How I started a user group

A lot of people have asked me, “What is a user group and how does one get started?” A user group is a group of people who meet on a regular basis to share and discuss ideas and problems regarding the computer. There are many different types of user groups. Some are formed by owners and users of a brand of computer, such as Timex Sinclair, while others are formed around a particular type of application or language such as Telecommunications, Robotics, Business or PASCAL (to name a few). These groups generally meet once a month, welcome new members, and are free of charge, at least on an introductory basis.

The meetings vary in structure from formal to informal; however, most groups allow time for both formal presentation and informal discussions. The whole idea is to have an opportunity to meet and share ideas, breakthroughs in particular problems, and information on hardware or software.

Most user groups charge a nominal fee (between $10 and $20 per year) for membership. This helps defray the expense of printing and mailing newsletters, and other operational costs. Most user groups are non-profit organizations run by volunteers. Some advantages of the non-profit status: donations of products, materials or space are tax deductible for the donor; bulk mailing costs considerably less; and most newspapers will publish announcements about meetings at no charge, provided you meet their lead times.

Now that I’ve described what a user group does, I’d like to explain how I started one. In September 1981, I was just completing some contract work for the American headquarters of Sinclair Research Ltd. in Boston. I was very excited about helping plan the introduction of Sinclair’s ZX81 into the United States. Even then, I believed that this computer would revolutionize the American public, because it would allow people who previously could not afford a computer an opportunity to buy one, learn how it works, and develop new applications for its use.

I was so anxious to meet people who were working with their Sinclair computers, I decided to form a user group. My first step was to approach Johnathan Rotenberg, founder and president of the Boston Computer Society. BCS is the largest and most prestigious personal computer society in the country, and boasts more than 20 different user groups and 7000 members throughout the world. Since BCS did not have a Sinclair user group, and I lived in Boston, Johnathan agreed I could start one under the umbrella of BCS, and I was off and running.

My next step was to set a date, time and place for a meeting, and publicize it. I really did not know how many people to expect at the first meeting set on a Wednesday evening in October 1981 and was pleasantly surprised to see 18 people attend. The agenda for this meeting was rather informal. I explained the purpose of the group and got people to share their ideas and experiences. I was very encouraged by the synergy that developed in the discussion.

We experienced growing pains. At subsequent meetings, we expanded at a 20 to 50 per cent rate per meeting, and out-grew our meeting room four times. Our audience grew from 18 to more than 100 people in four months; some meetings have been attended by almost 200.

Our actual membership as of February, 1983, is around 600 people, most of whom are from New England; however, we have had some individual members from other parts of the country who joined just to receive our newsletter, as well as other BCS benefits.

In addition, we have a policy whereby any other Timex Sinclair user group mails us its newsletter and we send it our newsletter free. Consequently, in February, we mailed more than 700.

In July, 1982, because we wanted to support owners, users and potential owners of both the Sinclair and the Timex computers, we changed our group name to Sinclair Timex user group.

Regarding the regular monthly meetings, I believe that it is very important for the people attending to feel they are an integral part of the group, so I structure the meeting to provide ample opportunity for people to contribute and interact.

During the first one and a half hours, we usually have a few people scheduled to make a presentation on some aspect of the computer; for this we rely heavily on active group members. Many of our members have started their own companies (EZ Key, King Software, Siriusware) as a direct result of their participation in the group. Occasionally, we hear speakers from companies that provide owners and users of Timex or Sinclair computers with hardware, software, publications or services.

October 20, 1982, was our first anniversary. We were extremely fortunate to get both Dan Ross, Chief Operating Officer for Timex Computer Corporation and Margaret Bruzelius, Executive Vice President for U.S. Operations, Sinclair Research Ltd. to speak to our group. They gave us some background on their respective companies, described what they feel the future holds for owners and users of their respective products, and answered questions.

After our speakers, we generally have a short break so people can look at displays and talk. Then we reassemble, hear announcements from the group, and break into smaller interest groups. These include: a beginners group (I always encourage prospective buyers to come and ask questions of actual owners); advanced groups in assembly language, FORTH, and other specialties; and groups structured around special interests, such as education and genealogy.

Sometimes our user group undertakes special activities. Last summer, we sponsored a two day kitbuilding session, during which anyone with a ZX81 kit received free assistance in constructing it. Three of our members circulated around the room, helping others, including some who had never touched a soldering iron before.

We plan to have a seminar on assembly language for the Timex Sinclair in the future.

Our newsletter, one of our ongoing activities, has expanded from a one page, hand-printed announcement of the next meeting, to an 8-page, typeset newsletter with articles about hardware, software, programs to try, as well as a recap of the last meeting and highlights of the next.

We have just formed a library committee. We have had some books, software and monthly publications donated, and are organizing this material so that it can be checked out and used by members.

I am also looking forward to the future when we will have access to modems so that we can communicate with one another through various data banks. We probably will put our newsletter on one of the national data bases within several months.

In conclusion, there is some work involved in starting and running a user group. You must be willing to listen to others and be able to enlist their help and support, especially if you want the group to grow.

You must involve many people on many different levels, in such essentials tasks as the planning and coordinating of meetings; writing, editing, and getting advertising for the newsletter; getting it printed and mailed; making signs for the meeting place; getting meetings publicized; and so on. Another key factor is to structure the meetings and activities to encourage new members: otherwise you may stagnate. Recruiting new members is very important in keeping the group alive.

Personally, I can say that this has been an extremely rewarding experience for me. By starting this group, I have met and talked with many interesting people who have been extremely enthusiastic about the Timex Sinclair computer. It has also opened doors for me professionally. In November, 1982, I became Technical Support Manager for Timex Computer Corporation in their Corporate Headquarters in Middlebury, Connecticut.

Our user group is composed of people from all walks of life and all ages, including engineers, educators, businessmen, students, and clergy, to name a few. Every third Wednesday, we meet with information to exchange and enthusiasm to share.

Susan C.T. Mahoney, founder and director of the Sinclair Timex User Group, Boston Computer Society, Boston, Massachusetts, is also Technical Support Manager for Timex Computer Corporation, Middlebury, Connecticut.