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Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group
The Benefits
of SPCUG Membership
by Paul Maharry, Former President
All of the members of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group (SPCUG) welcome you. The following are a series of informational items intended to help you "get started."
The Sarasota Personal Computer User Group (SPCUG) is a non-profit volunteer organization of computer users with all levels of expertise. You will part of one of the largest computer user group’s in the country, with well over 1,300 members.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Orientation begins at 6:00 p.m. and takes place in Room 629, just outside of the Cafeteria Building. If you miss the orientation meeting, we strongly suggest you attend the next month’s orientation.
The General Membership Meeting (main presentation) starts at 7:00 p.m., featuring speakers from various software and hardware companies from all over the country and Canada.
The Meeting Schedule is listed on the back cover of the PC Monitor, our monthly news magazine, along with a map of the school grounds. The activity calendar is on the inside back cover with locations, dates, and times. All this information can also be found on our award winning website at http://www.spcug.org
Get your name badge from the badge table when you arrive. Your attendance is recorded and the membership total helps us attract quality presenters. If you are a new member, proceed to the membership table to receive your temporary membership card. The Membership table opens at 5:00 p.m. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD SCANNED AT EVERY MEETING IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VENDOR DRAWING. Also note that the badge table closes promptly at 7:00 p.m. Your permanent membership card will be available at the membership badge table next month.
Free products from the presenters are available to members only. You must be present and have your name badge to win. The computer randomly draws winning numbers. Don’t miss this tremendous opportunity to take home some free software/hardware!
A special drawing is also available to anyone who wishes to obtain a piece of software or hardware for a dollar raffle ticket. Anywhere from six to eight products are available every month. Tickets are drawn at the end of the night, and you must be present to win.
Membership is $35.00 per year. Family membership is $50.00, which includes a spouse and any children under 18 years living at home. A student membership is available to full-time students attending a high school or local university.
As a member you receive twelve issues of the Sarasota PC Monitor, an award winning monthly magazine with regular columnists, reviews of software and hardware products and articles focusing on users helping users. Some columns are from computer professionals who provide advice in such areas as future hardware advances, changes in the industry, the Internet, system maintenance tips and other informative and straightforward issues.
Informational technical support from knowledgeable members via telephone is available. Check the page facing the inside back cover of the PC Monitor magazine for names and phone numbers of people to contact. Read the “Members Helping Members” section carefully and act accordingly. Members volunteer their time in an effort to help you understand a particular software or hardware product. For at-home assistance, seek out the various computer consultants who advertise in the Monitor.
Software reviews are available to all members of SPCUG. Write a publishable review within 30 days of being assigned the review product and you get to keep that particular piece of software! The software is provided to SPCUG and reviews are sent to the vendor. What better incentive is there to get a quality piece of software at no cost?
A Bulletin Board System is available on our Website. Post a questions, engage in online chats and check regularly for other member’s helpful advice.
Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) are conducted regularly to enhance your computer knowledge and are available at NO COST to SPCUG members. SIG leaders are knowledgeable and helpful volunteers. Most classes are held at the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI) on Beneva Road. We feature classes for all levels of experience. One of our most popular classes is the “Getting Started” SIG, conducted by Dr. Bob Thommes. Classrooms are equipped with all material needed for the class you are attending. There are also SIG’s held on the night of the monthly meeting in classrooms just off the main auditorium. Refer to the back cover of the PC Monitor magazine for time and location, or refer to our Website. Officers, committee and SIG leaders are listed on page 3 of the PC Monitor magazine. For additional information, there is a SIG table at the General Meeting for your questions, or email the SIG Chairman at sig@spcug.org
Special Pricing is currently available for SPCUG members for Access Unlimited, a local Internet Provider. Access Unlimited provides Internet access to members of SPCUG for a low $16.95 a month. Phone numbers and Websites are listed in the PC Monitor magazine.
Computers & You is our regular community television program. It is broadcast live every other Monday on Channel 21, BLAB-TV, at 7:30 p.m. We feature SPCUG members with frequent appearances by computer industry representatives and representative from local organization and government agencies. We encourage you to not only watch our program, but call in with questions. If you would like to advertise your business on our TV program, please contact Advertising Manager at advertising@spcug.org for fantastic special pricing that is available.
Volunteer of the Month Program: A $50.00 gift certificate is awarded on a monthly basis to one of our volunteers that has given exceptional service to our members. It is our “Night on the Town” dinner for two at one of Sarasota’s finest restaurants.
Subscribe to our FREE email service by filling out the email address form available at the monthly meetings or send your name and email address to president@spcug.org and indicate that you would like to be placed on the SPCUG email service program. Subscribers will receive:
Notification of changes in schedules
Notification of vendor user group specials
Tips to make your system perform better
Notification of special events
Other updates
Fun Stuff
Any questions? Please email president@spcug.org or visit our website at http://www.spcug.org. You can also contact us by phone locally at (941) 866-1676.
Click here to fill out our application for membership.
| Home | Officers | Newsletter | SIGs | Regular Meetings | Sarasota | Join NOW! |
| Coming Attractions | Favorite Links | Calendar | Search | Site Map |
