Why I Like Computer Clubs – Originally Published July 2011

July 22, 2014 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

One Monday last month, I told the Grandson I had to bring him home early so I could get ready for my computer meeting.  He said, “You sure go to a lot of computer meetings.”  I told him that each one was a little different.  Being just five years old, he didn’t quite grasp the difference between the regular club meetings, the staff meetings and a special interest group meeting.  Then he asked me a question that gave me the subject for this article, “Why do you like going to all of those meetings?”

I told him that it was because it gave me a chance to get out of the house and away from Grandma for a little while.  Later on, I got to thinking about his question.  Why do I enjoy the club meetings and functions?  Over the years I’ve been a member of several computer clubs.  There are many reasons that I keep joining them.

The most important thing about these computer user groups (clubs) is that they were full of people who meet to share information and to learn from each other.  Doesn’t that sound like our group?  All of them were informal groups with a common purpose of learning more about how computers operate.

Computer clubs offer a lot of knowledge and experience.  It’s almost like having tech support with a native English speaking support staff.  No matter what problem you may have, someone knows how to solve it, or where to go to find out how.

A computer user group gives you something better to do than staring at the wall.  The meetings are a fun method of learning something new.  Even though I’m fairly knowledgeable on many aspects of computing, there are so many times I get a new tidbit.

Our computer group has a monthly newsletter.  I’ll admit that I like to run my mouth and the newsletter gives me a chance to write about something that I like to talk about . It’s even more fun when someone tells my they particularly liked one of my articles.

Computer users groups are a fun place to meet new people.  Since I’ve joined the SWLAPCUG, I’ve learned from a professional photographer, a tax accountant, a Better Business Bureau professional, several writers, programmers, web authors, and many others.

The club has an easy to use website that gives me an excellent place to output more of my ramblings.  It is a great place to tell everyone about internet links they should check.

Where else can you get all of this and more for only two dollars a month?  The annual membership fee is less than you would pay for one computer class anywhere else.  Sometimes, that means we teach each other how to use Dropbox.  Other times, it means teaching how to use the Internet more effectively, to use a photo editing program, how to take digital pictures or how to research your family tree.  These are topics for ordinary people, not things for programmers.

Now that I’ve told you why I like the SWLAPCUG, I’m going to take a few more minutes of your time an tell you how you can help make our computer club even better.

Why not contribute an article to this newsletter?  Do you have a favorite program that you think would be useful to other computer users?  Take a few minutes and tell everyone about it.  Not only that, but Lane will really appreciate it too.

Why not bring a friend to one of our monthly meetings?  You can impress them with how smart you are by being a member of our club.  They just might decide to join and then we would all benefit.

Have you found a great website that everyone should know about?  Found a great deal on a new computer?  Heard a funny story that you just can’t wait to tell?  Have a computer question that can’t wait for the club meeting?  Why not post on our website.  It only takes a few minutes and is just the thing that would generate more interest in our club.

Thanks for reading.

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