These articles appeared in the July/August 1991 issue of Quick Connect, the Newsletter for Apple User Groups. They may be reproduced in other User Group publications not sold for profit. We require only that credit be given to The Apple Computer User Group Connection and that we receive a copy of any publication in which reprinted articles appear. The Apple User Group Connection, Apple Computer, Inc., 20525 Mariani Avenue, MS: 36/AA, Cupertino, CA 95014.
(c)1991 Apple Computer, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, AppleLink, Mac, Macintosh and StyleWriter are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. HyperCard is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. licensed to Claris Corporation. Classic is a registered trademark, licensed to Apple Computer, Inc. Quick Connect and The User Group Connection are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. HyperStudio is a registered trademark of Roger Wagner Publishing, Inc. America Online is a service mark of Quantum Computer Services, Inc.
User Group Training Programs
A primary reason people join Apple User Groups is to increase their understanding of Apple computers. In response to this interest, nearly 70% of all User Groups offer some level of training to their members. These programs range from informal evening sessions to structured day-long classes. In this issue, we take a look at different training approaches and review guidelines for creating effective training programs.
User Group training programs vary as much as User Groups themselves. We recently spoke with several UG training coordinators to hear their thoughts on key goals for establishing an effective training program. Even though your group may differ in structure or size, their suggestions can stimulate ideas to help you in creating or expanding your current program.
1. Content. Most User Groups often offer two general types of training: introductory lessons on how to use an Apple computer, and training in a specific software program. Several groups reported that the new, lower-priced Macintosh CPUs have created an increase in members who are computer novices. To accommodate this continual flow of newcomers, some groups schedule introductory classes on a regular basis--for example, the second Wednesday of the month. That way, anyone who wants to join the group knows that they can meet fellow rookies at an introductory class--a comforting thought to computer novices.
How do groups decide which topics to teach? Some conduct member surveys to learn of interests, while others use more imaginative means. David Drucker, Director of Education for BCS*Mac in Boston, MA, explains that in addition to offering the "tried and true" regular topics, they rely on statistics of best-selling programs to guide them in establishing a curriculum. "We look in the back of trade magazines and see how programs are selling," he says. "We figure if people are buying these programs, there must be a lot of people who want to learn them, too." Drucker adds that besides popular programs, they offer an "experimental" class on a lesser-known topic, such as image or font manipulation, on a one-time basis. "If it is a hit, then we will consider integrating it into our regular schedule," he explains.
2. Instructors. Most groups rely on their members to teach training sessions. If budgets allow, the instructors are paid. Other groups use volunteers who find the "reward" in sharing the knowledge and seeing their name in print in a group newsletter. A key challenge is establishing a common curriculum, observes Ruth Landa, Educational Director for New York City’s NYMUG. "We try to screen our instructors and make sure that a certain level of material is covered," she says. Landa, a computer trainer by profession, knows the value of a standardized curriculum. "By establishing some guidelines, you can be assured that students enrolled in a second level course have a common understanding of the basic material," she explains. "It makes it easier for the teachers and more fulfilling for the students, too."
Many groups who rely on volunteer instructors have learned to set clear rules for what type of self-promotion can take place in the classroom. "We learned the hard way that if you don’t set limits on what volunteer consultant/teachers can do, they are tempted to abuse the situation," advises one training coordinator. He ruefully recalls the class that ended with the volunteer instructor blatantly soliciting future personal business.
3. Marketing. Even the best courses with the finest teachers won’t attract students if you don’t publicize your program. Without proper marketing, all other efforts to establish a strong training program may be in vain. Most training coordinators agree that lead time is critical in assuring that potential students will learn about a class. Groups often publicize their courses in monthly newsletters, which arrive in the first week’s mail. For this reason, experienced groups have learned to schedule seminars toward the end of a month. "This gives somebody time to receive their newsletter, think about if they want to attend, and take the initiative to get here," says one training leader.
It’s also important to remain sensitive to local needs. In Boston, where an economic downturn has resulted in a high unemployment rate, BCS*Mac has learned to tailor course offerings and schedules for these potential customers. "Many people are using their time between jobs to retrain and improve their skills," observes BCS’s David Drucker. "We’re finding a lot of interest in our courses from this group, and we’re trying to accommodate their needs," he adds.
4. Sites and Scheduling. Determining where and when classes can be held is a challenge. Many groups must share space with SIG meetings, and the needs for a hands-on class differ from a lecture session. Some groups have made arrangements with local schools, an option that can be mutually beneficial. Bob Williams of the Mac Connection User Group in Silverdale, WA, explains that their UG formerly met in different locations and faced the frustrations of lugging equipment and always forgetting something. "I made a deal with the community school in our area," Williams explains. "We trained teachers and ran Macintosh classes. We used the money we earned to buy software for the school, and now we hold our meetings at the school lab. It has been a win-win situation. Our User Group has a meeting room with 20 Macintosh computers and the community has a place to learn about the Macintosh," he says.
