December 2011 edition of APCUG's NOOZ

In this edition of NOOZ:
1.       2012 Dues Renewal Contest       
2.       Region Assignments
3.       Meet Greg West, Region 6 / International Advisor
4.       Region Virtual Meetings    
5.       Happy 2012

1.       Has your group renewed its dues? It’s not too late for your group to be entered in the early bird contest. Three of the new Kindle eReaders loaded with $300 worth of eBooks provided by O’Reilly are the prizes. The winning groups will be chosen in a random drawing from those that renew by December 31. Winners will be announced at APCUG’s Annual Meeting to be held during the FACUG Technology Conference Bahamas Cruise the week of January 23rd through January 27th.

Don’t miss out! Renew today. You may pay via PayPal or check (must be postmarked by 12/31). http://bit.ly/sAVwLn

A few of the membership benefits are:

• PUSH - over 20 articles sent to your editor each month for use in your group’s newsletter.
• Reports News Magazine. APCUG’s quarterly publication filled with How Tos, information on what’s happening in other regions, conference announcements, reports from APCUG officers, and more.
• Monthly NOOZ to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening with APCUG.
• O’Reilly / APCUG quarterly book program. Two books and 3 eBook certificates sent to groups quarterly that opted into the program.
• Speakers Bureau featuring many speakers who will give online presentations to your group.
• Virtual Conferences to enable your officers and members to attend an online conference to enhance their technology skills and/or learn about what’s new in the world of technology.
• Regional online meetings for officers / members to interface with others in their region to brainstorm about problems (someone usually has the answer), program ideas, successes, etc.
• Web Hosting…does your group pay too much for web hosting or can’t afford to have a website? Your $50 membership fee entitles you to a website hosted by APCUG.
• Discount List. Found on APCUG’s website.
• Updated Member Online Newsletter list. Would you like to see what other editors are doing with their newsletters? Check them out via this list. (Note: If your newsletter is online, please check to make sure the listing is correct. Let Judy (jtaylour@apcug.org know if you have changes.) http://www.apcug.net/editorial/index.htm
• APCUG’s Website - Check out the new and improved www.apcug.net. Let Don (dsingleton@apcug.org) or Judy (jtaylour@apcug.org) know if your group is involved with a community service project, etc. We’d like to include the information on the website.

APCUG is here to help your group, as needed. All the Board members and Advisors are current or former UG officers and help is only an e-mail away.

2.       Region Assignments. APCUG has re-aligned some of the regions as noted below.
          Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) – Sam Wexler
          Region 2 (DC, DE, MD, NJ, VA) - Gabe Goldberg
          Region 3 (OH, PA, WV) – Bob Vance
          Region 4 (AL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN) – Judy Taylour (acting advisor)
          Region 5 (Florida) - Stu Silverman
          Region 6 (KY, IL, IN, MI) - Greg West, APCUG’s newest advisor
          Region 7 (IA, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI) – Roger Tesch
          Region 8 (AR, KS, LA, OK, TX) – Judy Taylour
          Region 9 (AZ, CO, NM, NV, UT) Nevada was moved from Region 12 to Region 9 – 
          Bill James
          Region 10 (California) California was previously split into two regions (10 and 11) –
         Cheryl Wester
          Region 11 (AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) was Region 12 – Roger Tesch
          Region 12 (International) was Region 13 – Greg West

3.       Meet Greg West. Greg’s experience with APCUG goes back about 10 years when he was editor for the Sarnia CUG in Canada (scug.ca). He read and reprinted articles from APCUG and user group newsletters. This gave him some insight into what other groups around the globe were doing at meetings, etc. He also followed APCUG news on its website and newsletters. In 2008 he attended the APCUG convention in Las Vegas and it was there he knew he wanted to help out on that “team.”

With his background in communications, he is impressed with the progressive route APCUG executive is heading in recreating ties between the organization and its member groups. APCUG has gone over a rocky road and today he says the road is straightening out and is becoming busy once again.

Greg plans on setting up a communications network, with the user groups in Region 6 and International, so that everyone will know what’s happening with APCUG and especially ideas that help to make a user group successful.

He looks forward to meeting members in Region 6 and International. He feels one of the most important issues we are facing is how we all can share and prepare user groups for today and the future. We need to look to new and innovative ideas, ideas that not only enhance the user group member’s experience, but will invite new members to our groups.

4.       Region Virtual Meetings. California recently had the 1st regional virtual meeting co-facilitated by Cheryl Wester (California advisor) and Judy Taylour, Chair, Board of Advisors. Fifteen officers / members attended the online meeting. Not only were attendees from California but also Arizona, Florida and Canada. See the detailed article in the Q1 Reports…soon coming to your Inbox.

Your advisor will be setting up a virtual meeting for your region where you will be able to brainstorm ideas to help all user groups become the best they can be by sharing information that works for them, sharing problems to resolve and simply getting everyone together. Please plan to attend; you will find the information shared will be beneficial to your user group. We’re all here to help each other.

5.       APCUG wishes its member groups a successful 2012. May your group:

• recruit new members
• easily find presenters
• have informative and interesting presentations
• have at least one presentation via someone from the Speakers Bureau
• create or maintain active SIGS
• have an inspired newsletter editor and a creative webmaster to offer members both as a benefit of membership
• use one or two (or more) ideas gained from a regional virtual meeting
• have members step up to the plate when it’s time for elections