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---------------------------------------------------------------- USER GROUPS AND COMPUTER CLUBS - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND ---------------------------------------------------------------- This section includes an extensive address list of computer clubs throughout America. See the list at the end of this tutorial... The deeper you delve into computing, the sooner you discover the benefits of joining a user group. The idea is simple: books, tutorial disks and healthy doses of personal computer magazines will only take you so far; sooner or later you need to talk to SOMEONE. Computer groups once had an image as hacker havens, but have now broadened in scope to provide services as general or specific as you like. User groups offer an informal way to meet and exchange ideas about equipment, software or specialized techniques in certain program areas. A good user group will boast a variety of functions and sub- functions. A monthly meeting headlines the agenda. Meetings vary from group to group, but a common standard is first a beginners corner for those just getting started. More experienced users may come later to the main meeting or come early to help teach or copy public domain software. The second portion of the meeting usually revolves around an open "question and answer" session during which members present ideas or ask pressing questions of the entire gathering. Third on the agenda is usually a presentation or guest speaker who discusses a software program, new device or procedure. The fourth and final portion of many user group meetings is the copying of public domain and shareware programs of interest to members. Annual dues for most users groups vary from free to $50 and are frequently supplemented by the sale of public domain and shareware software to both members and interested non-members. Frequently a resource referral list is prepared which provides the name(s), phone numbers and specialties of members who are available to answer technical software or hardware questions. Sometimes problems and questions becomes so numerous that the user group will schedule special training sessions to help many members having difficulty in a common area. Other user groups enjoy field trips and opportunities which brings members directly into contact with business users or computer development professionals at an office or plant location. Additional activities of the group may involve a monthly newsletter on disk or paper, a BBS system with group news and programs accessible by computer and telephone modem, group discount purchasing memberships, a library index, directory of members and list of local BBS systems and recommended software/hardware vendors. The groups also serve as a handy conduit for sales of used equipment by and for fellow members. As senior members in the group migrate to more powerful computers and attachments, fellow members can frequently locate excellent equipment and software packages below retail prices. The software library of a user group is a vast repository of unusual software programs. Generally, the larger or more technical the group, the broader the software resources available. In addition some groups maintain older versions of a program which may be simpler and more useful for the beginner. Another benefit of using the user group software library