Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center editor Chuck Joiner has posted his latest user Group Report, which features the Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group’s Michael Horton discussing a meeting site challenge that they recently overcame as well as MUG Center contributing editor Lesa Snider’s continuation of her “Great MUG Graphics” series. He’s also posted the results of last week’s survey question covering promotional item preferences and listed this week’s query: “What is the primary format of your group’s newsletter?”
Joiner has also posted Apple Regional Liaison Chris Kiltz’s latest dispatch covering the goings-on at MUGs in the American northwest and noted that the Apple User Group Advisory Board and the Macworld Planning Committee have announced a kick-off event for the Monday before Macworld Conference & Expo San Francisco starts. Featuring presentations by vendors and user group leaders as well as a reception, the event is US$14.95 per person until Dec. 10, at which time the price increases to $19.95 through Dec. 24 and $39.95 on-site. Student discounts are available.
This week’s MUG events start on Nov. 30 with Apple Advantage Night at the National Macintosh Computer Society in southern Florida, during which the group will help convert Windows users to the Mac. On Dec. 1, Chicago’s The Rest of Us welcomes Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and his All Garage Band, Santa Cruz, Calif.’s MaCruzers brings in IDG World Expo’s Paul Kent for a MWSF preview, Washington state’s Strait MUG covers Apple’s Motion software, MUG Romania celebrates its recognition as an official MUG, Tempe, Ariz.’s XUsers hosts an open forum meeting and Santa Fe MUG presents Giuseppe Quinn’s movie “One of Many” and holds a gift exchange.
On Dec. 2, CompUSA welcomes MUG members for a special event featuring free donuts and coffee, the opportunity to ask questions of an Apple Solution Consultant and enter a raffle to win 75 downloads from the iTunes Music Store. The same day, Silicon Mountain MUG, based in Colorado Springs, covers iPod and AirPort Express while Des Moines, Iowa’s Digital Arts Group offers the Winder 2004 Shareware and Utilities Showcase.
On Dec. 3, South Australia Apple Users Club celebrates Christmas while on Dec. 4, Washington Apple Pi holds a garage sale, Champions of the Mac Proletariat discusses Mac OS X’s Terminal utility, Australia’s AUSOM welcomes NextByte’s Sasha Grant and Charlotte, N.C. MacWorkshop whips up “Web Pages From Scratch.”
Over the weekend, Creative World will be held in Bangkok, and Thai MUG will be there. They will staff a table during all three days of the event and plan on demonstrating GarageBand with the assistance of two professional musicians.
On Monday, Dec. 6, the Portland Mac Filmmakers User Group discusses the differences between the various QuickTime formats and offers a how-to on converting digital footage to analog, and vice-versa. In addition, the group covers audio formats in the context of digital video and demos the Cinema Tools found in Final Cut Pro HD.
Check each MUG’s Web site for meeting times, locations and entry fees, if applicable.
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.