SGVAUG

The Board of Directors of the SGVMUG has declared that the December 15, 2008 general meeting shall be the Annual Business Meeting during which an election will be conducted to determine the members of the new Board of Directors and to approve the revised Bylaws of the Group. All Members in Good Standing are urged to attend this meeting and cast their votes. The winners of the election will be determined by a simple majority of the votes cast and announced at the end of the meeting.

There are eleven candidates for the Board of Directors:

BILLY CHANG, FREDERIC FLETCHER, GAUTAM GODSE, SCOTT HARRELL, BUD KEVILLE, SEAN McKINLEY, AL RICHARDSON, BEN RITTER, THOMAS RITTER, RON STREICHER, ANDREW ZIMA

The biographical statements of the candidates follow at the end of this document.

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In preparation for filing an application for status as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, the Board of Directors also has revised the Bylaws of the Group; this requires a vote of ratification from the Membership. The text of the revised Bylaws follows:

BYLAWS
of the
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MACINTOSH USERS GROUP

ARTICLE I – Name, Status and Place of Business
A. Name and Territory — The name of this organization shall be San Gabriel Valley Macintosh Users Group, hereinafter referred to as the SGVMUG. It shall serve members in the communities of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.

B. Not-for-Profit Status The SGVMUG shall be an independent organization, not an affiliate or chapter of any other organization and shall not exist to create a monetary profit for any individual or organization; no funds earned or raised by the SGVMUG shall inure to the benefit of anyone other than its collective membership in furtherance of the purposes outlined below.

C. Place of Business — The principal place of business of the SGVMUG shall be located at the office or home of the duly elected President or at such other location as its Board of Directors may determine within the territory as stated in Article I, Section A of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE II – Purposes
A. Purposes — The SGVMUG shall be an association of individuals dedicated to assisting its members in deriving maximum benefit and enjoyment from the use of their Macintosh and Macintosh-compatible computers by: 1) providing a forum for sharing information and experiences; 2) developing and disseminating pertinent information on computer technology and applications; 3) providing opportunities for continuing education; and 4) other activities or services as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III – Membership
A. Membership shall be open to all individuals who regularly use or wish to learn about computers in general, and Macintosh-compatible computers in particular. Membership shall be contingent upon the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors and regular payment of dues. All members shall enjoy full voting privileges.

B. Any person by whose actions or conduct is deemed by the Board of Directors to be disruptive to the operations or activities of the SGVMUG shall, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board be denied the privileges of membership.

ARTICLE IV – Board of Directors
A. Board Membership — The business and property of the SGVMUG shall be managed by a Board comprised of no fewer than seven nor more than twelve Directors, all of whom shall be Members of the SGVMUG.

B. Elections and Terms of Office —
1. Directors shall be elected by a majority of the voting members of the SGVMUG present at its Annual Meeting (refer to Article VII, Section A).

2. The term of office for Directors shall be two years.

C. Vacancies — Vacancies which occur may be filled by appointment by the President, upon confirmation by a majority vote of the Board of Directors; appointees shall serve for the balance of the Fiscal Year. To continue on the Board, persons so appointed must stand for election at the next Annual Meeting.

D. Meetings of the Board of Directors — The Board of Directors shall meet at least six times per year.

E. Quorum — A majority of the elected Directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

F. Missed Meetings — A Director who misses three consecutive Board meetings without advance notice or excuse given to the President, shall be considered to have resigned.

G. Limitation of Terms —
A Director shall not serve more than three consecutive terms. A one-year interval shall be required before a Director who has served three consecutive terms is entitled to re-election as a Director.

ARTICLE V – Officers
The Board of Directors shall elect from among the duly elected Directors a President, one or more Vice Presidents (one of whom shall be designated as the First Vice President), a Secretary and a Treasurer. Election of officers shall be conducted annually at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of the membership.

A. President — The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership; shall give leadership to the affairs and activities of the organization; and shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint the chairs of all committees, subject to approval by the Board of Directors and shall vote on issues only when his/her vote is necessary to break a tie.

B. First Vice President — The First Vice President shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Presidency in the absence of the President. The First Vice President shall succeed to the presidency if the President is unable to finish his or her term of office. The First Vice President shall serve as Chairman of the Membership Committee, and may serve, upon appointment by the President and approval by the Board of Directors, as Chair of any committee.

C. Vice Presidents — The Vice Presidents shall provide leadership for such committees or activities as may be designated by the President or the Board of Directors.