derives from the availability of program variants within a given area: a club member can try not one but five or six different shareware spreadsheets in an attempt to locate the most comfortable software for his or her particular needs. Shareware springs from the roots of the personal computer movement and for many computer user group members, shareware and public domain software may be the only software ever needed. Some groups further specialize. Frequently these groups are known as SIG's (Special Interest Groups). SIGs have a narrow focus which may be more suited to certain people. SIGs exist to serve spreadsheet users, DOS beginners, modem users, database users, designers, lawyers, modem users, graphics designers and the list goes on. Locating a user group involves a little probing at first. At the end of this tutorial is a mailing list of the largest computer groups in the United States. Frequently a self-stamped envelope will bring you information on a group nearest you or an invitation to join that national club. In addition, FOG, an international nonprofit computer users group, maintains a comprehensive listing of national clubs. This list is also printed in all issues of the Computer Shopper magazine (most newsstands or $21 per year, 5211 South Washington Ave, POB F, Titusville, FL 32781.) The address for FOG is PO Box 3474, Daly City, California, 94015. FOG telephone is (415) 755- 2000. FOG lists over 20,000 members who have access to the club's library of shareware for both CPM and DOS machines as well as a helpline for members needing fast telephone answers to computer questions, a monthly newsletter and discounts on assorted computer merchandise. Membership in FOG is $40 per year. A self-addressed, self-stamped envelope to FOG will bring a list of computer clubs nearest you. Another source of lists of local computer clubs is The Association of Personal Computer User Groups 1730 "M" ST NW, #700, Washington, DC 20036. Yet another way to locate user groups is to ask sales personnel at a local software store or manager of any local Radio Shack Store! Frequently a few phone calls will produce several phone numbers of interest. In addition, IBM maintains an automated national registry of user groups which can be reached at (404) 988-2782. Two lists follow. First a list of large computer clubs, then a list of clubs specializing in business and computer management. ---------------------------------------------------------------- LARGEST NATIONAL USER GROUPS ---------------------------------------------------------------- Before you begin, here's a clever trick to search the list FAST! Use the SEARCH FEATURE to locate a computer club near you! Press the S key (S means search) to bring up the search menu. When prompted for a search string enter a phrase which will zoom you straight to your state of residence! For example, the address for California groups should have a comma followed by a space then CA. So enter this as the search string: , CA (in other words: comma space CA) Press enter and you will zoom straight to a phrase which contains that search item. Hit the ENTER/RETURN key to continue to the next match if the first match is not of interest. In fact you can search ANY tutorial for a phrase or word. To remind yourself of the extra features, examine the help screen: press the F1 key. Many of these groups welcome out of state memberships and can