APCUG

Hello Region 5

This is December's edition of NOOZ, sent to member groups from APCUG.

Happy computing,
Judy Taylour, Chair
Board of Advisors

NOOZ - December 2007

Treasurers – 2008 Membership dues are payable January 1, 2008 and delinquent March 1, 2008. See information below (5.) about the Membership Renewal Contest as well as how to pay your group’s 2008 dues.

We urge you to share the information in NOOZ by including it in your newsletter, posting it on your Web site, or e-mailing it to members of your group.

1. Election Results
2. 2008 Convention Deadlines
3. Convention Companion Program
4. Welcome Bag Goodies
5. 2008 Membership Drive
6. Roxio User Group Program
7. Program Idea – Reverse Q&A.

1. Election Results

Congratulations to the newly elected Directors and Advisors. The Directors will serve a three-year term and the Advisors a two-year term.

Board of Directors

Jay Ferron
Birl Smith
Ira Wilsker

Board of Advisors

Doris Collins
Gabe Goldberg
Bob Kwater
David Steward
Clint Tinsley
Sam Wexler

2. 2008 Convention Deadlines

Registration – to obtain the group rate, reservations must be made at the Riviera Hotel and Casino no later than December 13.
Call 800-634-6753 and ask for the APCUG08 Conference Rate;
online reservations may be made at https://www.asentus.net/apcug/2008Convention

Late registration [$175] 12/1 through 12/25
On Site registration [$175] begins 1/3
Non-APCUG member group surcharge = $25

3.Convention Companion Program

The APCUG 2008 Convention Companion Program was developed in response to requests by APCUG members for scheduled activities for their companions to attend while in Las Vegas.

The program includes:

All APCUG Convention meals (when not on tour) and the Thursday night Kickoff Social

Two Tours:
Friday night: Las Vegas at Night
Saturday: Deluxe Hoover Dam

Special Door Prizes

The Las Vegas at Night tour will last 3.5 hours and start at approximately 6:45 p.m. Included in this tour is a photo opportunity at the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the famous outdoor shows at the Bellagio, Treasure Island, and the Mirage, and the spectacular Fremont Street Experience Laser Light and Sound Show.

The Deluxe Hoover Dam tour will last 5 hours and start approximately at 10 a.m. This tour will include a photo opportunity outside Wayne Newton’s home, Boulder City, and sightseeing at Hoover Dam.

Both tours include pick-up and drop-off at the Riviera Hotel via luxury bus. The cost is $100 and in order for a companion to register for this program, the APCUG member must already be registered as an attendee. This can be done by going to the Companion Program registration site at

http://www.asentus.net/apcug/APCUGCompanion. A link is also available from the APCUG site.

If your companion is already pre-registered for the APCUG convention he/she can transfer their registration from the convention to the companion program. Please send an email to lberenson@apcug.net with the name of the individual who will be part of the companion program.

All companions must be pre-registered for this program no later than December 25, 2007.

4. Welcome Bag Goodies

Linda Moore, Director, announced that APCUG convention sponsors have donated a total of $12,800 for either full version software or books, which will be included in the Welcome Bag. That is the equivalent of $64 in goodies for every convention attendee.

5. 2008 Membership Drive

Annual membership in the Association of Personal Computer Users Groups is $50.00. You can already renew your membership in APCUG online by completing the form at http://apcug.net/contacts/forms/renewal_application.htm After you Submit the form, you will have the option of paying by check or credit card. Groups renewing by 12/31/07 will be entered in the dues renewal contest.
Three groups renewing by that date will be eligible to win a prize donated by one of APCUG’s vendors (thanks to David Steward, Advisor, Region 8). If you renew by check, please include a copy of the renewal form with your check and send it to APCUG, 3155 E. Patrick Lane, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89120..

If your UG is sending a representative to the annual convention, they have until 3:00 pm on Friday, January 4 to turn in the form and payment to the Registry and be included in the drawing. The winning group names will be pulled at the Annual Convention (winner does not need to be present).

Thanks to those groups who have already paid their 2008 dues.

6. Roxio User Group Program

Contact Kara Whittington at usergroups@roxio.com to be included in the Roxio User Group Program

From Kara Whittington, Viral Communications Manager

“Just wanted to let you all know that our User Group landing page is up! I’m still the contact, but we have a generic mailbox for User Group (usergroups@roxio.com).

http://www.roxio.com/enu/solutions/usergroups/default.html

You can access it by going to our homepage, clicking on the toolbar “Solutions” and scrolling to User Groups.

With many of you we’ve started the review process with Creator 10 or Toast 8. Take a look and consider reviewing our other products at the site above.

All best,

Kara Whittington
Viral Communications Manager
d 415.893.8050 | c 707.583.4954
SONIC SOLUTIONS | ROXIO”

7. Program Idea – Reverse Q&A.

Found in the Perth (Australia) News Magazine, Axess. South of the River Daytime SIG, Joe Potter, SIG Leader.

Inspired to ‘think outside the square’ by the changed format of the main PPCUG meetings, they tried a different format in November, “Reverse Q&As”. The object was to ask members questions about several perennial and new topics, demonstrate points, and support it all by projecting a “roadmap” for the day with summaries with each segment. Questions arising were handled in context of each as we went, with standard Q&As reserved for the end. RQ&A Items covered:

BACKING UP DATA:

Why do it, various media and methods of creating copies and storage of files.

PROTECT EMAIL ADDRESSES:

Why do it, and a run through the 4-step graphic in Nov.07 AXESS, plus a simpler method in Eudora.

PHISHING WARNINGS: A copy from a major bank of the most recent hoax email was shown. The bank gave advice and tips with it for customers to avoid being caught. Such emails “appear to be legitimately branded, …. are often poorly worded and may contain grammar or spelling errors”. Their website provides an Internet security checklist … to help” detect and prevent online fraud.

INSTALL PROGRAMMES: Why do it, why virus check all of them first, and how to do it. We installed Windows Washer from Webroot, ran it, and explored its simple, fast, and powerful clean up functions.

BURNING CD / DVD DISKS: Why do it, and relevance to back-up functions as well as portability of sound, video and picture files. Burning Studio was used, and a member also pointed out how simple it is to use MS Media Player to burn copies of chosen files on its playlist.

UNTIDY CABLES: Why live with them, and a tidy solution was a door prize.

We'll be trying this at my group at our January meeting.

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