Groups not fortunate to have a regular classroom often invest in a projection device that gives them the ability to turn any site with a computer and an overhead projector into a classroom. This "mobile classroom" situation also has led some groups to establish satellite training sites, allowing them to serve students in outlying areas.
Tracking the scheduling and logistics of teachers, students, sites, and costs is a key element to the success of any training program, observes NYMUG’s Ruth Landa. "Your administration is the foundation," she observes. "Keeping accurate records allows you to draw upon your experience and make knowledgeable decisions." To achieve this for NYMUG, Landa has set up an extensive database that tracks details such as which classes a student has taken previously, a record of classes that were filled or undersubscribed, and a waiting list so that students can be contacted when the class is offered again.
5. Costs. If a training program is going to be a viable activity for a User Group, it needs to generate income for the group or at least break even. "The bottom line is the bottom line," observes Ruth Landa. "Groups need to ask themselves if they can afford to keep doing it," she adds. Some groups offer member discounts on training classes, which entice students to join the User Group. This helps increase the total membership and subsidizes UG training costs. Other groups save on equipment investments by offering discounts if students bring their own computers, or share one with another student. While bringing in personal equipment necessitates caution about piracy, sharing can be a way to overcome fear in some students through a "buddy" system.
It is important to make sure that you accurately estimate your costs--whether in dollars or volunteer efforts--and plan for realistic ways of meeting those needs, training coordinators advise. But don’t feel that you must have it totally figured out to begin. "Just do it," urges Rob Clark, Director of Education for the Washington Apple Pi User Group in Bethesda, MD. "We’ve had a training program for years, but we’re always learning how to make it better. If you’re thinking about doing it, do it. You’ll have fun and your members will get a lot out of it."
Creative Classroom Settings
Everybody likes a change from the usual. Chances are, your training program might benefit from a shift in format or new approach. In addition to weekly or monthly classes, consider a special training event. For example, PMUG, the Portland (OR) Macintosh User Group, offers an eight-week series of rotating classes covering basics they’ve dubbed "PMUG College." Their PMUG Camp has been established for years, and is a fun weekend for members to get together in an educational context. BCS*Mac takes active part in the Boston Computer Society’s Summer Computer Institute, a popular four-week program held at a local college. Recently, the Arizona Macintosh User Group sponsored a day-long regional Training Expo at a hotel in Phoenix, with a dozen two-hour classes offered. The event generated much enthusiasm and some new volunteers, says group president Michael Bean, who would like to see the expo become a weekend event. "In the future, we would love to see a weekend Macintosh ‘boot camp,’ with training and cocktails on Friday, all-day classes on Saturday with a pool party that evening, and discounted hotel accommodations for those desiring to stay close to the action," he explains. So put on your thinking caps, UG leaders--training options and sites are unlimited!
From the Staff…
In this issue of Quick Connect, we introduce a member of the Connection’s "extended staff," Barbara Knaster.
Dear Apple User Group Ambassador,
Seeing my words on paper is a new feeling for me. As the Sysop for Apple’s User Group Connection over the past four years, I’ve done most of my communicating online. That’s me behind the electronic addresses on the AppleLink(R) network (USER.GROUPS) and America Online (Apple UGC). My job is to make sure that User Group messages, comments and requests for online information get answered or routed to the right person at Apple, and that information flows freely among User Groups "on the wires."
While many User Groups use AppleLink for electronic mail, AppleLink forums such as the User Group Bulletin Board are also very popular. Apple, third party developers, and User Groups use the Bulletin Board to share information, post announcements, discuss ideas, and offer suggestions. This year we launched the User Group Discussion Board with AppleLink 6.0, which makes it easier to participate in discussions. The Discussion Board is extremely active with hardware and software discussions, and is still home to the incredibly popular HyperCard (R) software Q&A folder. In a single month, there are usually more than 4,500 topics read and 800 files downloaded from the Discussion Board.
I’m also a regular on the new and improved User Group Forum on America Online (AOL), where the User Group Connection maintains an area for information and answers about Connection programs and events. AOL offers many unique ways to keep in touch with User Group leaders and members. These include the Sunday night User Group forums, where you can find at least one Connection staff member in attendance each week. AOL’s "instant messages" make distances disappear, and the wide variety of users brings important viewpoints to all discussions. There is also an area for User Groups to set up folders for their membership to stay connected, and a vast library of software is available for downloading. AOL especially offers Apple II users a great way to stay connected.
