Shortly after taking on the Volunteer Coordinator position and the list of unfilled volunteer jobs, I was happy to announce one night at a Steering Committee that I had all the SPCUG positions filled. Obviously there was a lot of interest in volunteering at that time, and I was getting well known as the guy to find in order to satisfy that interest. Soon I was the guy to see (or avoid) when someone was looking for a new challenge (or not), as I continued to make the rounds and staff the volunteer table. I also depended on Frank Leonard to make announcements from the podium at the General Meeting for me, but slowly let that go as Frank became busy with his own list of announcements (these usually included my introduction, anyway).
Now, I need help from the SPCUG membership. Times have changed and computing has become so much easier when it comes to finding technical support. We may not put a high priority on a users group nowadays. But I hope we won't forget those that still do, and may need our help. We have many people in the group that depend on the person-to-person touch that more advanced users have left behind for the online connection. If you can remember when it was a great boost to have someone explain to you, at a General Meeting or in Sacra Blue, how to extend you 64K barrier, so you could take advantage of a full 2 Megs of RAM, then please help. Help us fill the openings below, so we can continue to support the local computing community.
New Volunteers
Welcome Michael O'Rourke to the Web team! He writes: "I am currently studying Frontpage 2000, HTML 4.0 and Javascript. My strongest skills are concentrated in editing content and proofreading, since I am an Administrative Assistant. However, I will be upgrading and refining my Web-based application skills for upcoming opportunities as a Web Builder. As a volunteer, I want to help Brian Smither and his team in any way that is necessary in order to make the site more vital to the needs of the membership of SPCUG."
Also welcome John LaTorre to the Web team! He writes: "As a currently underused Copy Editor of Sacra Blue, I feel that I'm not pulling my weight with the group. However, I noticed that you are soliciting for a Web team member. I have some rudimentary HTML experience. If I can help the club more there than with Sacra Blue, please let me know." Thanks very much Michael and John for your help. I wish you great success in these new positions.
Software Reviewer Coordinator, Chuck Sinclair Resigns
Chuck Sinclair will be resigning from his position as Software Review Coordinator. Brian Smither has stepped right in and taken on this activity, so we can find out about more new software from a more local and subjective perspective. This position can be rewarding in that you have first pick at the latest and greatest software coming to the group for review.
Tim Cardozo has volunteered for the Advertising Coordinator position. This person will be responsible for managing ads for Sacra Blue. Please contact Tim if you have ads for Sacra Blue.
Thank you Brian and Tim for taking on yet another position as our new Software Review Coordinator and Advertising Coordinator. And thank you Chuck for past volunteer service.
Volunteer Activity
Next time you get a chance, take a look around at the next General Meeting or see the inside covers of past and present Sacra Blue issues. You might recognize or notice some of our low-profile volunteers-volunteers that have helped out for years and have blended into the scenery. Volunteers such as Ken Hopkins and Milt Hull who get to the General Meeting two hours beforehand to set up equipment and greet vendors. The same vendors that they have been calling and e-mailing Ken and Milt all month long, so we have an interesting program for the evening. They schedule these programs many months in advance and deal with last-minute cancellations and no-shows on the night of a meeting.
Another low-profile volunteer is Gary Sloan. You will find Gary hidden from view in the equipment closet during the meeting, recording it so those that can't attend will have a sense of the evening events. Then there is that long list of Sacra Blue and eBlue staff (Editor Chris Graillat, and Associate Editor Dion Gomez leading that endeavor) that we pass right over in our hurry to see the Meeting report. People like Terry Naleway, Crystal Friedrichs, Gordon Taylor, Cam Murray, Tom Anderson, Chuck Coon, Mark Naber and Peter Robinson are sure you get the information you need from the meeting. Our Treasurer Don Frieze and our Membership Coordinator Marsha Leonard work though the month to keep us on financially on track, informed and welcome.
New Job Openings
Editor-In-Chief. Yes, we are going to need a new Sacra Blue Editor in April, as Chris Graillat will be resigning this very rewarding, but demanding, position. Chris has served us well for some time now and it's time to hand over the "blue pencil" to someone else looking for the experience and résumé benefits that come with this job. We all love our Sacra Blue and so we must think a lot of its Editor. Contact Chris Graillat at chrisngraham@jps.net.
Education Training Coordinator. I don't have a job description for Educational Training Coordinator, because no one has written one to date-that would be your first assignment. You are welcome to talk to me (or I'm sure Eric Butow) about material for this job, as both Eric and I were on the original committee. The main idea is to expand our educational in-house and out-reach activities, to attract members and provide an additional community service. Contact Eric Butow at ebutow@dgweb.com, if you can help.
Managing Editor. This job involves making calls to people who have pledged to write articles and do software and hardware reviews, remind them when their inputs are due. When software or books have been borrowed and not reviewed, attempt to retrieve the software or books. Contact Chris Graillat.
Chapter and SIG Coordinator. This position involves working with the SPCUG Chapter and SIG leaders and with the equipment that is loaned out to these groups. You would transfer or arrange for transfer, and manage the computing and projection equipment that goes to the Chapters and SIGs before their monthly meetings. You would be responsible for getting the annual reports from these groups to the President and Treasurer. Contact Eric Butow at ebutow@dgweb.com.
Lead Meeting Reporter. Write articles on the General Meeting for Sacra Blue and eBlue. Contact Chris Graillat.
Publicity Chairperson Assistant. This position involves contacting newspapers, periodicals, TV and institutions in an effort to give the SPCUG publicity, general exposure and a means to interact with the community. Contact Eric Butow.
Web Team Member. We can always use more members for the eBlue Team. If you have some HTML editing experience, your help is needed. If not, and you just have a desire to learn basic HTML in an effort to help us, contact Chris Graillat and we will teach you basic HTML editing for this project at the monthly General Meeting.
Meeting Transcriptionist. The Meeting Transcriptionist take notes during the General Meeting to be delivered to the Lead Meeting Reporter, who edits and forwards them to the Sacra Blue Editor for submission in the monthly newsletter. Several reporters are usually needed to cover the entire evening's meeting. You may also put together a report on one part of the General Meeting to be submitted to the Editor. Contact Chris Graillat.
I am sure you will find volunteer work for the group very rewarding, and it could even create some interesting opportunities for you. You may be surprised how much little time is involved in some of the positions that hold great benefit for the group. Please take a look at the jobs openings above. If you think you can help the group, give me a call or drop me an e-mail.
