AppleWorld UGU Online: A Legacy Tool Reawakened
AppleWorld User Group University (AWUGU) has returned after a long hibernation to once again share Apple user group knowledge and experience among its members. Originated in 1987 at Apple World in Boston, our last AWUGU session was in 2004 at Macworld in San Francisco.
User Group University was a conference for leaders of Macintosh User Groups (MUGs), which are now known as Apple User Groups (AUGs). Classes covered such topics as “Marketing Your User Group” and “How to Get Young People in Your Group”, which are still important discussions today. AUGs have long been good places for making new friends, finding Apple-loving buddies, boning up technical expertise, finding solutions to related problems, and sometimes finding a good deal on hardware and software.
While the Macworld Expo may be a fond memory, there’s still value in gathering around the topics that interest the Apple user group community. The Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) has decided to add a monthly interactive forum to its Locator, Bulletin, website and support services which would bring back the spirit, education and enthusiasm of the original AWUGU.
The mechanism for this forum will be based on the following items:
- a one-hour session the third Monday each month
- online participation by Apple user groups leaders via Webex or Zoom
- a new topic each month featuring a short presentation followed by a Q&A
- participant suggestions for improving membership services
- a website for posting information
The first AWUGU Online meeting of AUG leaders was held 8:00pm, CST, April 20, 2020. In view of the COVID-19 vulnerability of our greying members, VR and streaming meetings will be our topic. The facilitators and faculty for the presentation and discussion will be members of UGAB and AUG leaders. Future sessions will also include special guests and interesting topics. A schedule of meeting dates and topics will be distributed to participants before each meeting, and updated regularly on the website, which will also include highlights from previous meetings.
In order to become a participant, any interested AUG leader must first register with the AWUGU Coordinator by emailing their contact information to uguonline@icloud.com or macquest@mac.com. It must be understood in advance that this registration means that any information received hereafter may be shared with all participants in the forum, but will not be used for any advertising or solicitations.
The reawakening of AWUGU services is exciting and challenging. It is based on the importance of sharing valuable knowledge and experience to support the efforts of Apple user groups everywhere.