As online technology is improved and refined, we’ll continue looking for new ways to expand our use of electronic communications in the User Group community. Not too long ago, we started with the simple ideas of posting Quick Connect articles electronically to facilitate their reproduction, and using e-mail to invite User Groups to breakfast at Macworld Expo. Now we can sponsor a live "conference" with User Group leaders from around the country without anybody leaving home. We’d love to hear what other kinds of things you’d like us to do. I encourage you to participate in our networks and I look forward to meeting you--online, of course.
Sincerely,
Barbara Knaster
Apple User Group Connection Sysop
International UG News
Worldwide Connections
Many User Groups in the United States are reaching out to their counterparts around the world to make connections and exchange ideas. To support those efforts, we will include brief notes about international UG activities from time to time in the pages of Quick Connect.
Apple II PD library for Europe
Participants at the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) Computer Conference, held in Munich, Germany, decided that there was a demand for an Apple II PD and shareware library in Europe. Seth Ruef of the American International School of Luxembourg (AISL) agreed to start and maintain such a resource.
At the conference, Ruef demonstrated about 15 stacks that he developed using Roger Wagner Publishing’s HyperStudio software program. He created the stacks for use with the AISL Lower School computer classes, and they were enthusiastically received. Those who attended the conference were welcome to take copies home. Seth would like to maintain stacks developed by teachers and make them available to other schools using HyperStudio. If you would like to contribute to the stack library, or if you would like more information about Seth’s stacks, you can contact him at the American International School of Luxembourg: AISL, 188, Ave. de la Faiencerie, L-1511 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; or AppleLink: IT0051.
UG newsletter within a magazine
AMDA, a Macintosh(R) computer User Group based in Vienna, Austria has come up with a creative solution for publishing their UG newsletter. Klaus Matzka writes that the group is cooperating with a bimonthly national Apple magazine. "We get some room in the middle of the magazine that we may use for whatever we want to publish," he explains. "Our information is printed without color, and on lower quality paper. This reduces the production costs so much that the magazine is doing it for free for our UG," he adds. The group provides the copy and the magazine does the rest, Matzka says.
The nationwide UG was launched only last winter, and already has three local groups and four SIGs with many active members. A typical UG gathering might include a screening of Apple videos, or a product demonstration. For a recent meeting, the group connected a StyleWriter (R) printer to different Mac(R) computers to show performance comparisons.
Matzka stays in touch with User Group members in Austria and around the world through AppleLink (address: AMDA) and through the FidoNet network. He looks forward to exchanging ideas among all User Groups. "It doesn’t matter any longer that we are thousands of kilometers away from your desks. We are able to work together. Apple has made the global village a reality."
Leader to Leader
User Group Message Hotlines
Several User Groups have set up telephone answering machines as hotlines to keep members informed of upcoming meetings and group events. To help you decide whether a message hotline may be a worthwhile investment for your User Group, here are comments from three UG leaders on their hotline systems.
Anytime access
PMUG uses an answering machine to keep people informed about upcoming events, speakers, etc. We also use it to provide a means for people to reach us anytime. The messages are taken off several times a week by a responsible person who relays them to an appropriate party. This system works very well because the calls get directed to the right person--an approach that probably is as speedy as the telephone tag games one often has to play to obtain information. Our phone machine also disseminates membership information, and since we change the message each month, it is a very convenient way to find out what’s going on at PMUG. The machine lives in our office, so it is also answered by a real person from time to time. This may not be as effective as the machine, but callers seem to appreciate it more.
Neil Wolf
Portland Macintosh User Group
PO Box 8949
Portland, OR 97207
503/228-1779 hotline
AppleLink: UG0035
Consistency and credibility
We have a simple phone answering machine with a single dedicated line located in the back bedroom of a member of our Board of Directors. That person can check it daily, or it can be checked remotely by any member who has the code.
One of the main reasons we started the hotline was that our newsletter was not getting to people before our monthly main meeting. We thought it would be better to teach members that this phone resource was available and train them to call in for program updates. The content of the message is geared towards giving members the latest information on the meeting speaker, any schedule changes, and the topic of our monthly training class. It seems impossible to coordinate all this information in the newsletter with any reliability, so having the phone message gives us a chance to set the record straight.
We have a 7.5 minute message that tells about our three monthly meetings. The recording also gives phone numbers of various volunteers who can provide information on membership, training, or offer crisis help, such as how to recover a crashed hard drive. Callers can leave a message if they want.
The hotline lends consistency and credibility to our group. We finally have one number that won’t be changing, and callers won’t be subject to the whim of an ex-volunteer who doesn’t want to be bothered with calls anymore. Since we paid for business service instead of a residential phone line, MacNexus is now listed in the Yellow Pages and the White Pages, something that gives the group a sense of permanence.
Prospective members can call and hear about all the things MacNexus has going on. There is no intimidation factor, and people can call any time of night or day to listen to the tape. We don’t care if callers are members or not. We just want the community to know that this resource is here.