also provide additional lists of user groups in your area. This list is sorted into order of states (i.e., Alaska at top of list, West Virginia at bottom of list.) Contact Jim Hood at the address listed in this package for the even larger (1,000 count) master directory of computer clubs and users groups! POLAR PC'S USER'S GROUP BOX 72934, FAIRBANKS, AK 99707 BIRMINGHAM IBM PC USER GRP POB 19248, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35219-9248 HUNTSVILLE PC UG POB 16013, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35802 ARK/OK PC USERS GROUP PO BOX 853, FORT SMITH, AR 72902 CENTRAL ARKANSAS PC USERS ASSOC. POB 2095, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72203 TWIN LAKES USERS GROUP RT 5-BOX 127, MOUNTAIN HOME, AR 72653 NORTHWEST ARK MICROCOMPUTER USERS RT 4 BOX 376, SPRINGDALE, AR 73764 JONESBORO USER GROUP PO BOX 838, STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467 PHOENIX PC USER'S GROUP POB 35637, PHOENIX, AZ 85069-5637 SOUTH MOUNTAIN USERS GROUP PO BOX 50002, PHOENIX, AZ 85076 TUCSON COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 1489, TUCSON, AZ 85702 BERKELEY PC USERS 1145 WALNUT ST, BERKELEY, CA 94707 VALLEY COMPUTER CLUB PO BOX 6008, BURBANK, CA 91510 FOG INT'L COMPUTER USERS GROUP POB 3474, DALY CITY, CA 94015 COLOR AMERICA INC 1466 SPRUCE TREE DR, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765 IBM HUMBOLDT USERS GROUP POB 6721, EUREKA, CA 95502 MICROLINK PC USER GROUP 15865-B GALE AVENUE #1003, HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA 91745 ANTELOPE VALLEY PC USERS POB 2942, LANCASTER, CA 93539 SAN LUIS OBISPO PC USERS 2100 ANDRE AVENUE, LOS OSOS, CA 93402 MONTEREY BAY UG 177 WEBSTER STREET SUITE A-354, MONTEREY, CA 93940 NAPA VALLEY PC USERS POB 2653, NAPA, CA 94558 CHANNEL ISLANDS PC USERS GROUP POB 5025, OXNARD, CA 93031 PASADENA IBM USERS GROUP 711 - EAST WALNUT ST #306, PASADENA, CA 91101 RIVERSIDE IBM COMPUTER CLUB 7860 LIVE OAK DRIVE, RIVERSIDE, CA 92509-5339 SACRAMENTO PC USERS GROUP PO BOX 162227, SACRAMENTO, CA 95816-2227 IECG POB 5281, SAN BERNADINO, CA 92412 SAN DIEGO COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 81444, SAN DIEGO, CA 92138 SAN FRANCISCO IBM PC UG 3145 GEARY BLVD. SUITE 155, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118-3316 SAN FRANCISCO COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 783, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94101 SF BUSINESS COMPTUER CLUB 455 VALLEJO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133 SANTA BARBARA PC USERS GROUP 281 OAK RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108 SILICON VALLEY COMPUTER SOCIETY 2464 EL CAMINO REAL #190, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051 NORTH BAY USERS POB 7156, VALLEJO, CA 94590 METRO AREA COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTS PO BOX 440247, AURORA, CO 80044 COLORADO SPRINGS PC U. G. BOX 1028, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80901 MILE HIGH COMPUTER CLUB POB 5226, DENVER, CO 80217 WINDOWS ON THE ROCKIES CLUB POB 9929, DENVER, CO 80209 FRONT RANGE PC USERS GROUP 305 W. MAGNOLIA #152, FORT COLLINS, CO 80521 CHAFFEE COUNTRY COMPTUER CLUB POB 1123, SALIDA, CO 81201 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT USER GROUP 781 MAIN ST, COVENTRY, CT 06238 CONNECTICUT IBM PC USER'S GROUP BOX 291, NEW CANNAAN, CT 06840 TRUMBILL PC USERS POB 545, TRUMBULL, CT 06611 BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL USERS GROUP PO BOX 1468, WEST HARTFORD, CT 06107 ASSOCIATION OF PERS. COMPUTER UG 1730 "M" ST NW, #700, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 PC PROFESSIONAL USER GROUP 1601 CONCORD PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19803 POLK IBM PC USERS 2182 LAKE ARIANA BVD, AUBURNDALE, FL 33823 MANATEE PC USERS 411-67TH ST NW, BRADENTON, FL 34209 HERNANDO CITRUS PC USERS POB 1106, BROOKSVILLE, FL 34605 SW FLORIDA PC USERS POB 1466, FORT MEYERS, FL 33902 SOUTH POLK PC USERS GROUP 815 N. LAKE REEDY BLVD., FROSTPROOF, FL 33843 HOGTOWN HACKERS 4623 - NW 13TH AV, GAINESVILLE, FL 32605 MIAMI PC USER GROUP INC 4651 SHEIDAN ST STE 300, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33021 P.C. UG JACKSONVILLE POB 47197, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32247-7197 IBM RIDGE AREA COMPUTER CLUB 251 TOWER LAKES, LAKE WALES, FL 33853 CFCS COMPUTER CLUB POB 948019, MAITLAND, FL 32751 PCBUG POB 285, NAPLES, FL 33939 CHARLOTTE COUNTY PC USERS POB 3530, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 33949 TRI-COUNTY COMPUTER USER GROUP POB 7414, PORT ST. LUCIE, FL 34985 SARASOTA PC USERS 4557 CAMINO REAL, SARASOTA, FL 34231 EPSUNCOAST PC USERS 1237 - 79TH ST S, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33707 FT. LAUDERDALE COMPUTER USERS GROUP 8461 N.W. 31ST PLACE, SUNRISE, FL 33351 USF PERSONAL COMPUTER/SYSTEM UG SVC 4010 USF UCS INFO CENTER, TAMPA, FL 33620-6940 PBUG COMPUTER CLUB 319 SEQUOIA DRIVE, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409 ATLANTA IBM PC USER'S GROUP INC. POB 28788, ATLANTA, GA 30358 CSRA COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 284, AUGUSTA, GA 30903 LAGRANGE AREA MICRO USERS GROUP 262 EAST LAKEVIEW DR, LAGRANGE, GA 30240 HAWAII IBM PC USERS GROUP BOX 22967, HONOLULU, HI 96822 MILITARY PC USER GROUP 400 HOBRON LANE #1802, HONOLULU, HI 96815 WAIKIKI PC USER GROUP PO BOX 15911, HONOLULU, HI 95811 QUAD CITY PC USER'S GROUP POB 2456, DAVENPORT, IA 52809 HAWKEYE PC USERS GROUP POB 2592, IOWA CITY, IA 52244 NORTHWEST IOWA PC USER GROUP 320 OAK PARK CIRCLE, WATERLOO, IA 50701 NORTHERN ILLINOIS COMPUTER SOCIETY PO BOX 547, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60006 CHICAGO COMPUTER SOCIETY THE POB 8681, CHICAGO, IL 60680-8681 ASSOC PERSONAL PC USERS 9063 N CLIFTON AV, NILES, IL 60648 FOX VALLEY PC ASSOC PO BOX 28, NORTH AURORA, IL 60542 PEORIA COMPUTER CLUB POB 758, PEORIA, IL 61602 WESTERN IL PROGRAMMERS AND USERS RR5 BOX 75, QUINCY, IL 62301 FOX VALLEY COMPUTER SOCTY POB 188, SOUTH ELGIN, IL 60177 NORTHERN ILL COMPUTER OWNERS N 371 COUNTY FARM RD, WINFIELD, IL 60190 ANDERSON COMPUTER USR GROUP 830 HAROLD ST, ANDERSON, IN 46013 INDIANAPOLIS COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 2532, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206 MICHIANA AMATEUR COMPUTER SOCIETY PO BOX 2171, MICHIGAN CITY, IN 46360 TOPEKA PC USERS CLUB POB 1279, TOPEKA, KS 66601 BLUEGRASS USER GROUP 1160-A CENTRE PKWY, LEXINGTON, KY 40517 CENTRAL KY COMPUTER SOCIETY 2050 IDLE HOUR CENTER #160, LEXINGTON, KY 40502 KY-IN PC USERS GROUP BOX 3564, LOUISVILLE, KY 40201 HEARTLAND USERS GROUP 155 HIGHLAND CIRCLE, PADUCAH, KY 42003-1206 POWELL COUNTY PC USER GROUP C/O COMPSERV LTD BOX 399, STANTON, KY 40380 IBM SERIOUS U. OF BATON ROUGE COMPUTER ELECTRONICS/1955 DALLAS DR., BATON ROUGE, LA 70806 ACADIANA MICROCOMPUTER