Program Planning

Program Planning for a Better User Group Program

Logistics

Pick equipment that is right for your group & meeting room. Can the people in the back see the screen I hear the speaker? ALWAYS use a microphone.

If you meet in a school, check to see if you can be counted as Adult Education ADA

Mix up the programs: hardware I software. Watch audience reaction to both speaker & topic to see what works for your group.

Promote the meeting inside & out. Get a biography from the speaker, reviews in newsletter, check vendor website for additional information. Ask vendor for an outline of what he/she is going to talk about.

Meeting Ideas

Local ISP / DSL / Cable Modem provider

Have local computer stores come in (one at a meeting) and give a 15-minute

presentation on what they can offer the UG members (try for a discount at the store)

Local computer stores demo a product

Microsoft VHS tapes that are sent to groups

Computer superstore representative in town to demo product at a store

Fractals & math presentation from a local junior college / college

Local Genealogy group to compare programs & how to research

Librarian on how to access library computers for research, etc.

Post Office presentation on on-line bill paying, sending postcards to those who don’t have a computer, having them print & mail non-profit newsletters, flyers, etc.

On-line banking

FBI — computer crime

Local police department — computer crime / forensics

Someone from hospital give presentation on Web medical sites

Local adult ed computer teacher! training company give tips & tricks on Word, Excel

Best Buy! CompUSA (computer superstore) demo)talk about what’s hot for the holidays

Authors, newspaper technology column writers, computer radio talk show host

SIG Fair (all SIGS take 15 minutes to talk about! demo what they do at their meetings)

Ergonomic Day (chiropractor, special computer glasses, etc.)

How to install hardware (use video camera to show how it is done)

Hardware repair night

Game Day

Computer law & piracy

Cell phcnes and Internet access

Building a home computer network

Meeting specifically for vision impaired (Al Squared)

How to share photos over the Web

Safe Computing — backing up, anti-virus

Have a Stump the Experts O&A

Have members give a 10-minute tour of their favorite Web sites

Have members bring in their favorite computer ‘gadget’ and show ‘n tell or demo it

How to find computer technical help on the Web.

Demo in a Box from various software vendors (vendors soon to be listed on the APOUG website)

PowerPoint presentations (in case your speaker doesn’t show) .... Soon on the APCUG website

Member presentations — have training to make sure members are really comfortable making a presentation. Have 2 people do the presentation, one to work the computer and one to talk. Have member giving demo write an article for the newsletter to see his/her level of knowledge I expertise.

Put on 2 presentations at the meeting — first one for novices, second for advanced users.

Create a US speakers list in your area of members who are willing to make presentations at other local UGs.

Start your Tech / Help I Fl / Random access session with .... Has everyone’s computer worked perfectly for the last 30 days?”

It’s a new world, vendors are merging, budgets are diminishing. Consider proposing a tour of UGs in your area that meet on consecutive days. Gives the vendor more bang for their buck .... once they fly in they don’t mind driving to several groups. Consider changing your meeting day to join a tour. Have a joint meeting with local user groups.

Visit the below sites for vendor contact info: