Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!usc!apple!fox!portal!cup.portal.com!Bob_BobR_Retelle
From: Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: How to get new members??
Message-ID: <24623@cup.portal.com>
Date: 1 Dec 89 07:43:34 GMT
References: <471d2ea5.14a1f@force.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 38

Richard Covert asks about getting new members for Atari Users' Groups:
 
You've probably hit on the best way to contact new ST owners, by getting
in touch with the dealers who are selling them. If you post flyers
in the stores too, you can make the club known to people who already
own STs as well...
 
One thing MACE has done (the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts.. I'm
the ST disk librarian this year, and I've been in various other offices
in past years...), is to put together a disk of the "basic" few programs
a new ST owner will need.  Things like ST Writer, ARC, a simple terminal
program, an easy to use database... things like that... with text files on
how to use them, and an offer of help at the club meetings for new users.
By having the dealer give a disk away with every ST sold, it gives the new
owners a boost by supplying them with something to use their shiny new ST
to run, and the dealers like to be able to give their customers something
for free (especially when it doesn't cost them anything..!).
 
Of course, the disk also has information on when and where the club meets,
and phone numbers for more information.
 
As far as meeting places, that's always a tough question.  A few years ago,
when MACE's membership stood at around 2000 members, we could fill a large
civic center pavillion to capacity.  Now we use a smaller room, and are
looking for something smaller (and cheaper).  One thing about the university
meeting rooms to look into is whether the club could qualify as a school
sponsored group if they have enough active students as members.  The
University of Michigan has a really good deal for their groups.
 
As far as Atari, I guess I better not comment about the screwing over that
MACE received from Atari when we put on the AtariFest that Atari asked us
to do.  Those who were involved in that are gone now, and there's a new
person in charge who is really good.  Call Bob Brodie, the new User Group
Coordinator and talk to him about how to register your club.  As long as
the "Atari Revolving Door" doesn't snag him, Atari User Groups  are going
to be very well treated.
 
BobR