USERS GROUP PO BOX 51142, LAFAYETTE, LA 70505 NORTHWEST LOUISIANA PC U. G. 945 DUDLEY DR., SHREVEPORT, LA 71104 BOSTON COMPUTER SOCIETY THE ONE KENDALL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139 PIONEER VALLEY PC U. G. P. O. BOX H, NORTH AMHERST, MA 01059 CHESAPEAKE PC USERS GROUP 2315B FOREST DR. #31, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 COMMUNAL COMPUTING POB 6599, SILVER SPRINGS, MD 20916 ISLAND REACH COMPUTER CLUB POB 1029, BLUE HILL, ME 04614 DOWNEAST COMPUTER SOCTY POB 384, DEER ISLE, ME 04627 IBM PC USERS 26 CASCADE ROAD, OLD ORCHARD BCH, ME 04064 FLINT AREA COMPUTER ENTRUSIASTS POB 69, FLINT, MI 48501 CURSORS IBM USERS GOGEBIC COM COLLEGE/E. 4946 JACKSON RD, IRONWOOD, MI 49938 S.W. MICHIGAN IBM PC USERS GROUP 2320 CROSSWIND DRIVE, KALAMAZOO, MI 49008 MIDLAND COMPUTER CLUB 830 W PRAIRIE RD, MIDLAND, MI 48640 DETROIT AREA NETWORK USERS POB 69015, PLEASANT RIDGE, MI 48069 STERLING HEIGHTS COMPUTER CLUB POB 925, STERLING HTS, MI 48311 TWIN CITIES PC USERS EDINA COM CTR/5701 NORMANDALE RD, EDINA, MN 55424 KANSAS CITY IBM PC USERS GROUP 221 E. 63RD ST., KANSAS CITY, MO 64113 MICROCOMPUTER USERS GROUP PO BOX 411436, KANSAS CITY, MO 64141 ST LOUIS U G FOR THE IBM PC PO BOX 69099, ST LOUIS, MO 63109 PC USERS OF ASHEVILLE C/O DOUG FRENCH 44 HOLLYBROOK DR, ASHEVILLE, NC 28803 FOOTHILLS PC USERS POB 563, HICKORY, NC 28603 MAGIC CITY IBM USERS POB 3124, MINOT, ND 58702 WAHPETON PC USERS POB 181, WAHPETON, ND 58074 PEMI BAKER COMPUTER GRP RFD 2, BOX 399, PLYMOUTH, NH 03264 PC CLUB OF SOUTH JERSEY POB 427 295 W. RT 70, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002 BROOKDALE COMPUTER USERS 12 GEORJEAN DR, HOLMDEL, NJ 07733 SOUTH JERSEY IBM PC USERS G. P. O. BOX 1117, OCEAN CITY, NJ 08226 NEW JERSEY PC USER GROUP INC. POB 14, PARAMUS, NJ 07653-1014 AMATEUR COMPUTER GRP NEW JERSEY POB 135, SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ 07076 COMPUTER CONNECTION POB 382, VOORHEES, NJ 08043 LAS VEGAS PC USERS GROUP 5000 E BONANZA RD #8788, LAS VEGAS, NV 89110 LONG ISLAND PC USERS 659 STRATTFORD RD, BALDWIN, NY 11510 BUFFALO IBM USERS GROUP INC. POB 609, BUFFALO, NY 14226 LONG ISLAND COMPUTER ASSOCIATION POB 71, HICKSVILLE, NY 11802 HUDSON VALLEY PERSONAL COMPUTING BOX 6057, KINGSTON, NY 12401 COMPUTER CLUB OF NY 9 CHESTNUT GROVE CT, NEW YORK, NY 10956 CREATIVE COMPUTER CLUB 153 EAST 57 ST #8-G, NEW YORK, NY 10022 NEW YORK PERSONAL COMPUTER GRP 40 WALL ST #2124, NEW YORK, NY 10005 NY AMATEUR COMPUTER CLUB BOX 3442 CHURCH ST. STA., NEW YORK, NY 10008 LEATHERSTOCKING COMPUTER CLUB POB 1284, ONEONTA, NY 13820-5284 LONG ISLAND COMPUTER SOCTY POB 2440, PATCHOGUE, NY 11772 FROG COMPUTER SOCIETY 321 EXECUTIVE OFFICE BLDG, ROCHESTER, NY 14614 PC ROCKLAND USERS 32 SMITH AVE, SOUTH NYACK, NY 10960 SYRACUSE MICRO CLUB POB 753, SYRACUSE, NY 13205 WESTCHESTER PC USERS GROUP POB 349, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10602-0349 CINCINNATI IBM PC USERS GROUP BOX 3097, CINCINNATI, OH 45201 CLEVELAND COMPUTER SOCTY 3150 PAYNE AVE, CLEVELAND, OH 44114 COLUMBUS COMPUTER SOCIETY POB 1556, COLUMBUS, OH 45216 DAYTON MICROCOMPUTER ASSOC INC MUS NAT HIST/2629 RIDGE AVE, DAYTON, OH 45414 MSDOS PC USERS 200 ROUDEBUSH HALL/MIAMI UNIV, OXFORD, OH 45056 TOLEDO PC USERS GROUP P. O. BOX 13085, TOLEDO, OH 43613 WESTERN RESERVE IBM-COMP PC ASSOC PO BOX 8828, WARREN, OH 44484 OKC PC USERS GROUP POB 12027, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73107 