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BBS in a Box - Macintosh Volume VI (August 1992) (BBS in a Box).iso
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UG Speakers Bureau PR
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1991-08-02
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Item 2657813 7-June-91 16:25PDT
From: UG0194 Macintosh Enthusiasts ,UG
To: UG$ User Groups
Item forwarded by LIVINGSTON2 to MS.MUG
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub: UG Speakers Bureau PR
New Speakers Bureau to Bring Apple User Groups and Developers Together- MNS
Contact: Don Rittner
MUG News Service (MNS)
1726 Lenox Rd
Schenectday, NY 12308
518 374 1088
UG0194
For Immediate Release
New Speakers Bureau to Bring Apple User Groups and Developers Together
Macintosh User Group News Service (MNS) and Apple Computer, Inc., join together
to link software developers and user groups for exchange of product information
and ideas
SCHENECTADY, NY, June, 1991-- The MUG News Service (MNS), working in
cooperation with Apple's User Group Connection, announced today a nationwide
Speakers Bureau for user groups and third-party developers. The service is
designed to arrange product demonstrations and exchange information between
developers and Apple User Groups - the computing community's most influential
users.
The service is free to both developers and user groups.
In his publication, The Macintosh Way, Guy Kawasaki noted, “User Groups can
accelerate the success of a product or kill it at the gate. Effectively
working with Users Groups can negate a competitor’s larger sales force and
greater resources because User Groups will spread the word for you.” User
Groups are indeed powerful. In a recent Developer's Connect pubished by Apple,
the User Group Connection found that 94% of user group members influence
computer purchase decisions in their organizations.
However, user groups and developers who are eager to demonstrate their
products, typically have difficulty finding each other and arranging meetings.
Developers recognize the importance of winning product acceptance from user
group members, but often find it difficult to know who to contact in a user
group. Meeting scheduling is a time consuming effort. Not any more!
The MNS Speakers Bureau will solve both problems, according to Don Rittner, who
heads MNS. The MNS Speakers Bureau database contains contact names for both
user groups and developers. MNS will arrange the meetings free of charge.
"Company reps that are travelling through various parts of the country can now
call MNS. MNS will check for a user group in their destination area, and
arrange a demo. Likewise, User Groups can request MNS to find companies to
demonstrate their products to their group," he said.
"It's a win-win situation," according to Craig Elliott, Manager of Apple's User
Group Connection. "Both user groups and developers benefit. It is a great way
for developers to evangelize their product by giving hands on demonstrations to
thousands of actual users. Apple expects that the Speakers Bureau will
enhance the developer-customer installed base, and ensure that Apple
third-party product development is driven by the needs and feedback of Apple
computer users.
In a nutshell, here's how it will work:
•A developer calls MNS and says "I will be flying to Missoula, Montana the week
of July 6. Are there any user groups within a 20 mile radius and can you book
us to demo our xyz software?"
•MNS will check the database, find a group if there is one, contact them, and
ask if they can make time for xyz software company to demo their product.
•If yes, MNS will get back to the company and give them the UG contact, map to
their meeting room, and other details!
User Groups can do the same.
•A call or email to MNS requests a speaker for a particular month on graphics,
for example.
•MNS will check the developer database, check for a graphics company that is
willing to go to that user group location, and makes the connection.
•MNS contacts the user group and gives the contact name and other details.
That's how easy it is.
How do you participate?
MNS is now accepting applications from third-party developers and user groups
who would like to participate in the free program.
User Group leaders and developers can contact MNS on America Online (AFL DonR),
AppleLink (UG0194) or GEnie (MNS), or can call 518-374-1088. Or, simply fill
out the enclosed application form and email it back.
What is MUG News Service (MS)
MNS is a UPI-like news service that reaches 350,000 Apple users in the United
States, Canada, and 14 other countries through a monthly mailing (disk). Since
its inception in July 1988, MNS has organized promotional activities and
information exchange between Apple user groups and companies including ACIUS;
Advanced Software; America Online; Apple Computer, Inc.; CE Software; Eastman
Kodak; Informix; Microlytics; and others.
MNS serves Apple user groups worldwide and provides articles, reviews,
tutorials, clip art, news, press releases, demos, and more, for user groups to
use in their newsletters and provide to their general membership. Furthermore
MNS provides technical help, special third party discounts, even free software
and hardware. User Groups that are members of MNS have access to the complete
monthly disks via the MNS ONLINE BBS directly or over FidoNet. For North
American groups, MNS provides information through a special private forum on
GEnie Information Serivces, and America Online. MNS works closely with Apple's
User Group Connection (which distributed a special Novice Stack in their
mailings) and third party companies to provide the best and latest information
to user group members. All these services are FREE to the participating user
groups.
MNS was founded by Don Rittner, a long time Mac user and former columnist for
Macazine (1985) and Macintosh Horizons (1986). He has also written for MacWeek
and MacUser Magazine. Rittner is the founder and president of one of the
oldest Mac user groups in the United States - MECCA, (founded two months after
the Mac was introduced) in Albany, NY. This fall, Peachpit Press is publishing
a book he authored called "EcoLinking," a directory of online resources for the
worldwide environmental community. He also is the forum leader for America
Online's User Group Forum where more than 200 user group ambassadors meet each
week for conferences on user group issues as well as interviews with third
party developers. The entire staff of Apple's User Group Connection also
participates in his User Group Forum.
------------------------APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPER----------------
Speakers Database
Company Name
Contact Name and position:
Applelink ID: AOL link:
Phone Work Home
Fax
Address
List products to demo:
Products Speciality (hardware, tape backups, modems, business software, etc)
Will you donate a copy of product at meeting for raffle?
Will you provide review copies to user groups?
Will you offer special discounts at the meeting?
Will you have demo disks to pass out?
Geographic limits (if any, e.g. Northeast only)
Do you require a minimum number of attendees? (if yes, how many)
NEEDS
Can you provide the following at a demo:
Overhead projector
Slide Projector
Computer aided viewer (e.g. nview)
Video/VCR
Microphone
Mac or Apple II (model)
Hard drive
Other:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------APPLICATION FOR USERGROUPS FOR MNS SPEAKERS BUREAU-------
User Group Database
User Group Name
Apple II? Mac? or both!
Contact:
Phone Work: Home:
AOL ID: AppleLink ID:
Meeting place:
Meeting days and time:
average number of attendees:
detailed map showing direction from train, air, and major artery (can be EPS,
Macpaint or other file, dont have one yet, send it to me when it is done but
get the rest of this to me now)
List major cities within 50 mile radius:
Are you a member of MUG News Service?
Are you a member of the Apple User Group Connection?
(you do not need to belong to either)
Do you have special interest groups?
If yes, name each one and the contact for each
Also give their meeting days, time, and location also.
Does your group fall into to any special interest category, i.e. Graphics,
business group, govt, university, company group, etc.
Your NEEDS (Describe):
If I call you up telling you a speaker will be in your city the week of your
meeting, can you fit him/her in for a demo?
How far in advance do you book speakers
SPEAKER NEEDS
Can you supply the following for a speaker:
Overhead projector
Slide Projector
Computer aided viewer (e.g. nview)
Video/VCR
Microphone
Mac or Apple II (model & Ram)
Hard drive (size)
refreshments (or dinner)
WHAT HAVE I MISSED?
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
This information is provided to the Apple Developer Group by the product's
developer. Apple cannot warrant any third party's product. Please consult the
Apple Products & Ref Library, MENU/Software Library, or Redgate Buyer's Guide
Library on AppleLink, or contact the third-party company directly for more
information.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
3rd Party Connection
Press Releases
[06-08-91] - 06-11-91]
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