Bill Davies
MacNexus
PO Box 163058
Sacramento, CA 95816
916/455-4MAC hotline
AppleLink: UG0003; AOL: BDavies
SIG meeting updates
Seattle’s dBUG has a single phone line dedicated as our hotline, attached to a standard answering machine in our Resource Center. We use the hotline for three main purposes: to give updated information on our monthly meeting; to provide information on our 15 Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings; and as a place to leave messages about membership, etc. The hotline allows us to easily notify members about SIG meeting locations, which often move around. It also gives members a single place to get updated information, particularly if they don’t have their newsletter handy. We are also exploring voice messaging systems from the phone company, which would give callers the ability to use a touch-tone phone to direct them to the information they need. This would save us the aggravation of the occasional malfunction of our current machine, but it is a more costly alternative.
Andrew Johnston
Seattle Macintosh Downtown Business User Group
PO Box 3463
Seattle, WA 9811-3463
206/624-9329 hotline
AppleLink: UG0048; AOL: DBUGED
Operation Inspiration
About a year ago, Apple Computer’s Small Business Marketing team was making plans to "adopt" a small town. Their goal was to demonstrate the effectiveness of Macintosh systems in small businesses by putting them in sites where they had never been before. They wanted a town that was not a suburb or influenced by any major corporation, and a place that had an interesting mix of small businesses.
The choice was Jacksonville, Oregon, a picturesque town in the heart of Applegate Valley that grew up with the Gold Rush in 1851. As part of the project, Apple seeded 31 local businesses with Macintosh systems last Fall, including the then-unreleased Macintosh Classic(R) , LC and IIsi computers. Businesses such as restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and retail stores were chosen, as well as the town’s police and fire departments, library, Chamber of Commerce and elementary school. As part of the project, a private research firm is documenting the impact that Apple computers have made on these businesses--and the town as a whole.
When selecting Jacksonville as the site for "Operation Inspiration," the Apple team discovered that the town had another strong asset--an active Macintosh User Group in nearby Medford. The Rogue Macs Macintosh User Group, or Rogue Macs, has been active since its founding in May 1985. "When the Small Business Marketing group started planning the Jacksonville project, we made the connection with Rogue Macs and involved the User Group in the early stages," explains Apple’s manager of Community User Groups, Rye Livingston. "We knew that an enthusiastic User Group with nearly 100 active members could add a valuable dimension to the project," he adds.
Upon learning of the project and Jacksonville’s selection, Rogue Mac leaders began actively planning ways to involve the new Macintosh owners. Each Operation Inspiration participant received a guest membership, including PD disks, the monthly newsletter, and access to the group’s local BBS. Members were warmly welcomed at monthly meetings, and a Special Interest Group (SIG) for novices was started at the Jacksonville library. "We were thrilled that Jacksonville and our User Group were asked to be part of this experiment," says Rogue Mac president Tom Pentland. "We knew that this was a unique opportunity that could bring benefits to all the partners involved." In fact, membership in the User Group has grown by nearly 50% since the project began, Pentland observes, and new members are bringing fresh ideas. "What’s great is that we’re getting active new members, people who are willing to go the extra mile and take on club responsibilities," he adds.
Besides in-person meetings, Operation Inspiration participants stay connected electronically. In a special "Jacksonville" area established in cooperation with America Online, project participants post questions and comments to Apple and each other. The online service also serves as a convenient way to hold steering committee meetings for the newly-formed Jacksonville SIG of Rogue Macs.
Operation Inspiration has brought changes to the town of Jacksonville that go beyond the small business owners now using Macintosh systems in their daily lives. "The project has created a lot of enthusiasm and excitement for all Apple computer owners in the area," says Tom Pentland. "It’s recharged our batteries as a User Group, and has sparked each of us to remember our first experience with a Macintosh and why we’re still so involved."
National UG Meeting Telecast
Imagine taking part in a national User Group meeting "live" via TV satellite with hundreds of groups from around the country actively participating. Sound like something your group would like to do?
Then rouse your members, find a meeting space with a TV satellite dish and get ready--because the User Group Connection is planning to host the first National Apple User Group Meeting Telecast, via the Apple TV network. Tentative plans are to hold the broadcast on a mid-week evening in late September. Since User Groups in all parts of the country will be linked simultaneously, the proposed time frame is to begin the broadcast at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time (9:30 p.m. Eastern Time).
The 90-minute telecast will feature a mix of topics, including news of interest to all User Groups, as well as segments specifically devoted to the Apple II and Macintosh product families. Apple Product Managers and Product Engineers will give on-air presentations as well as participate in a live, interactive Q&A session with remote User Group sites.
