XCOM Meeting 24 May 2010

From TMUG - The Triangle Macintosh Users Group

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

meeting called to order

by Smythe at ~7:15 pm at Greek Fiesta, Briar Creek.
present:

  • Smythe, President
  • Duane, 1st VP
  • Allen, 2nd VP
  • Chips, secretary
  • Cort, treasurer
  • Carl Ebhardt

June Meeting Program

  • bar-b-Q&A / swap meet
    • Smythe will check logistics
      • there are grills on the church's back deck we can use
      • cook outdoors & bring food in side to Gathering Place to eat
    • TMUG will provide food & beverages
      • No cost to members or visitors
    • Carl will coordinate food purchases
      • hamburgers & hotdogs & veggie burgers
      • condiments: catsup, mustard, relish
      • canned drinks (variety)
      • individual bagged chips
      • paper goods: plates, napkins, cups, forks (Carl has some from Dec mtg)
      • cookies
    • Allen will coordinate volunteers
      • Volunteers to bring tomatoes, lettuce, onions
    • TMUG will reimburse expenses
    • Smythe will send a survey to the list to try & determine food preferences / desires
  • Swap Meet / Yard Sale
    • Free for members / $10 for non-members
    • tables will be set up at the back of the Gathering Place room (near the drink machines)
  • Chips' Tips
    • Chips has done a quickie tip / hint before the break at a couple of meetings earlier this year.
    • He would like to continue his "Chips' Tips" as a regular meeting item.
    • (lack of internet access may preclude a tip preso)
    • Followed by a door prize drawing.
  • Q&A
    • moderated by Bob Chandler

July Meeting Program

  • WWDC / iPhone update?
  • start having a "conversation starter" before the break
    • e.g. "the favorite Mac or iPhone app you are using right now"

Future Meeting Programs suggestions

  • 5 minute member presos (???)
    • volunteers needed


older / previous meeting suggestions:

  • TMUG.org website – what's there & how to do it…
  • create your own website
    • web host
    • tools / apps
  • Internet Radio
    • (iTunes, Slacker Radio, Last fm, Pandora, AOL Radio, SOMA FM, station websites, etc)
    • This covers both the Mac and iPhone/Touch devices.
  • TV / movie / cable alternatives for your Mac
    • Slingbox (um hmm…) - Duane
  • alternatives to MS Office
    • open Office, NeoOffice
    • Pages, Nissus Writer, Mellel, WriteRoom, Mariner Write
  • screen capture
    • Grab. Cmd-Shift-3, SnapzPro,
  • another sit & share?
  • social networks - LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Plex, etc
  • a swap meet...?
  • games demo?
  • no contact yet Mark Williams, founder of Modality. Smythe sent them another query.
  • Photoshop or another photo editor? probably not.
  • remote connection apps: e.g. Back To My Mac, GoToMeeting, WebEx, Glance
  • Remote Presentations?
  • Remote access?

other ideas posited to the general list in mid-January `09:

  • Remote presentations (Glance, WebEx, GoToMeeting, BackToMyMac)
  • Web and iPhone/Mac note syncing programs (SyncBook, SyncNotes, EverNote, Fliq)
  • Social Networks - in real life (LinkedIn, Flickr, TweetUps, Forum software)
  • Intelliscanner - Paul Scandariato (He wrote back - not until summer or fall)

digital photography follow-up:

  • camera options & choices
  • iPhoto `09
    • facial recognition
    • Geo-location
  • web photo storage
    • Flicker
    • Smug Mug
    • Picasa
  • photo stitching w/ DoubleTake
  • photo editing
    • Preview
    • GraphicConverter

Treasury & Membership Reports

  • Members in good standing:, with renewals due, in grace, & recently expired.
  • There were ~54 in attendance at the May 11 meeting – ~42 members & 12 guests; 2 renewed & 1 joined at the May meeting; none since.
  • Cash in Wachovia checking account: $4,855.71 & $100 in petty cash.
  • 5-4-10 paid SE Voice and Data $39.95 by check for server co-location May 19 - June 18.
  • iPad Raffle netted a total revenue of $665
    • Cort won it, & has ordered a 32 GB 3G w/ a case.
    • (He paid for the difference in cost of the "upgrade".)
  • [reported by Chips & Cort, as of 5.24.10]

New Business

  • "TMUG West"
    • Scott Ragland came to represent a group of TMUG'ers & tmug-list subscribers who are interested in having "TMUG West" meetings.
    • Another meeting day / week is preferred to not compete with TMUG's regular monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday)
    • Find a place that's convenient, good parking, inexpensive, has WIFI
  • Square
    • Cort has applied for an account using their point-of-sale device
      • Square "dongle" plugs into audio port of an iPhone OS device
      • transaction fees are less than VISA / MC
      • ties into an established bank account
    • We can use it for memberships & raffles
      • We discussed adding a surcharge for members to use the service; e.g. $1.50 for a $35 membership
      • We decided on no additional fee to be charged to member / buyer

Old Business

Expression Engine

  • Allen gave those present a brief intro to Expression Engine at the May 3 XCom meeting
    • He has created a "demo" website at TMUG
  • PayPal account
    • We have an account which has been dormant for several years. It appears to be a standard business account, but we should change it to a non-profit account (if that is possible) to secure reasonable transaction rates:
      • - no monthly fee
      • - 2.2% service charge and $.30 per transaction
    • A few members have asked if they can pay their dues by PayPal. Do we want to pursue?
    • Smythe & Trish have talked with Jeff Gordon to get the login info & transfer the details
    • Cort will complete the follow up & will try to transfer account to a non-profit
  • formsite.com
  • Smythe suggests that we plan a local Apple expo
    • early 2010 (Jan - Feb)
    • get local Apple retailers, i.e. Ten-Plus, Best Buy, Apple, etc
    • need to get volunteers to help
  • Allen & Smythe will follow up with John May about using Point-in-Space to host tmug.org.
  • Allen wants to use the mailing labels to send out "We missed you at the last meeting" to encourage more participation from our membership.
  • Recommended by Smythe or Allen to ask the members what they want to see raffled and what price for tickets.
  • we need to update the tmug.org domain whois info
    • the technical contact is still listed as Paul Lemieux
  • Smythe suggests that we should blog Q&A each month
    • we need to identify someone to do it
  • TMUG server
    • [from Oct `08 - ] Stefan has talked with MacHighway. One of the issues is that they don't use a Postfix email / Cyrus for IMAP system. (no new info)

meeting adjourned

at ~8:50 pm by Smythe.


Velomac 17:59, 5 June 2010 (EDT)

Retrieved from "http://tmug.org/index.php/XCOM_Meeting_24_May_2010"
Personal tools