This week on The Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center Web site, editor Chuck Joiner runs down the latest MUG news, kicking off with a few announcements from the O’Reilly User Group Program. Until Jan. 31, user group members can save 20 percent on admission to the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, which will be held in San Diego from March 14 to 17. Groups can also benefit by joining the publisher’s Safari Affiliate Program, which offers members access to content from thousands of books while possibly earning them income.
In addition, groups that would like to score a free copy of Andy Hertzfeld’s “Revolution in the Valley” book can do so by placing a banner ad on their Web sites and contacting O’Reilly’s user group coordinator. German-speaking groups may also be interested in a new O’Reilly user group program aimed at them.
Joiner also offers two new regional liaison dispatches this week. Maria Arguello, who handles the northeast United States and online user groups, has filed her first dispatch, while Oceania-based Graeme Moffatt covers what’s new in New Zealand and Australia.
MUGs looking to refine their presence on the Web may want to visit New York City’s MetroMac and the online-based MacMentor, both of whom recently launched revamped sites. Joiner wants to remind all MUG members that The MUG Center’s “Web Site Tips” section features things to keep in mind if you want to redo your group’s site.
Finally, last week’s user group survey question, which wanted to know what hardware the various groups out there own, revealed that 86 percent of them own an LCD projector and 65 percent are in possession of a PowerBook. In addition, 53 percent own an AirPort Base Station and 49 percent own a public address system. Joiner notes that there are more surprises in the “Other” category; you can find the full rundown on the MUG Center site. This week, Joiner wants to know how MUG leaders communicate to their members.
Moving on to this week’s meetings, Dec. 14 kicks off a flurry of year-end meetings, most of which involve holiday parties. On that day, the U.K.’s Midlands MUG, Cowtown MUG, Lakeland Area MUG, Atlanta MUG, Princeton MUG, Sierra MUG, East Tennessee MUG, Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society and MacWichita will hold festivities. In addition, Cowtown MUG will raffle off an iPod, Princeton MUG will hold a silent auction, MacWichita will feature “Elections and Movies Galore!” and Sierra MUG will sponsor an equipment swap meet.
On the same day, Maryland Apple Corps welcomes the MacSpeech Road Show, Corvallis MUG features “Games on the Mac, Boston Final Cut Pro Users Group serves up “HD in Motion,” Macintosh Users of Delaware holds its annual auction, LaCie hardware serves as the focus at Macintosh Business Users of Greater Philadelphia, Chicago-area South Suburban MUG has elections and pizza and central Florida’s Mt. Dora MUG holds training in Adobe Photoshop Elements.
On Dec. 15, Kansas City’s MacCore hosts an AppleScript session. On Dec. 16, the MUG Center chat revolves around holiday gift picks, Grand Rapids MUG features “Things That Make Your Mac Fun,” Arizona MUG covers “Greeting Cards and Print Options,” Dallas MUG hosts “Internet Browsing & Safari Secrets,” Syracuse MUG holds its holiday party and Michigan’s Lansing Area Macintosh and Lisa Users Group takes a look at iPods.
On Dec. 17, South Jersey Apple Users Group helps members “Find the Perfect Holiday Gift” while on Dec. 19 Wisconsin’s Double-Click checks out “The eBay Selling Experience” and MacGroup-Detroit brings in David Syme to discuss digital music.
On Dec. 20, Silicon Valley MUG and Apple Dayton throw holiday parties while Australia’s Internet MUG looks at blogging, podcasting and GarageBand. Finally, Dec. 21 sees the last major MUG action of 2004 as Apple’s Dave Marra visits New Jersey MUG, Riverside, Calif.’s MUG Serving the Inland Empire focuses on GarageBand, Hartford User Group Exchange compares AppleWorks’ word processing function against Microsoft Word and Denver Apple Pi features “Mac SIG and Holiday Party.” The last MUG event of the year happens on Dec. 27 as Cleveland, Ohio’s North Coast MUG holds a holiday potluck dinner .
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.
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