Membership Has Its Benefits
APCUG Web Site – Well worth the time to investigate! The website not only showcases current APCUG and User Group news and other breaking information, it also contains: APCUG officer/committee contact information, Tips & Tricks for Running Your User Group, Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, UGLS, Discounts, Speakers Bureau list, Virtual Technology Conference information, Online Newsletters and much more.
Discounts and Special Offers from Vendors – APCUG member groups periodically receive information regarding vendor discounts and/or special offers that can be passed on to their members. A list of training and publisher discount programs can be found on the Discount / Special Offers page, under the Member Benefits tab. Contact the Benefits Committee for contact information.
Don Singleton Volunteer of the Year Award (VOTY) – Volunteers are the backbone of APCUG and its member groups and are what keep user groups viable. All volunteers have this in common: their advocacy for technology and their User Group. To recognize the importance of the volunteer to APCUG’s member groups, they are encouraged to submit one of their members for the VOTY award.
Facebook Presence – Follow us at http://www.facebook.com/APCUG
Help for Your Group – Information for program chairs, growing your group, newsletter & PR guidelines and more that have been compiled from various sources including past conferences and regional events.
How-To Guides – The APCUG website has excellent “How-To” guides to organize a group, including examples of Articles of Incorporation, constitution, by-laws, budget help, and lots of extras. Find the How-To Guides under User Groups tab.
Monthly NOOZ Communication sent to Leaders
Your Regional Advisor sends out NOOZ which includes a variety of information regarding APCUG, your own region, vendors, contests, and much more.
Newsletter, Website and Digital Photo Contests – APCUG holds the three contests annually. All members are invited to submit their digital photos and groups are welcome to submit their newsletters and websites for those contests. Information is sent to member groups via an e-mail to the officers listed in the UGLS.
O’Reilly-APCUG Five Book Program – Member groups have the opportunity to receive two books and three eBook certificates during the year. These books may be used as door prizes, thank you’s to members giving a presentation, put into the group’s library, or however the group decides to use them. On hold while O’Reilly is reconfiguring their user group program.
PUSH Newsletter Articles – Articles are sent to User Group editors to use in their newsletters. The articles are written by User Group members, professionals, and occasionally vendors. They are an attractive option for Editors who would like help in filling their newsletters. You will find information about PUSH under the Member Benefits tab.
Quarterly Reports sent to Group Leaders – Every quarter, APCUG sends its official publication, Reports, to the leaders of its member groups. It is full of information including conference news, meeting ideas, contact information and more.
Regional Conference – APCUG has a regional conference annually in various locations, co-hosted by APCUG and a user group in the state. The 2015 conference will be held in Las Vegas, NV. Attendees have the opportunity to attend presentations, network with other attendees as well as participating vendors, see demonstrations of the newest products, and much more.
Solutions to Your Problems – The people who keep APCUG functioning are one of the greatest assets that member groups have going for them. These people have been there and done that! President, Vice President, Program Chair, you name it, they have probably done it. This means that, in all likelihood, whatever problem(s) you are having, they have had and have dealt with it! Every group has an assigned regional Advisor; if they are unable to help they will send your request to all the Board of Directors and Board of Advisor members. You are sure to receive some solutions.
Speakers Bureau – APCUG maintains a list of vendors and User Group officers and members who will give online presentations to your group. If your members are tired of presentations from the same members or the same members are tired of giving presentations, contact one of the speakers and book a presentation.
Twitter Presence – Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/apcug
UGLS – Neighbors to Help Out – Being part of APCUG gives you an inside track to hosting vendor presentations. An excellent way to attract vendors is to team up with neighboring groups so they can make presentations on consecutive days. This lets them justify the high cost of sending someone to your meeting. Use the UGLS to find groups in your area.
User Group Newsletters Online – Is your editor looking for ideas for your newsletter? You will find a link to all of the member groups that have their newsletters online. Articles! Program Ideas! Fundraising Ideas! and more will be found in the newsletters. You will find the Online Newsletter list under the User Groups tab.
Virtual Technology Conferences – APCUG offers a Virtual Technology Conference quarterly. This gives User Group members the opportunity to ‘attend’ presentations in the comfort of their own home. Check out the videos of past sessions at APCUG’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/apcugvideos. You will find information about the Virtual Conferences under the Member Benefits tab.
Web Site Hosting – For User Groups that are unable to find, or afford, online space locally, APCUG will host their website, and the Web space is a benefit of their membership. Contact OLS for information about Web Site hosting.
YouTube Presence – View our many videos & tutorials on YouTube. Subscribe to our channel. http://www.youtube.com/apcugvideos