Welcome to the first installment of the User Group Service Report . Our current, though tentative, plans are to run this report on a regular basis alternating every other issue with another column (possibly Sinclair World Report which would tell us of European and other foreign developments – if we can talk a certain Canadian friend of ours into writing it).
At any rate the purpose of this column is to help user groups of every size to operate more successfully and maintain a high interest level among members. Of course much of the information will be of interest to users who have no convenient access to groups. We hope that suggestions and ideas that have worked for various groups will be submitted to us for possible publication. Send them to TS Horizons, User Group Services, 2002 Summit St., Portsmouth, Oh 45662.
SPECIAL FREE OFFER TO USER GROUPS
At least two other T/S supporting publications have printed user group listings which were outdated and inaccurate. T-S Horizons is currently compiling a more up-to date list. We mailed a questionaire to a large number of groups. In exchange for filling out the form we promised to send free samples of a selected issue of TS Horizons for each of their members. To get the free samples for your group, please write to us and answer the following questions: User group name? Mailing address? Contact person? Phone number? Name of newsletter (if any)? Number of issues within the last 12 months? Membership cost (if any)? Miscellaneous information (optional)? Number of copies of TS Horizons needed? Address to mail copies to * ?
* Indicate if the answers to these questions are not to be published. We would like them for our records at any rate.
This offer of magazine samples will be honored if your group has three members or a hundred. We hope to get some new subscribers from the deal, but our main goal is to help maintain interest in your group.
-User Group Listings
Recently our local user group was sent 2 copies of a great little British magazine called ZX Computing. It is over 130 pages long and filled with articles and programs for the ZX81 and Spectrum. It is a very nice magazine and it came absolutely FREE. Apparently, they got our name and address from some user group listing.
Beside the several Timex-related publications that will list your user group for you, many general publications will also. Every user group, big or small should write to the Computer Shopper and ask that your group be listed. They have a huge four-page list of about 1200 user groups. By being included here, you may get some junk mail, but you may get some new members and a rare goody like ZX Computing.
Some tips to remember:
1. Include Timex and/or Sinclair prominently in the name. (ours is listed as “Timex-P.O.R.T.S., Portsmouth Ohio Region Timex Sinclair User Group ” in the Shopper)
2. If your group is located near a state border send in a listing for each state. (We have a listing for Kentucky).
3. To be listed in the Shopper send your group’s name and address to P.O. Box F, Titusville, FL 32781 or call 305-269-3211.
Other magazines that print notices of user groups are Infoworld and Byte. Include more information when you write to these. (newsletter cost, meeting times, etc.)
ZEBRA SYSTEMS DEMO VIDEO TAPE:
In the most innovative marketing move we’ve seen from a TS related company, Zebra Systems has produced a very impressive videotape of the capabilities of their Zebra Graphics Tablet for the 2068. The tape is 20 minutes long and is an actual recording of the Graphics Tablet in use. Zebra did a near professional video job with this, and is offering the tape on loan for free to recognized user groups. Unfamiliar user groups and inividuals will be asked for a $10 refundable deposit. I’ve seen the tape and it’s great. The product is reviewed by Bill Ferrebee later in this issue. The tape is sure to be the hit of your next meeting. To order call 718-296-2385 or write Zebra Systems 78-06 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven, NY 11421. Specify VHS or Beta format. Loan period is 60 days.
Conclusion
That’s all for this issue but we are anxious to hear from you. If you have had some successful ideas that helped your group to grow drop us a line. All of us groupies have to stick together.