Re: This group (comp.sys.apple2.usergroups)

[taob@ionews.io.org (Brian Tao)]

In article <Cn1zK8.4wt@crash.cts.com>, Randy Shackelford writes...
> 
> I knew this group would be useless so I voted against it.

    I'm rather disappointed too, although I did suggest this was going
to a unique group in the Usenet hierarchy as far as its charter goes.

> People with enough know-how to use news typically are not in need of
> help of a user group.  Conversely, the type of person who enefits most
> from a group will never see this.

    That is not the intent of comp.sys.apple2.usergroups.  From the RFD:

>     The user group is perhaps the most important resource for any
> computer user, more so for the Apple II family than for many other
> platforms.  With dwindling visible Apple II support from Apple, Inc.
> and a scarcity of large third-party companies supporting the Apple II,
> the user group becomes an invaluable asset for both novices and
> veterans alike.
> 
>     The charter for this group comes from the NAUGSAW promotional
> literature, an Apple User Group convention held annually in
> different cities across North America:
> 
>   "Sessions will focus on helping User Groups effectively
>    serve members and communities. They will identify common
>    challenges, brainstorm new concepts, and discuss how best
>    to meet those needs. Topics will include forming a group,
>    obtaining non-profit status, affiliating with other groups,
>    setting up a BBS system, publishing newsletters, volunteer
>    management, case histories, fund raising, and more."
> 
>     The creation of csa2.usergroups will unite Apple II user groups
> from around the world.  It will serve as a forum for the exchange of
> ideas, as well as discussion of common problems inherent in running an
> Apple II user group.  Representatives of user groups with Internet
> access can draw upon the collective knowledge and experience of others
> on csa2.usergroups.  Other comp.sys.* hierarchies may want to consider
> adding a similar subgroup if csa2.usergroups proves to be successful.


    I had hoped that the various UG directors, librarians, newsletter
editors, etc. would use this forum as a public discussion area.  What to
do about declining membership?  Meeting suggestions?  Scheduling and
planning UG special events?  Attending computer shows?  Issues like
that.  Usenet is also the perfect medium for the exchange of newsletter
articles.  Does anyone want to volunteer?

> What could make this group useful would be to confine postings of the
> FAQ and GEnielamp and the like to it. Then people would know exactly
> where to look for info.

    That sounds like a very good idea.  I think we can safely assume now
that most readers who read csa2 also have access to csa2.ug (I've long
since stopped reposting the newgroup control messages).  I'll cast one
vote in favour of restricting all FAQ's and other periodic informational
postings (such as GEnieLamps) to csa2.ug.  I've widened the scope of
this article to include csa2, but replies are coming back to csa2.ug.
-- 
Brian Tao:: taob@io.org (Internex Online, 416-363-4151, 56 lines, v.32bis)
::::::::::: io.org newsgroup count as of Wed Apr 6 23:41:30 EDT 1994: 9753