User Group Connection member Rye Livingston, manager of the event, suggests that User Groups maximize the telecast event. "In addition to being an exciting way to use the technology and bring User Groups together, the telecast can be a great opportunity to generate User Group interest," Livingston explains. Groups can use the event as a way to "kick off" their Fall season, encouraging newcomers to join and veterans to return. Or groups may want to design a whole membership campaign with the telecast as the key event, Livingston adds.
Livingston also suggests that groups consider "wrapping" their evening meeting around the telecast, depending on the time zone in which they are located. "East Coast groups can position the telecast as the meeting’s finale, while West Coast groups can use the broadcast to start their meeting," he suggests. If your group decides to rent a special meeting space (see sidebar), consider the mutual benefits of involving dealers or developers. Their participation can help defray costs, while your UG can deliver a targeted, enthusiastic audience of potential customers. "The telecast can be a great opportunity to build new bridges between users, dealers, Apple reps, consultants, developers, and other Apple enthusiasts in a community," Livingston explains.
To stay up-to-date on broadcast details, watch future Connection mailings and postings on AppleLink and America Online. In the meantime, begin planning by using the task list we’ve compiled. Gather some of your heartiest activists to handle the details--and we’ll see you at the meeting!
Planning for the Telecast
It’s not too soon to plan the logistics for participating in the National UG Telecast planned for late September. Here are some steps to follow:
1. Consider pooling efforts with other local UGs. The UG Telecast offers a great way for User Groups in a region to work together. Joining forces can reduce costs and volunteer time.
2. Appoint a broadcast coordinator. This person is responsible for the logistic details of making the link-up with Apple TV. He or she doesn’t need a strong technical background, only the dedication and organization to make the event happen.
3. Find an appropriate meeting site with an "aimable" satellite dish that can receive the C-band or Ku-band. Contact colleges, sports clubs, convention centers, hotels, libraries, community centers, your local Apple office, or even someone who has a large living room and a satellite dish! Consider striking a deal for free room rental, such as with a restaurant in exchange for your patronage.
4. Get the word out! Publicize the event at your meetings, in your group newsletter, area dealerships, group BBS, local newspaper and elsewhere. Or pool funds with other area UGs or an Apple dealer to place ads in your local paper.
Apple Computers in Hollywood
Have you ever wondered how Apple computers get to "star" in TV programs or Hollywood movies? We recently had a chance to speak to Daniel Paul, Apple Computer’s liaison with the entertainment industry, to learn how Apple computers are being used in Hollywood, both on-screen and behind the camera.
Quick Connect: Daniel, how are Apple computers selected to be part of a film or TV program?
Daniel Paul: Since I’m based in Los Angeles, I’m able to stay in touch with folks who are making films and TV series, and I keep up-to-date with the industry trade journals. If I hear of a script where I think Apple products could be showcased, I’ll contact the producers. We’ll then arrange a loan of Apple equipment for use on the set for the duration of the project. We also often get requests from the behind-the-scenes staff--people like set directors, audio engineers, or the camera crew--who will approach Apple directly. They often have worked with Apple computers in other creative projects, and as enthusiasts, they want to see our products in their next production.
QC: Are there any "rules" about how Apple products are portrayed on screen?
DP: The goal of having Apple products seen is to show them in an entertaining but educational way. We shy away from having our computers used on screen by offensive characters or teenage hacker-types doing harmful things like destroying credit ratings or changing grades in the school computer. Scenes showing someone approaching a computer, hitting a key, and having it blow up, don’t project a good image for the industry. We understand that even though there are millions of enthusiastic Apple computer users, there is a large population that is still computer-phobic. We want to encourage people to think about Apple and their computing experience in a positive way, and therefore we are very careful about how our products are portrayed.
The only other "rule" is that our equipment is on loan, and must be returned when the project is completed, so we can let someone else borrow it. Many crews really hate to give up the systems, particularly if this was their first experience with an Apple computer. They’ve used them every day for several months, and like all of us, they can’t imagine living without them. We direct them to sources where they can purchase a system, and we also tell them about User Groups in the area. Some have become quite active in User Group SIGs for film, animation, and other creative topics.
QC: Do most scripts use computers in realistic ways?
DP: Hollywood is where imagination runs free, so computers are used in both realistic and fantasy ways. Script writers will often give computers magical abilities or absolutely no capabilities at all. Many times they will call and ask if they can actually do something in a script with a computer. Hollywood takes liberties with technology, but you end up believing it when it’s on screen, which is the magic of it all.
