The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group President’s Annual Report George Skarbek gskarbek@melbpc.org.au

Internet

The group has been voted the best ISP in the country by a substantial margin. We topped the list in many categories. Naturally we are the best on the cost basis but more importantly we are the best in the country for technical support as well as having the most useful Web pages. We topped the customer service rating, method of billing and were equal top with no billing problems. This is an excellent demonstration of what can be done with committed volunteers.

On behalf of all our users I compliment the hard-working teams of Internet admin, iHelp which has answered in excess of 5,000 requests for help, and the office staff. Well done everybody.

The Internet membership is growing with over 6000 members now using our service. We have extended the service to allow for members travelling or going on holidays - a special phone number enables local call access directly into your personal account from almost anywhere in Australia.

Although we have achieved so much with volunteers, there is a limit to what can be done in the specialised areas so in September the group employed two consultants to help in further developing the service. We have solved the virus problems and improvements in Spam filtering are progressing nicely.

PC Update

PC Update is continuing at its usual high quality and is still improving on our pervious high standards. Layout is evolving and improving and delivery has been on time. This magazine remains the main reason why many members belong to Melb PC.

Interest Groups

We have 41 Special and General Interest Groups with another one or two currently being formed. These groups are an essential and integral part of Melb PC and we have regional, suburban and special interest groups (SIGs) covering a wide range of areas. All details are available in PC Update and I would suggest that most members could benefit from attending some of these meetings.

Your Melb PC membership entitles you to attend as many group meeting as you wish, so try to attend some during the year.

Swap Meets

Every Sunday there are at least two Swap Meets in the Town Halls around the suburbs, making eight every month. Melb PC has a stand at all of these, manned by volunteers, and these members are responsible for recruiting many of our new members. Many more have joined simply as a result of our presence. For members who have not attended a Swap Meet, I suggest this is something to do, as you can purchase computer equipment relatively cheaply. You might also consider assisting for a few hours on the Melb PC stand. If any members would like to offer their services for a few hours on a Sunday once a month then please e-mail the committee at committee@melbpc.org.au.

Shareware

The Monthly CD has proven to be popular and details of the contents are available in PC Update each month. It also contains our latest Internet kit as well as what might be generally be described as "essential software" (such as the latest Acrobat reader and WinZip that do not come with Operating Systems) and often the latest updates from Microsoft such as the Internet Explorer.

Training

Training classes are progressing well and many good quality courses are available to members and their families. Again all details are published in PC Update and I suggest you keep an eye on the training pages for courses covering your needs and interests.

Library

Our library is growing as new books are always being added with current publication being purchased. The searchable catalogue is available online. Loans for four weeks are free to all members. The newest books require a $5 deposit and you are allowed to borrow up to four books per month.

New Office Location

The membership database shows that the majority of members are located in the SE suburbs of Melbourne. Our survey on this topic encouraged a very good response with about 1,600 replies showed that more members would participate more in most activities if we move to the Eastern or SE suburbs. This presents us with some interesting challenges, including being able to provide central facilities for those members who prefer a City location, should we relocate.

The major task for the committee is to find suitable premises with approximately 800 sq m floor space to accommodate the larger Interest Groups (but not the main monthly meeting), better training facilities and the office. Adequate parking is essential but it should be close to public transport, should have disabled access and be within the area that will suit the majority of members. If we can find a suitable building the indication from the survey is that the Interest Group attendance may treble at this new location.

Monthly Meeting Location

Moving the monthly meetings to the SE suburbs more than doubled the attendance. This is not surprising given that the majority of members live SE of the city and traditionally meetings had been held north of the city. Unfortunately the success in providing our membership with access to the meetings at the Monash Clayton theatre resulted in the 510 seat theatre not being large enough to take all the members who attended.

We have used the excellent Besen Centre at Burwood but cannot book it for the second part of the year even in 2007 so we must alternate and look for other suitable meeting halls. Some meetings will continue to be held at Parkville if we are able to book that hall. Otherwise another city location must be found.

Our Office Family Is Changing

First it is with considerable regret on the part of the executive and committee and all of those volunteers who know precisely how our User Group provides the great service it does, that I must advise you that we are losing our most pleasant and efficient administrative officer Margaret Greer.

Margaret has been with us for six and a half years and during that time her contribution to the group has far exceeded that which is expected of the position. Her response to every request from members for information or help has been clear and concise; where a problem cannot be immediately solved a polite referral to further assistance is always forthcoming.

The accommodating manner in which she has given of her out-of-hours time together with the use of her own vehicle to meet our diverse monthly meeting schedule is but part of the many extra services she has provided. At other times she has taken a weighty projector with her on her way home on the train in order that a suburban meeting has not been without one and the cost of a courier avoided. Margaret's organisational ability and unfazed manner is one of the strengths that has enabled her to relieve Administration Manager, Tracy Swan without a problem during Tracy's leave periods.

Margaret is to be married in February and we at Melb PC all wish her and Andrew a happy and prosperous life together. As to Margaret's future employment career we can but envy the fortunate employer and the staff she will join.

Secondly, the remaining one of our small office family, Kerry Williams who has been reliably on call as our part-time office assistant for more than 10 years is also having a career change. Kerry and husband Grant are opening a gymnasium down Brighton way and as they also have a young family for which to care, Kerry's ability to give us her time at short notice will be constrained. We thank Kerry for her past contribution and wish her well in the new venture. Perhaps a few of us could do with a workout also.

Thirdly after a significant interviewing exercise we have a new member joining the office team to take Margi's place. I would like to introduce Julia Dyer. However, by the time you are reading this, and if you have had reason to call the office you will probably have met already.

In concluding I thank the hundreds of volunteers who make Melb PC such an active and worthwhile User Group. Without your involvement we could not exist. Thank you all.

Reprinted from the November 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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