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www.ausom.net.au AUSOM News April 2009 v 3
AUSOM Incorporated ABN 63 929 877 630
Reg.No. A0005646X
Post: 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
Phone and fax: [phone]
e-mail: offi[e-mail]
Website: http://www.ausom.net.au
Contact AUSOM Committee of Management by email
via [e-mail]
AUSOM News: Editor: Pam Doughty
Post: 5 Raynes St Balwyn 3103
e-mail: [e-mail]
Send letters & editorial material to the Editor by post or e-
mail – deadline 1st Saturday of month prior to publication
month. NOTE: There is no AUSOM News in January
Dick Johnson
From Your Committee
Melbourne PC Office – Our New
Venue
Saturday 2nd May was our first Meetings Day
in our new venue – the Melbourne PC User
Group Office at the Chadstone Place office
block in the Chadstone Shopping Centre
and what a great day it turned out to be. Our
members loved the facilities and with the
help of Melbourne PC’s Bob Trayner and his
assistants all technical problems were quickly
overcome. Our AUSOM ladies in their bright
fluoro-orange vests working in the shopping
centre aisle made sure that anyone trying to
find our AUSOM Meetings Day venue knew
exactly where to go. Many members took the
opportunity to visit the Apple Store in this
vast shopping complex two floors below and
amazingly, found their way back to us.
Numbers were up and the best since February
last year when Joe Cox spoke to us. Our peak
count was 131 in the SIG rooms between 1
and 2 pm. There were at least nine 1:1 sessions
running throughout the day. We learned
from Stephen Withers’ session, My Favourite
Freeware, that we need to leave the partition
between Meeting Rooms 1 and 2 open during
the Main Meeting and the Main Presentation.
Stephen had 93 people on chairs listening to
him with not a single chair vacant and the air
conditioning working hard to keep up.
Business over the AUSOM sales tables was
very brisk with many renewals, and many
new memberships. Our disk sales were very
strong and the monthly raffle went well.
The Whitehorse Kiwanis did well with their
snag-on-bread, cake, and hot and cold drink
offerings and will return to us in future
months.We are looking forward to Hot Cross
Buns for our Easter meeting.
A word about parking. Some areas at
Chadstone are stated to be three hours only.
These areas are defined by yellow paint. The
more distant car parks marked out in white
however are time unlimited. Similarly the
parking areas beneath both Myer and Coles
are time unlimited. You have to look at the
signs but long term car parking does exist and
can be accessed. The underground car parking
areas do not open until 9 am.
Committee Change
We have had a vacancy on Committee for a
couple of months. At another time Fred Jago
had expressed some interest in helping so we
asked him to join us. Fred agreed and came to
our February meeting where he was appointed
as an ordinary member. Fred will complete
three months on Committee before the AGM
is held. Welcome aboard Fred and thank you
for your help.
Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting is approaching
rapidly. There are only a few weeks before
the AGM (Saturday 2-May). This is the time
to consider becoming a member of the
Committee in any position that takes your
fancy. All positions will be declared vacant.
We must have four Executive members and
four others who will guide AUSOM through
the next twelve months. It’s time for new
blood and new ideas to lead us forward in this
world of ever changing challenges. This is your
opportunity to ask two members to nominate
you. Seize it! All the forms you need are in this
issue. If you need more information please
speak to our secretary on 9885 7060.
Beginners 1:1
Beginners 1:1 continues to grow as more
and more members realise the benefits of
1:1 tutoring: and no, it’s not just for raw
beginners. Perhaps we had that idea when we
first started this programme, but we are now
finding that expert users who want to know
something about a field of study in which they
have quite limited experience are asking for a
1:1 session from those who have the smarts in
the area. Our 1:1 programme has turned out to
be a unique offering in the field and we intend
to capitalise on it, nurture and grow it, and
see our members gain skills more effectively
and faster than ever. Pat Tasker organises the
1:1 programme and will work hard to match
AUSOM
has a new
location to
hold meetings
on the first
Saturday of
each month.
We welcome
Members who
have joined
AUSOM
recently and
call upon
ALL other
Members to
offer them
friendship
and
assistance.
Those new
to AUSOM
may find
information
of interest
to them on
Page 4 of the
yellow section
of AUSOM
News this
month.
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