Lately there have been some movies that have used Apple computers in pretty realistic ways. In The Hard Way, an action-adventure film with Michael J. Fox and James Woods, a Macintosh appears in several scenes. In one part, James Woods’ character, who plays a cop, turns on his Macintosh and logs onto an electronic network to search for information. We know that some viewers will understand what he’s doing, but for many people, it will be their first experience seeing online communication--and a Macintosh at work. We also have placed Apple computers in other movie settings where computers are frequently seen in real life, such as the classroom scenes in Kindergarten Cop. In that movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a kindergarten teacher, and it was appropriate to show Apple IIgs (R) computers, since they are often the choice of many classroom teachers. Macintosh computers have also been incorporated into TV shows such as Twin Peaks, where they were used for investigative work, and on Northern Exposure, a comedy about a young doctor in Alaska. Many people also know that the comedian Harry Anderson is a Macintosh enthusiast who has used Macintosh computers in the TV series Night Court, as well as his work with Disney on The Nutty Professor.
It’s also important to present computers in the proper context. I always have to remind people that computers require power, and things like cables. Directors don’t like to have power cords and keyboard cables cluttering up a desk on a set. But if you’re trying to achieve realism, that’s part of the trade-off.
QC: Apple computers have been used in very innovative and creative ways by artists working in a variety of media. How is this happening in the entertainment industry?
DP: Many people in the entertainment field are using Macintosh systems in very creative ways. For example, all the on-screen animated graphics for the televised Academy Awards show last spring were created on a Macintosh IIfx. Formerly, a graphic designer would have used a very expensive system to create the images. It’s exciting to see the industry discover that an Apple computer--the same machine that can write one-page memos or scripts--also can be used to create high-impact graphic images on screen.
Another example of the Macintosh at work is its role in programming the actions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Inside each Turtle costume is a live human and a computer processor. While the humans do the walking and talking, other gestures such as eyebrow movements and nostril flares are controlled by a processor that was programmed with a Macintosh. In fact, the writers created their own programming language so they could carefully control how the Turtles are supposed to react in each scene.
I was surprised to learn how many administrative functions are not computerized in Hollywood. Many script writers are still using electric typewriters! The entertainment industry is bombarded constantly with talk about the future. But if you want to get people excited about technology, you’ve got to get them to understand the role of it today. So we show them how Apple computers can be productivity tools for day-to-day operations, such as rewriting scripts or balancing budgets. Since information and speedy communications are of prime importance in Hollywood, there has been particular interest in electronic mail.
Over the past two years, the perception of what the Macintosh can do has changed dramatically. Hollywood has a better understanding of the capabilities, and the lower-priced Macintosh systems have brought the power of the Macintosh into the hands of many more people. A beginning script writer can use a Macintosh Classic system with a StyleWriter printer and have their output look just as classy as an experienced pro. And Macintosh animation programs let artists try out ideas without investing in millions of dollars of special equipment.
QC: Hollywood is known as a place where people dream about future possibilities. What about Apple’s plans and its relationship with Hollywood?
DP: Apple is building awareness and creating relationships within the entertainment industry for long-term projects and prospects. As computers move toward being more interactive and dealing with content, the entertainment industry is going to hold a great deal of importance. Products like ABC News Interactive, which give users the ability to navigate through information and have selective viewing, are very powerful. Rather than reacting, you are interacting and controlling the information experience. Imagine a newscast where you could skip the baseball stories about the Yankees and go right to the box score for the Cubs. Or imagine giving this power to teachers and students, allowing them to utilize text books and other teaching tools better. Future capabilities will extend beyond linking the laserdisc and computer, into areas where the computer and television are no longer separate.
The entertainment industry is a creative testing ground for a lot of new ideas in the computer industry. Every day they create things that challenge us to reconsider where we may be heading. Remember the early folks who were using word processing programs to do page layout before desktop publishing became a reality? The entertainment industry is similar. Their creative use of Apple computers is going to take us places we haven’t even considered yet.
Education & UG Partnerships
by Mary Anne Mather
Many Education UGs and SIGs engage in special summer activities that spark new fall opportunities.
When the traditional school year winds down to summer, the change of pace eases many educators into new thought patterns. The User Group Connection recently asked Education User Group and SIG leaders how they handle the change. We found that, for many, leaving the school-year hustle and bustle doesn’t mean down-time. Instead, it spurs new ways of looking at old priorities. Summer activities encourage growth and leadership, and bring new opportunities to UG organizations when autumn rolls around. Help your group put some of these educator-inspired ideas to work.
* Organize a summer computer loan program.
Encourage each member to adopt a school computer for the summer. They’ll hone technology skills and return to school with tips and ideas to share at UG meetings.
"Summer is a good time for educators to be productive in ways time doesn’t permit during the school year. Our school encourages teachers to borrow a computer during vacation to explore software and create technology-enriched lessons in a relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere. It builds self-confidence and brings life to our User Group when teachers return in the fall with new ideas and technology tips to share."
Jack Shea, East Bridgewater, MA
EBUG (East Bridgewater User Group)
* Establish a planning committee.
