Ken Hopkins and I have been working hard to improve both the quantity and the quality of the content in Sacra Blue. We're pleased to see an increased response to the easier download links. We've had over 1200 hits on last month's issue, more than double the month before, and we'd like to see that continue to grow. Thanks for reading, and urge your friends to read Sacra Blue, too. We're always looking for articles we think would interest you, and once again, we want to urge you to write up any experiences you have that might be enlightening to our membership.
The essence of a users group is sharing information. Each of us has some information that is unique, and worthy of being shared. This month, for example, we have an article by our Treasurer, discussing his experiences with a cable modem. Are you using DSL or a cable modem? We'd love to hear about your experience. And feel free to name names. One of the most valuable functions of a users group is to build a knowledge base of reliable companies, products, and techniques. Send anything you can contribute to editor@sacpcug.org.
In a similar vein is our new column about cool Web sites. Most of us surf the Web on a daily basis, and find numerous interesting, useful, or informative sites. Why not pass that site name on to your fellow members? Click on the File menu in your browser, then Send or Send Page, and send it to me.
If there are topics you'd like to know more about, let us know. We'll try to find someone to write about them. If you know a lot about a subject, we'd love to have you write about it. If you don't feel you can write, let us know—we'll find someone to put your knowledge on paper.
On Cartooons
We are still campaigning to get The Sacramento Bee to run the off the mark cartoon, by Mark Parisi. Go to his web site at off the mark and you will find hundreds of Mark's past cartoons on lots of topics. Please write a note to Scott Lebar at the Sacramento Bee and tell him that you think they should carry Mark Parisi's off the mark. Tell him what you like about the cartoons and why you can not live without them. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number. Send your personal letter to the address below. If you can not take the time to write a letter, send e-mail to slebar@sacbee.com.
Sacramento Bee
Mr. Scott Lebar, AME/Features
PO Box 15779, Sacramento CA 95852
On Decorum
While at our meetings, please show consideration for your fellow members and our presenters. We realize that meetings are often the only place we see some friends, and conversations often ensue. Please make an effort to keep your voice as low as possible, and if the conversation becomes long, take it to the lobby. It saddens me to say that it is often the officers and volunteers (including myself) who need this reminder. Likewise, if you receive a phone call, take it outside to avoid disturbing other members.
If you have a question for the presenter, please hold it until the end of the presentation, unless the presenter asks otherwise. They have a limited amount of time, and stopping to answer questions disrupts the presentation flow and can result in the presenter not having enough time to finish.
If you have a question, ask it from the microphone. We record the meetings and report on them in Sacra Blue. If you call it out from your seat, others will not hear the question and neither will the recording.
Please remember that the companies who present products at our meetings are paying for the time and expenses involved. If the presenter has to come a distance, the expenses can be significant. In addition, there are almost always free products for giveaway to members.
We owe it to our presenters and ourselves to treat the presenters with courtesy. It's unfortunate that in our field, we are rarely able to speak to a responsible person from companies with whom we have an issue. This can lead us to take out our frustration on the nearest target, the unsuspecting presenter.
Those who present products to us are usually sales representatives, not technical support staff. While they are usually familiar with a product's features, they are not skilled in resolving technical problems. Frequently their only suggestion will be to call technical support, which is a better option for pursuing a solution anyway. Almost all of our presenters stay for a while after the meeting, and are more willing to discuss individual problems at that time.
I know how tempting it can be to vent anger at the only representative of a company that can be found, but it is profoundly unproductive to do so. We will get better presenters, better prizes, and bigger companies if the presenters leave with warm fuzzies, grateful for the reception we give them. It's much better for us to have a reputation for welcoming guests than for attacking them.
