

have secured a place to meet, start

advertising the place and date, and

even if you don't think you have

enough for a club, call the meeting

anyway.  You may be pleasantly sur-

prised at how many turn out.



   At your first meeting, try to keep

the business end of the meeting to a

minimum, and if possible, have a few

demo programs available to show to

those there, as well as perhaps some

tips and shortcuts. Remember, you may

have people show up who only bought

their computer a few days ago, and

have nothing but questions.  By the

same token, don't make the meeting

too simple or too technical, a good

blend of both will appeal to a large

group of people.



     When the meeting is opened, put

your guests at ease, perhaps with

some refreshments or coffee, and have

a short informal question and answer

time to let them know who you are, and

any others that have been instrumental

in organizing the group. You will pro-

bably want to have some kind of a

constitution to protect all members,

and to let prospective members know

what you plan to do with their monies

or dues you will be collecting.



     In your constitution, outline the

officers of the group and their res-

ponsibilities.  Outline how long their

terms will be and that the executive

will be answerable to the general

membership.  At your second meeting,

you may want to place a rough draft

constitution to your members for their

tentative approval.



     A users group can be a lot of fun

for everyone. It is an opportunity

for novices and experts to share a

common interest and to learn more

about the wonderful world of Computers