Give members a chance to influence the future of their organization. Ask for volunteers to meet over the summer and plan programs, identify guest speakers, and determine services the UG will offer in the upcoming year.
"Our User Group consists of high school administrators, teachers, and students, many of whom are not available during summer months. But a six-member board of administrators with year-round contracts guides the group’s focus. We get together informally throughout the summer and plan fall programs."
Kenneth Temkin, Boston, MA
SPIN (Student Press Information Network)
* Send your UG Ambassador or selected members for specialized training.
Poll members to determine areas of need. Locate corresponding training opportunities, conferences, and seminars. Ask participants to present at UG meetings.
"We aren’t meeting during the summer, but our group is quietly growing. I’ve won a grant through the Women’s Action Alliance. I’ll attend training sessions, and in turn, train math/science teachers, technology coordinators, and media resource people in my district. Right now, our User Group consists of one representative from each public and private school building in Atchison. I plan to expand and enrich our UG by inviting my trainees to become members and peer trainers."
Mary Van Dyke, Atchison, KS
Atchison AppleNet User Group
* Host a leadership conference.
Build a local support network for your UG by inviting technology leaders from neighboring districts to attend idea-sharing sessions. Consider hiring a professional leadership consultant.
"Many leaders from MassCUE SIGs will attend a State Leadership Institute in August.The conference teaches management skills and collaborative problem-solving. It puts pro-active educators in touch with one another and helps us take active roles in creating the direction of technology in education, rather than just reacting to it. "
Ginny Warren, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
MassCUE SIG (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators)
* Continue regular meetings, but vary locations.
Ask members from different buildings to host one meeting. Have them involve non-members (students, administrators, faculty) in presenting a showcase of technology use at that site. You’ll share ideas, build confidence, and attract new UG members.
"School’s in Orange County are organized on a year-round schedule; so our User Group meetings continue throughout the year. Many members are beginners who need the on-going support. Current members are passive; they still don’t know the questions to ask. My goal is to help them develop their technology skills so that they can take an active role as presenters, as well as participants."
Paul Richard, Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County DOE (Department of Education) User Group
Mary Anne Mather is an educational consultant who oversees editorial development and special projects for Apple Education User Groups.
Profiles
A Slice of the Apple User Group Community
This section of Quick Connect offers brief profiles of groups representing the diversity of the User Group community. In addition to an overview of each group’s focus and activities, contact information is included so your group can get in touch if it wants to learn more. If you’d like your group to be profiled, drop a line to The User Group Connection at the address on the back cover. Or contact us electronically via AppleLink (QC.COPY) or America Online (Apple UGC) with a brief summary of your group and its activities.
Northern Nevada Apple II and Macintosh User Group
A night out for pizza AND a User Group meeting! Who could ask for more? That’s what members of the Northern Nevada Apple II and Macintosh User Group in Sparks, NV enjoy each month when they gather at the local pizza parlor. When searching for no-cost meeting space, the group discovered that the restaurant had a large meeting room available to patrons. Now members gather a half hour early to socialize with friends and family over pizza, then turn their attention to User Group activities. "It’s a friendly place and has worked out well for us," says group Director Dennis Thieme. "The restaurant appreciates the business, and the group is able to meet in comfortable surroundings." The group uses the restaurant’s big-screen TV to show User Group Connection videos, and brings computer projection equipment to demonstrate software and present training seminars. One enthusiastic champion of the group is the restaurant’s new manager, a Macintosh owner who heard about the group and recently transferred from another location.
Dennis Thieme
Northern Nevada Apple II and Macintosh User Group
PO Box 1038
Sparks, NV 89432-1038
702/355-7676
AOL: DennisT69
CowTown Mac User Group
Fort Worth, TX is "where the West begins," explains Scott Hulsey, Vice President of the local CowTown Macintosh User Group. The town’s nickname comes from it being one of the few cities that have stockyards from an earlier era. Hulsey admits that "it’s a pretty sleepy town" compared to Dallas, which lies 30 miles east. The locale may be mellow, but the User Group is dynamic, with about 50 active members. Monthly meetings were recently changed from Saturday afternoons to Tuesday nights, a change Hulsey says has been popular with most members "who all have too many errands to run on Saturdays." The new night also will be a better attraction to industry representatives visiting nearby Dallas who are more likely to give presentations on a weeknight evening than a Saturday, Hulsey adds. CowTown MUG meetings are held at the local Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, a site that offers an auditorium and meeting rooms at no charge. Because of the large number of schools in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, the group includes many educators, and an Education SIG is planned.