TULSA COMPUTER SOCIETY BOX 3211, TULSA, OK 74101 EUGENE PC USERS POB 11436, EUGENE, OR 97440 RACE COMPUTER CLUB 1358 WILLOW CT, GRANTS PASS, OR 97440 PORTLAND PC CLUB 921 SW MORRISON/GALLERIA STE 529, PORTLAND, OR 97205 COMPUTER USERS OF ERIE POB 1975, ERIE, PA 16507 EXTON PC COUNCIL (EPCC) MS BUCK 400 EXTON SQ PKWY, CHEST. LIBRARY, EXTON, PA 19341 HARRISBURG PC USER GROUP 1195 FAIRMONT DRIVE, HARRISBURG, PA 17112 PHIL. COMPUTER USERS P. O. BOX 312 LASALLE UNIV., PHILADELPHIA, PA 19141 GREENE COUNTY PC USERS 42 S WEST ST, WAYNESBURG, PA 15370 SOUTH COUNTY COMPUTER USERS PO BOX 493, WAKEFIELD, RI 02880 IBM PC UG OF CHARLESTON CC PO BOX 520, CHARLESTON, SC 29402 PALMETTO PERSONAL COMPUTER CLUB POB 2046, COLUMBIA, SC 29202 CUMBERLAND MICROCOMPUTER UG POB 151, COOKEVILLE, TN 38503-0151 MUSIC CITY COMPUTER CLUB 488 SADDLE DR, NASHVILLE, TN 37221 EAST TENN PC USERS STEVEN PEYROT 1345 OAK RIDGE TURNPIKE STE. 291, OAK RIDGE, TN 37830 GOLDEN TRIANGLE PC CLUB POB 20905, BEAUMONT, TX 77720 BRAZOS VALLEY PC 1920 PEACH CREEK RD, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845 NORTH TEXAS PC USER'S GROUP POB 780066, DALLAS, TX 75378-0066 FORT WORTH IBM PC USERS POB 1476, FORT WORTH, TX 76101 BAY AREA PC USERS POB 580356, HOUSTON, TX 77058 HOUSTON AREA LEAGUE OF PC USERS/HAL-PC 1200 POST OAK BLVD. SUITE 106, HOUSTON, TX 77056 DALLAS FT. WORTH PC USERS GR. 309 LINCOLNSHIRE, IRVING, TX 75061 FT BEND COMPUTER USERS POB 292, RICHMOND, TX 77469 ALAMO COMPUTER CLUB P. O. BOX 65180, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78265 TEMPLE AREA PC USERS 1501 E BARTON ST, TEMPLE, TX 76501 TYLER COMPUTER CLUB 4928 RICHMOND RD, TYLER, TX 75703 UTAH BLUE CHIPS POB 510811, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84151 PACIFIC NORTHWEST PC USERS GROUP POB 3363, BELLEVUE, WA 98009 BORDERLINE PC USERS POB 5229, FPO SEATTLE, WA 98791-5229 FOX VALLEY TECH COLLEGE PC USERS POB 2277 MAIL ROOM 318, APPLETON, WI 54913-2277 MADISON PC USER'S GROUP POB 2598, MADISON, WI 53701-2598 MILWAUKEE PCUG POB 2121, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201 HUNTINGTON PC USERS GRP P. O. BOX 2173, HUNTINGTON, WV 25722 BOOT HILLS PC USERS GROUP PO BOX 686, WHEELING, WV 26003 ---------------------------------------------------------------- USER GROUPS SPECIALIZING IN BUSINESS AND COMPUTER MANAGEMENT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Society for the Management of Professional Computing, c/o Lynn Geissler, Shawmut Bank of Boston, 1 Federal St, Boston, MA 02211; (617) 292-3027 Micro Managers Association, c/o Annie Zdinak, 333 Sylvan Ave, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; (201) 569-6016 Association of Personal Computer Users, 323 S. Franklin St, Ste 204, Chicago, Ill 60606; (219) 696-6760 Chicago Association of Microcomputer Professionals, POB 380, Deerfield ILL 60015; (312) 831-0286 Gateway Microcomputer Managers Association, POB 28773, St. Louis, MO 63146; (314) 854-4338 San Francisco Microcomputer Management Association, 834 Baker St., San Francisco, CA 94115; (415) 346-4452 Tutorial finished. Have you registered PC-Learn to receive your bonus disks? Registration is encouraged. Shareware works on the honor system! Send $25 to Seattle Scientific Photography, Department PCL6, PO Box 1506, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Latest version of PC-Learn and two bonus disks shipped promptly!