Of the 2000 registered Apple User Groups in North America, eight were selected by Apple so have representatives on a newly revived User Group Advisory Board. Gold Coast Mac is honored that its president, Rose Lynn, was one of those tapped by Apple to help keep its relations with User Groups smooth.

Rose's appointment is a testament to the hard work she and others in the group have invested in making our organization, truly, one of the premier computer support organizations in the Southeast, and now among the elite in the nation.

GCM and Rose were not selected because of the glitz, but because of daily hard work. While other user groups have been struggling, some even declaring bankruptcy and folding, Gold Coast maintained its traditional services and added new ones, expanding special interset groups, forging partnerships with resellers, and adding value for the membership dollar.

As a representative on the User Group Advisory Board, Rose will be sharing that formula with Apple and other user groups The object of the board is to transfer ideas from Apple to the User Groups, and to take ideas back to Apple from the User Groups. Members of the Advisory Board will communicate via e-mail, to have information available to all user groups with regard to how those groups can most easily reach various members of the Advisory Board.

The board has some specific goals:

1) Provide a conduit to Apple about user group issues. Especially if the groups don't feel they're getting a good response from Apple about something, they can collectively bring the issue to the board. This should go a long way toward addressing complaints that Apple has been non responsive to user concerns.

2) Provide a reverse conduit from Apple to the user group community about what Apple wants. Really kind of a reality check. Apple may want to do something, and presents the idea to the board. The board gives feedback, and Apple makes adjustments accordingly. Initially this will be mostly about user group program issues, but may expand in the future.

3) Provide leadership in the user group community. Help direct people toresources, provide ideas, help others to succeed.

4) Create a face for the user group community. Having a team of outstanding individuals willing to provide feedback will help raise the profile of user groups inside Apple. It will also help those in the user group community who feel that Apple is not responding to them. Having an advisory board gives them another outlet.

January 2000