by Tom Piper, Coordinator

Our fourth Apple World User Group University online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 8:00pm CST, on July 20, 2020, via Zoom. We had 29 participants who joined for the topic of “Nuts & Bolts of User Group Management” (see attached image and list). The 61-minute video can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/l9QH31pJyAk (unlisted YouTube).

This session opened with my welcome, Zoom instructions, and a 5-minute presentation about my appleJAC User Group where I presented our 35-year history and operations (www.applejac.org). I also introduced Doug Smith and Rex Covington from Houston TX, who are Chair and Photographer respectively of the Apple User Group Advisory Board.

Next was an engaging presentation about MacCamps by Betty Larson of Saginaw Macintosh Users Group (smug1.com) and Dale Stephan of Mac-in-Awe Apple users group (www.miamug.com) about their experiences with cooperative presentations. A number of questions and answers followed.

Next was an excellent presentation by Mike Kwasniak (Suffolk Mac User Group in the United Kingdom) who explained how he started with user groups, the progress his group has made over the past years (www.suffolkmug.co.uk).

This was followed with interesting comments (see attached slideshow)s by George Rubin (NaplesMacFriends User Group) about his experiences with their many meetings and their plans for the future (www.naplesmug.com).

A brief discussion was held and suggestions made for future meeting topics such as backups, Q&A forums and other items. The most popular selection about presenters using Zoom. Participants were also informed that the survey from Jeff Gaier (Central Wisconsin Apple User Group) had only garnish six responses so far, so a new link has been posted to gather more user group responses at https://forms.gle/NZLTntWL6JAA3RVP6.

The new AWUGU resource page to share and exchange information is available (https://www.appleusergroupresources.com/category/awugu/) hosted by the Apple User Group Advisory Board. Interesting information was shared including the follow links:

Presenter links from Nicholas:
• https://www.appleusers.org/presentations/presentation-ideas
• https://www.appleusers.org/ugr/approaching-potential-presenters
• https://www.nicholaspyers.com/presentations/finding-presenters-for-apple-user-group-meetings/

We are very pleased that this fourth meeting was very interesting, entertaining and educational. Our next tentative meeting is scheduled for 8:00pm CDT, August 17, 2020, about “Using Zoom as a Presenter”, and on September 21, 2020, a discussion about “Backups & Q&A Forums”. We will attempt to keep these meetings to about an hour, as originally planned. All AWUGU previous registrants will receive an invitation to these meetings.

To become a participant, any interested AUG leader must first register with the AWUGU Coordinator by emailing their name, location, and user group name and web link to macquest@mac.com. Registration must be received by August 19 in order to receive a Zoom Meeting invitation (a download of the free Zoom app in advance is also necessary).