Scott Hulsey
CowTown Macintosh User Group
PO Box 24524
Ft. Worth , TX 76124
817/457-7667
ALink: UG0271
AOL: SHulsey
Amdahl Macintosh User Group
"Jump starting" a dormant User Group into activity again is a process that Audrey Myers recently completed at Amdahl Corporation, a mainframe computer manufacturer in Santa Clara, CA. The Macintosh UG originated about two and a half years ago, but was active for only six months. "As the founders became too busy, it became the baby given up for adoption, with no takers," Myers explains. About a year ago, Myers’ consulting work with Amdahl turned into full-time employment as a User Service analyst, and she thought it was time to revitalize the User Group. She re-energized the corporate Macintosh electronic bulletin board, and hosted an introductory event over lunch to entice colleagues to participate in "re-launching" the group. A survey asked for suggestions on user services as well as volunteers. "The goal is to have shared responsibilities so the group doesn’t lapse again because one person gets too busy," Myers says. Monthly lunch-time meeting topics will focus on Macintosh-to-mainframe connectivity, and group activities will be publicized in a corporate-wide newsletter. Day-long family events will be planned and an employee computer purchase program has been established.
Audrey Myers
Amdahl MUG
Amdahl Corporation
2231 Lawson Lane, Bldg. 16
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408/746-6901
AppleLink: MYERS4
AOL: MYERS4
Quick Bulletins
Mark that Date!
Here are some upcoming events of interest to User Group members.
* July 2: ALUG Annual Meeting, Apple Library Users Group, Atlanta, GA, 8:30a.m.-noon, Ritz Carlton Hotel. $10 fee. Details from Pam Lau, Apple Computer Library, 408/974-2400; AppleLink: LAU.
* July 19-21: Third National User Group Convention for Australia, in Sydney. Details from Frank Revill, Apple Australia; AppleLink: REVILL.
* July 20-21: Apple Central Expo, Apple II conference and expo, Conference Center at NOMDA, Kansas City, MO;10a.m.-6p.m. Tickets: $10 advance, $15 at door. Details from Events Specialists, 800/955-6630.
* August 3-4: NAIC CompuFest, sponsored by National Association of Investors Corp. Seminars/workshops on computers and investing, at Old Colony Inn, Alexandria, VA. Details from Ellis Traub, 305/362-2892.
* August 6-9: Macworld Expo, Boston. Details from Mitch Hall Associates, 260 Milton St., Dedham, MA 02026; 617/361-8000 (phone) or 617/361-3389 (fax).
The Apple User Group Connection User Group Breakfast will be held Thursday, August 8, 7-9:30a.m. (breakfast served 7:30-8:30a.m.) at the Boston Marriott Longwharf Hotel, 296 State Street; 617/227-0800. Topic: Working with third-party developers. RSVP by July 26 by mail or electronically (AppleLink: USER.GROUPS; AOL: Apple UGC). Two representatives from each group may attend. Please bring at least 10 copies of your User Group newsletter to share.
* September 25-27: GTC East, the third annual Government Technology Conference for the Eastern region, at the Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY. Contact Brian Lee, 518/462-1780 for details.
* November 3-6: DPMA Conference, Data Processing Management Association, New Orleans, LA. Details: 708/825-8124.
UG System 7.0 Contest Ends Soon
We’ve heard that a lot of User Groups are hosting activities connected with the debut of System 7.0. To recognize these efforts and encourage other groups to take part, the User Group Connection is sponsoring a System 7.0 Awareness Contest. Your group’s activities could win your group a Macintosh LC computer and a StyleWriter printer!
The User Group System 7.0 Awareness Contest’s goal is to recognize and encourage User Groups to sponsor activities to educate and upgrade their members to the new Macintosh system software. Groups will be judged in four different categories, based on membership (so even a small group can win!). We’re looking for the best, most innovative and comprehensive System 7.0 Awareness Campaign by a User Group. Events or activities might be localized to your UG members, or they could branch out and include the larger computer community in your area. The sky is the limit, and prizes will be awarded to recognize the best activities that increase awareness of System 7.0.
Application details were sent in the Connection’s June mailing, and the deadline for submissions is September 1, 1991. If you’ve misplaced your application or want more details, contact us electronically at AppleLink: USER.GROUPS or AOL: Apple UGC. We’ll be announcing the winners in a future issue of Quick Connect. Good luck!
Portables to the Persian Gulf
We send congratulations to the many segments of the Washington, DC Apple community User Groups, Apple, dealers, and developers who teamed up earlier this year to send off 20 Macintosh Portables to the Persian Gulf. Apple donated the machines, and the Pentagon Macintosh User Group (PMUG) worked with local dealer Falcon Microsystems to prepare them for shipment. PMUG volunteers gathered on a holiday morning to install software donated by Claris and DC-area developers FedSoft and One Mile Up. In just one month (undoubtably a record for government procurement!), the machines had been requested and delivered to the Joint Information Bureaus in Saudi Arabia. Kudos to PMUG for bringing members of the Apple community together on this worthwhile project!
