SPCUG is putting together a new list of members to provide a free email account for all. Each member will have an account through SPCUG with a format of firstname.lastname@sacpcug.org. The newsletter will be sent out that way to those who have signed up. Instructions on how to use it, or to forward mail to your regular account, or to remove your name are plentiful and easy to use. A computer was set up in the lobby for signups.

Tom explains need for content.

Tom Anderson, Sacra Blue Associate Editor (Content) said, "What I'm trying to do now is bring in a lot more how-to material. I'm looking for writers to do stories, like the one in June's issue about one of the advanced features of Excel, or tips for beginners: any of the simple things you come across that make your life easier. People have asked me how to put something on the Windows Task Bar. The solution is simple, and it makes a big change for the better. We can use any tip you care to write about. We are also going to start a regular column on Web sites and sites that are valuable or fun to visit. Your contributions are welcome."

Ken Hopkins, Sacra Blue Associate Editor (Layout), held up a printout of the June issue to show what the magazine looks like in print. "This was printed on an $89 Epson printer," he said. Echoing Tom Anderson's call for writers, he added, "You don't have to be a great writer. We need the ideas. Some of the ones I come up with are because someone called me up with a question and that's what I used. You always find something that you didn't know, and if you didn't know, then someone else didn't know either, and it would make a good article."

Milt noted that Brian Smither, Secretary of SPCUG, is also eBlue editor and lays out the Web pages. The eBlue section and the magazine "look completely different. I like both formats myself. Brian puts in a lot of work on this and is also in charge of the software library, which is still around even though we don't bring it. We want to keep it a part of the club."

Speaking at the July meeting will be EastBay Technologies, "to show us lots of strange Internet products that all end in exclamation points," and AT&T, "who will show us their wireless Web telephone and talk to us about other wireless Internet technologies. In August we have AMD to show us their latest and greatest product, and Digital Persona, who make biometric devices, in particular a fingerprint recognition device so you can lock your computer up so no one else can use it. (Unless they have your hand.) In September, we're going to do our own show on MP3. How to rip a CD and make MP3s out of it, and how to take MP3s and burn your own audio CD. In October, we're bringing Microsoft in to show us Windows 2000 and Windows ME, Millennium Edition."

Milt pointed out, "You know, when Windows 98 came out Microsoft said it would be the last DOS-based Windows system. They were going to switch everything over to NT. Then the second edition came out and they said well, we made some changes. Now this is the Millennium Edition. Yeah, well, we needed to make some changes. It's still the DOS version. Now you'll actually see the true difference because we'll have both versions that night."

Referring to the Microsoft anti-trust lawsuit, Ken said, "It well may be the MicroOp Company by then, you never know, or the MicroApp Company."

For November, a difficult month to obtain speakers because of the COMDEX computer show, we are considering a repair fest, a swap meet, and/or an auction. "If you have ideas, let's hear them," Ken said. "The November meeting is always during Comdex and it's hard to get speakers as everyone, including us, is there. We haven't decided on anything for December."

Milt suggested a future meeting might cover genealogy.

Don and three scholarship winners.

Click the thumbnail for full image. (89K)

"The first one is Yaseen Nazir. He's a student at Grant High School, and like all the other candidates, he's one of the top students in his class. He'll be going to UC Davis to be a computer engineer, a computer science major. He's been working, and been involved in a number of community service activities.

"All of our applicants, the winners and the losers, are involved in so many community service activities. One interesting thing, I thought, is that Yaseen was voted the student most likely to succeed.

"The second candidate is Aron Kwong. He's at Kennedy High School, and will be going to UC San Diego. He has been working and is involved in community service activities. His major is undeclared at this point, but he likes electrical engineering.

"Our third candidate is Violette Hong, and interestingly, she's known Aron for many years. They were neighbors. It's kind of surprising since she's going to Florin High School. She'll be going to UC Berkeley to study biological chemistry and wants to be a pediatrician. She plans to pursue a doctorate at the University of San Francisco or the University of Washington. She says she's been looking forward to this since she's been in seventh grade, so she's had her mind set on where's she's going and is working hard to get there. She's also been the captain of her tennis team."