Chuck Joiner, editor of The Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center Web site, informed MacCentral this week that he has re-launched his forums, complete with discussions geared toward MUGs of all types, from international ones to those aimed at specific applications, such as Final Cut Pro. In addition, you can use the MUG Center forums to find out what MUGs have in store for future trade shows as well as what MUG events are happening in your area. You can even direct the forum to e-mail messages to you.
Lest you think the MUG population is static, Joiner also notes that two new groups recently entered the user group ranks: Seattle Xcoders, which will hold its second meeting on Nov. 9 at the University Village Apple Store, and MUG Romania, the first founded in that country. Romanian Mac users will get together on Dec. 1 to celebrate their Apple-recognized status.
The next time you can expect to see MUGs assemble en masse will be Macworld Conference & Expo San Francisco in January. In preparation, IDG’s Paul Kent and Sarah Hindmarsh will visit MUGs this week and next to provide sneak peeks of the show. Kent will stop by northern California’s East Bay MUG on Nov. 11 and Santa Cruz’s MaCruzers on Dec. 1, while Hindmarsh will present to Santa Rosa, Calif.’s North Coast MUG on Nov. 15.
If your group won’t have a presence at Macworld, however, you can always find other ways to fill out your upcoming meetings. Your group’s ambassador can visit the Apple Sales Web site to download information about the new iPod Photo and Power Mac G5 for assembling into a presentation. And if you want to make sure your MUG’s voice is heard, stop by The MUG Center and fill out this week’s survey question, which asks: “What are your preferred methods of interaction and participation with other MUG leaders and members?” Last week’s query asked what tools are used to maintain MUG Web sites. Visit Joiner’s site to learn the responses.
This week’s MUG meetings start on Nov. 9 as Apple’s Dave Marra visits Allentown, Penn.’s MacPower MUG; Stone Design’s Andrew Stone presents to New Mexico’s MacinTech; the UK’s Oxford MUG discusses networking your home or business for broadband Internet access; Texas’ Cowtown MUG covers holiday gift suggestions; Florida’s Lakeland Area MUG looks at the latest iPods; New Mexico’s AppleQuerque MUG fires up AppleWorks and takes it for a spin; Princeton MUG exposes digital photography; Maryland Apple Core offers “Phil Shapiro Presents Digital Storytelling;” MUG for Seniors works with Adobe’s Photoshop Elements; and Sierra MUG listens to the latest features found in iTunes 4.7.
On Nov. 10, Marra stops by Pennsylvania’s Hershey Apple Core; North Jersey MUG welcomes a 4D Software representative; Indiana’s Serious MUG discovers how to edit digital video with iMovie; Apple Valley, Calif.’s Serious MUG explores AppleScript; and Alaskan MUG presents “NovaMind & Toast with Jam.” On Nov. 11, Laguna Woods, Calif.’s Leisure World MUG keeps track of Mac OS X’s Address Book; Kansas’ MacWichita looks at “Internet and eBay Buying;” and Austin’s CapMac welcomes Aspyr Media, who will show off their new games.
Nov. 12 will see a discussion of KOffice at Atlantic City Area MUG; “Webstractor & Voice-Over IP Telephony” at Japan’s Ringo MUG; and an overview of Olympus digital cameras at Long Island MUG.
On Nov. 13, dealmac’s Dan de Grandpre visits Apple Corps of Dallas; MacSoft’s Al Schilling shows off the latest games from his company at Chicago’s Northwest of Us; Jonathan Stars goes over FileMaker 7 at Midland, Mich.’s Mac-In-Awe; Lakewood, Wash.’s Northwest Apple Pickers looks at Photoshop Elements; Arkansas’ Hot Springs MUG presents “Bring It & They Will Fix It;” Paoli, Penn.’s Main Line MUG looks at what gifts to buy for your fellow Mac users this holiday season; Macintosh Association of Central New Jersey covers QuickTime and QuickTime VR; Las Vegas MUG holds a swap meet; and Kansas’ Kaw River MUG explains home networking.
While Nov. 14 is clear, Nov. 15 will witness another 4D Software visit, this time to Cupertino, Calif.’s Silicon Valley MUG; a presentation of “Content Management Online” at Australia’s Internet MUG; and “Mac OS X Revisited & Apple Remote Desktop” at Ohio’s Apple Dayton.
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.