Chuck Joiner’s Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center Web site notes this week that France’s 40 recognized MUGs will receive visibility at the Apple Expo Paris thanks to the Apple User Group booth, which will be located in the Easy Mac section. Apple Regional Liaison team member Alain Pougeoise told Joiner that all user group leaders and members heading to Paris should send him an e-mail so that he can include them in all the activities. You can find more information on the MUG Center site.
PhotoshopWorld is also happening this week in Orlando, Fla., and the Apple User Group Advisory Board’s Lesa Snider will host an informal get-together called “Macintosh Users Networking & Resources” on Sept. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Café Gaugin in the Rosen Centre Hotel. In addition, attendees at the Entertainment Media Expo (EMX) in Los Angeles will get to free entry to the Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group’s slate of presentations by Apple’s Brian Schmidt, DTS’ Scott Esterson, Optibase’s Bill Reckwerdt and others. LAFCPUG also notes that it has posted the results of this year’s Top Ten Final Cut Pro Feature Requests poll on its Web site, where you can find information about the EMX event.
Other upcoming user group events include a demonstration of DVD collection back-ups at the National Macintosh Computer Society on Aug. 31; an overview of Apple’s Motion at The Rest of Us, a presentation on Apple’s Keynote at Strait MUG and an introduction to Starry Night Pro 4.5 at MacValley User Group on Sept. 1; a visit from Apple’s Dave Marra at Bux-Mont MUG, an informational session about eBay at Silicon Mountain MUG, another Keynote overview at MUGPort and coverage of Adobe Elements at Edgewood Area MUG on Sept. 2; and Apple Australia’s Joe Cox at AUSOM, Think4Inc’s Jeffrey Ian at Orange Apple Computer Club and a look at Adobe InDesign at MacWaves on Sept. 4.
Looking ahead, Sept. 16 will see Austin’s Capitol Macintosh group welcome Intego’s Meredith Tucker to cover the company’s Internet security software, announce the winners of the 2004 Membership Recruiting contest and raffle off prizes that include an iPod mini and an AirPort Express base station. The same day, Boston Final Cut Pro User Group will meet at Emerson College’s Billy Boardy Theater to hear ResFest director Jonathan Wells discuss the short films and music videos that will be shown during the festival. In addition, the group will witness the Boston debut of Canon’s new XL-2 digital camcorder. You’ll need to register at Apple’s Web site to attend; the meeting is free, but a US$5 donation is required for the Big Dig Raffle.
Finally, the MUG Center notes that Dan de Grandpre will visit Houston Area Apple Users Group on Sept. 18 and Apple Core of Dallas on Nov. 18 as part of his MUG tour. He’ll talk about the history of his bargain-hunters’ Web site and offer consumer tips and other information. You can contact him through the MUG Center to request a visit to your group.
As always, meetings times, locations and attendance fees, if any, can be found on each MUG’s Web site.
If you’re looking for meeting ideas for your MUG, TidBITS’ Adam Engst offers his Take Control series of electronic books through the TidBITS User Group Program — the latest one is “Take Control of Buying a Mac.” Engst offers a free copy of each of his e-books, as well as coupons for discounts on group purchases, to all user groups; visit the MUG Center to learn how to contact him.
Macintosh User Groups interested in seeing their events listed on MacCentral are welcome to send us their news. We post roundups of MUG events and gatherings each week.
If you’re wondering what user group events are happening in your area, visit the MUG Center’s online calendar. Apple also hosts a user group site where you can look for a MUG near you or find out how to start your own group.