Nicholas Pyers of AppleUsers.org always has expert ideas on ways to make leading your group easier and more efficient. In this article he discusses media releases: basic guidelines, finding topics, generating media interest, identifying media opportunities and more. His article wraps up with a link to a helpful article on creating a media kit.Check it outBy Rick Ortiz
Apple users have for the most part been protected from many of the viruses and malware issues experienced on the PC. But with the popularity of Apple products over the past decade, those wanting to take advantage and compromise your computer use experience has grown. Most recently, applications, search engine hijacks and web browser plug-ins are the culprits of what many Mac users think are “viruses.” This has become a popular discussion topic at user group meetings. So to help user groups, we are providing group leaders with a meeting guide and how you can address and discuss this issue at your meetings. Click on read more below to continue.
I. Overview (more…)
Raising Money With Patreon For Your User Group by Rex Covington
A little over a two years ago Board member and blogger Rex Covington started on a journey that matters, riding across the US to raise diabetes awareness and raise funds to support research toward a cure. His blog, voted one of the top 100 motorcycle blogs, offers a glimpse into his travels. Rex uses Patreon, and wrote this article for groups who might want to consider fundraising with Patreon.
Patreon Is a subscription-based crowd funding platform that helps creators collect financial support from their fans. You can use Patreon to fund your projects, Special Interest Group (SIG), or just to support your User Group by uploading YouTube videos. https://www.patreon.com
Many user group members know communications expert Garr Reynolds. His Presentation Zen books, seminars, and videos are best sellers, and he has been a leader in the user group community for years. With so many people working, and presenting, from home, Garr recently released a short video explaining how to make an effective presentation using tools you already have: iPhone, PowerPoint, and iMovie. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish!
How to Make a Simple Video Presentation Using an iPhone, PowerPoint, and iMovie
written by Tom Piper, Past President of appleJAC User Group and Head of the Apple User Group Vendor team
One of the most valuable services provided by Apple User Groups to their members are the “question and answer” sessions. For the past 35 years of our existence, appleJAC has evolved through a variety of Q&A processes. This How-To session will describe each of the successful methods that we have used.
Presentation Q&As
One of the most prevalent and persistent Q&A opportunities is during and after a topic is presented to the user group membership. We previously asked people to refrain from asking questions until the end of the presentation, but found that this unnecessarily restrained audience participation, which is an important aspect of user groups. Instead, we encourage questions at any time, but strictly adhere to a preset time limit (using a visible timer), which everyone is made aware of in advance. Questions must also remain “on topic” so the discussions do stray away from the theme of the presentation.
Over the years, some of the best ideas for user group leadership have come from the worldwide community of user group officers, the hard working leaders and experts who ensure that their groups survive and thrive.
This month’s How To features one of the most popular presentations ever presented at a User Group University session. In this session, Dr. Scott Pelok talked about the various sorts of difficult people we encounter in our groups and in everyday life. The Board still gets letters asking about the presentation and we have heard from folk who say his tips helped resolve challenging situations in their groups. Use the link below to download his presentation.
Thanks Dr. Scott!
Groups are always looking for a great presentation and this month Nicholas Pyers of AppleUsers.org offers valuable insights into ways to find guest presenters. His recent article, the fifth installment in his “Working with Presenters” series can help you reconceptualize the process and increase your ability to organize great meetings. Want to know more? Check out all five articles in the series.
Thanks as always to Nicholas for these wonderful resources!
Randy Singer, leader of the 9.000+ member strong MacAttorney User Group, co-author of multiple editions of the well-loved Macintosh Bible, author of the ABA’s The Macintosh Software Guide for the Law Office, writer of the MacAttorney Newsletter, and popular presenter, recently commented that it can be hard to find all of the alternatives for Macintosh accounting software. He notes that, “even though the myth that “there are no accounting programs for the Macintosh” is prevalent, the truth is that this has always been one of the Mac’s better covered areas.”
So, he has created a page covering currently-available offerings. The page is in the early stages, and it is incredibly informative.
Check it out – maybe even contribute to the conversation:
http://www.macattorney.com/accounting.html
Visit MacAttorney.
written by Tom Piper, Past President of appleJAC User Group and Head of the Apple User Group Vendor team
One of the most valuable services provided by Apple User Groups to their members are the “question and answer” sessions. For the past 35 years of our existence, appleJAC has evolved through a variety of Q&A processes. This How-To session will describe each of the successful methods that we have used.
By Rick Ortiz
Apple User Groups have always been a great resource for help outside of the normal Apple support system. Besides the in-person meetings, some user groups offer online support resources and email discussion lists. User groups seem to always answer those tough and hard-to-find solutions, for its members. But user group members sometimes need support beyond that, and in the past we would call Apple for help. But as technology changes, so has our Apple support options. This “How-To” is more of a resource article for user group leaders as well as for members themselves. (note: Apple Stores are a great resources for help, but not everyone has a store near them, or can go into a store for support. This article will focus on online support options.)
