President's Notes (09/09)
President's Message
Monitor the Monitor
by Phil Sorrentino
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.
This is probably preaching to the choir, because you are
already reading and enjoying the Monitor. Anyone who looks at the Monitor,
even just once, realizes how valuable the contents are to anyone interested
in computers. The Sarasota PC Monitor continues to be an award winning PC
User Group newsletter. If you have ever tried to edit a newsletter, you know
that there is a lot of time and effort that goes into producing a regular
newsletter. If you have never tried, maybe it’s time to give it a try; we
can always use help. There are many things that one can do to contribute to
the development of the Monitor. Obviously, you could write and submit an
article for publication. I know, not everyone feels that they have something
to write about. But, there are many other ways to help. We’re always looking
for people to review books and write a review for publication. Maybe you’d
like to proof read copy or even the whole publication. Think about it and
contact the editor at pcugedit@verizon.net if you would like to see how you
could contribute.
The Monitor is one of SPCUG’s major member communications
avenues. Some of the other communications possibilities, as you know, are
the monthly meetings; the SPCUG Website, www.spcug.org; The Yahoo Group;
Members Helping Members; and our ability to send e-mails to the entire
membership. Each of these plays a role in allowing the Board of Directors to
keep in touch with the membership and allowing members to keep in touch with
members. As an SPCUG member you are touched by many, if not all, of these
communications mediums. The Monitor, however, is the flagship of these
mediums. I know I’m always anxious for the next edition, so I can get the
latest on what’s going on in the organization and what new useful software
utilities are available for free. I always read the Monitor from cover to
cover, trying not to let any news escape my view. The front cover always has
an interesting description of the up-coming meeting main presentation, so
you can prepare your questions in advance of the presentation. The technical
articles range from novice to expert and always provide something for
everyone to learn. Some of the articles are of immediate use, such as “Open
Office 3.1”, so you can power your computer with free software. And some
articles are for future use, such as, “Fun and Games with Ubuntu”, when and
if Linux becomes mainstream. Either way, the articles always provide useful
and interesting information and are informative and many times entertaining.
Another main reason for the Monitor is to keep everyone up to date with our
education schedule (SIG classes) and community service project (e.g.
Refurbishing). The SIG section always provides a schedule of classes and
describes the classes that are being held within the next few months. This
section also describes the forums that are to be held at the next monthly
meeting between 5:15 and 8:00. (A detailed schedule with locations) is
always included on the back cover, along with a map of the school campus).
Our Community Service project, where we refurbish computers donated to us
for distribution to the county school system and other agencies, is
typically discussed in the Refurb Roundup. It’s really amazing how many
computers have been turned into useful tools for students and others, by
such a small group of dedicated members. Good Job! to all those on the
Refurbishing Team. If you have an interest in the Refurbishing project,
contact Dave Winkleman at
supermodified@comcast.net.
There are many other things that the Monitor brings to its
reader. The Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting are always included so
the membership can keep up with the activities of the Board. Contact
information for the Board and other key volunteers is included on the third
page. The drawing prize (one every 3 months) is always described so you can
bring money to the next meeting to buy all those (winning) raffle tickets.
New members are typically listed, so you can see if any of your friends have
discovered SPCUG (or are you the only smart one in the crowd). And then
there’s the Computer Buffet, where all those neat, free utilities are
described. I always highlight at least a half-a-dozen, for future
investigation and possible use. And don’t forget there are always the
advertisers, who help support the production of the Monitor. We have had
many advertisers but some of the most loyal have been: Discount Computers
(don’t miss their full page ad); LoriTech (offering new and refurbished
laptops); and Computer Repair (with free phone estimates). All taken
together, the Monitor is a very worthwhile and useful, monthly newsletter.
REMINDER.... For help with your computer problems...
The “Members Helping Members” that formerly appeared in the Monitor is now
available on our Website at
www.spcug.org/membershelpingmembers.htm
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Copyright 2009. This article is from the September 2009 issue of the
Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota
Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL
34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit
computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and
our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication
the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For
further information about our group, email:
admin@spcug.org// Web:
http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members
and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User
Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are
members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC
Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.