The
Volunteer
Page
Stan Morris
Contact Information:
Stan Morris
Volunteer Coordinator
916-921-6414
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It's November!
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The big, yellow leaves from my London Plain tree, planted 10 years ago with the help of a SMUD program, are falling and covering up the lawn that I harassed all summer long with my $600 gas-powered mower. And now a recurring thought comes to the surface in my mind: where are our NEW newsletter editor— or, better yet, editors? If you remember back in July, Tom Anderson and Ken Hopkins, Sacra Blue co-editors, announced at the general meeting that they would be retiring from their newsletter posts (effective December 2002).
This will leave a large gap in our membership services in the event that no one steps up to replace them. Tom and Ken have served for extended periods in a number of SPCUG volunteer positions and need to be relieved in order to prevent volunteer "burn-out" (a condition that doesn't do any of us any good and is no way to reward them for their faithful service).
Please let us know if you can help. This could be a great opportunity for someone wanting to learn new skills or to show off already learned skills. You will also get a lot of appreciation and editorial help, should you take on this position.
[Ed. Note: Brian Smither has stepped forward to fill the editor position— see "Blue Pencil" in this issue. But he'll need help to keep up the volume and quality of material. More volunteers are always needed.]
Contact: Stan Morris, Tom Anderson or Ken Hopkins, if you think you can help.
New Volunteers!
Tom Anderson has agreed to take over the Mail Delivery Person position from Al Eno. Al has performed these duties for several years, picking up and delivering our user group snail-mail like a modern day Pony Express rider. This involved sometimes weekly trips to the SPCUG treasurer's home so our bills could be paid and membership dues deposited.
Thanks, Al and Tom.
What About Volunteering?
The SPCUG could not function without its volunteers. We are depending 100% on our volunteer force. And we will need an even stronger force in the days ahead to meet the challenges of even more sophisticated computer users. Our members depend on us to get the information out; we depend on them to supply us with new volunteers to replace our overworked.
See if you can help! Check the SPCUG Web site (www.sacpcug.org) and our Sacra Blue and eBlue newsletters for new volunteer openings on this page each month. Or let me know that you are interested in volunteering for a new position at stan@gohawk.com.
More Openings
Sacra Blue Newsletter Co-editor: We will need two new co-editors to fill these vital SPCUG volunteer positions by December. There will obviously be some training time involved for those who wish to become the new editors, so don't delay if you are interested in this type of work. If you start the training now, you may need little editorial experience beyond the basic reading, writing, and computer skills. Contact: Tom Anderson or Ken Hopkins.
Public Relations Coordinator: This job entails collecting information on each month's speakers, potentially rewriting a press release, and faxing or e-mailing it to contacts at various newspapers, magazines, and TV and radio stations. Contact information for newspapers and magazines, TV stations, radio stations, and other organizations is provided. Contact: Tom Anderson.
Entertainment Editor: This is the position Chris Seip once held for many years. Actually, he as the Games Editor, but we expanded it to Entertainment Editor (indicating not just games but leisure-time software) when Diana DeMuth took over the position from Chris. But the position is available again. Can you help? Contact: Tom Anderson
Training Media Librarian: The Training Librarian maintains the Training Media Library and sets the library up at the general meetings on the third Wednesday of each month. This material is available to members only (a definite benefit). At the meetings, material is checked out, a refundable deposit taken, and a record is made of the material the member checks out. Deposit amounts are determined by the librarian based on the value of the material, but generally not less than $10. When the material is returned at the following months meeting, the deposit is returned. Contact: Mary Lint
Online Service Tutorial Coordinator: These duties will involve directing and organizing a team of volunteers that will go out to members homes on an "on-call" basis to help the members with setting up and accessing the Internet. More specifically, this is designed to encourage and assist new members with using the eBlue Web site. Operating procedures and a disclaimer have already been written and approved by the Steering Committee, and are now ready to be implemented.
Group Benefits Coordinator: We need someone’s help right away. Marsha Leonard was the last GB Coordinator and did the job of listing the many benefits available to members that you may not be aware of from month to month. Is anyone interested in filling the "Group Benefits Coordinator" position? Contact: Stan Morris
Computer Store Representative: We need several volunteers who will visit as many computer stores as possible on a monthly basis and ask them to have our membership information available to their customers. If we could get into the big stores like Fry's, CompUSA, and Computer Warehouse, we would probably get a lot of coverage. Other big computer sellers include office stores like OfficeMax, Staples, and Office Depot. Also, include electronic stores like Good Guys, Circuit City, Best Buys, and even Radio Shack. Then the other computer-specific stores like the Gateway stores, and all the mom-and-pop computer stores. Contact: Ken Hopkins
Newsletter Writers: Writers are needed for both Sacra Blue and eBlue. You could be writing tips for tips column (may also be used as filler). Also could write news articles about current events. Evaluate hardware and/or software and write product reviews, or write stories on how you solved some computer problem. Contact: Ken Hopkins
Newsletter Typists: Many articles in other user group newsletters would provide useful information to our members. Unfortunately, we cannot always obtain these articles in electronic format. We need volunteers to type up articles the editors have already selected. Contact Tom Anderson
I am sure you will find this volunteer work very rewarding and it could even create some interesting opportunities for you. You may be surprised how little time is involved in some of these volunteer positions.
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