D. Secretary — The Secretary shall be the official recorder and custodian of the records of the SGVMUG. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all business meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors, which shall be an accurate and official record of all business transacted. The Secretary shall execute all official correspondence of the SGVMUG upon authorization of the Board of Directors.

E. Treasurer — The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the SGVMUG. The Treasurer shall supervise the receipt of all funds, deposit them in a bank or other repository approved by the Board of Directors and pay out funds in accordance with an adopted budget and/or policies approved by the Board, obtaining Board approval of expenditures in excess of established guidelines. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial administration of the SGVMUG, shall submit periodic reports on the financial status of the SGVMUG to the Board of Directors and shall submit a financial statement to the membership at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VI – Committees
A. Executive Committee — The Board of Directors may designate its officers to serve as an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, under the guidance of the President, shall have such duties as delegated to it by the Board of Directors, and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Board of Directors in the interim between meetings of the Board in accordance with instructions of the Board, but shall not relieve the Board of Directors of the primary responsibility to manage the business and property of the organization.

B. Membership Committee — The Membership Committee shall consist of not less than three members and be Chaired by the First Vice-president. The Committee shall review all applications for membership prior to submission to the Board of Directors for approval.

C. Other Committees — The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint the Chairs of all other committees as are deemed by the Board of Directors to be appropriate to conduct the business of the SGVMUG. Actions of all committees shall be subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors.

D. Committee Structure and Membership — Whenever possible, committees shall be chaired by Directors. Committee Chairs may recruit members (who are not Directors) to serve on their committees. Such members may serve on committees with no limit of terms, but a normal rotation of committee membership is desirable.

E. Nominating Committee — The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than three members in good standing. All nominations must be expressly approved in writing (or via e-mail) by the nominee.

1. Call for Nominations — A Notice of the upcoming Election and a Call for candidates for nomination as Directors shall be published on the SGVMUG Website and sent via e-mail to the general membership prior to the October General Meeting.

2. Publication of Slate — Prior to the November General Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall publish on the SGVMUG Website and send via e-mail to the general membership a proposed slate of nominees for Directorships.

3. Nominations from the Membership — Additional nominations must be submitted in writing or via e-mail to the Nominations Committee, and must be confirmed in writing (or via e-mail) by the nominee. Such nominations must be received by the close of the November General Meeting.

4. Election at the Annual Meeting — The final slate of all nominees shall be published on the SGVMUG Website and sent via e-mail to the membership in advance of the Annual Meeting. All nominations made by these procedures shall be presented for election at the Annual Meeting. The election shall be conducted by secret ballot. A majority of votes cast by the voting membership present at the Annual Meeting shall determine the winner(s) of the election.

ARTICLE VII – Meetings of the Membership
A. Annual Meeting — The Annual Meeting of the SGVMUG shall be held at the regularly scheduled General Meeting in December of each year.

B. Regular Meetings — Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least ten times per year, on dates to be determined by the Board of Directors. These meetings shall be open to all who wish to attend, irrespective of membership status.

C. Special Meetings — Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee at any time, and shall be called by the Executive Committee upon the petition of not less than fifteen of the voting members of the SGVMUG.

D. Quorum — Ten voting members of the SGVMUG, of which at least two shall be members of the Board of Directors, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting official business at a membership meeting.

ARTICLE VIII – Dues
A. Annual Dues — Annual membership dues shall be established by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX – Miscellaneous
A. Contracts — Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and applicable laws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the SGVMUG. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, and unless so authorized by the Board of Directors, no person shall have any power or authority to bind the SGVMUG by a contract or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose in any amount.

B. Checks, Drafts, Etc. — All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable by the SGVMUG, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as from time to time shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

C. Fiscal Year — The fiscal year of the SGVMUG shall be January 1 through December 3l.

ARTICLE X: Indemnification of Directors or Officers
Directors and Officers of the SGVMUG shall, as incident to their office, be entitled to indemnification to the fullest extent provided in the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.

ARTICLE XI – Parliamentary Authority
The Parliamentary Authority for all meetings of the SGVMUG shall be Robert’s Rules of Order (revised 1990 edition).

ARTICLE XII – Amendments and Review
A. Amendments — These Bylaws shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors at least once every 5 years. Proposed revisions and/or amendments shall be published in November on the SGVMUG Website and distributed via e-mail to the voting membership prior to the Annual Meeting — or at least thirty (30) days prior to a Special Meeting called by the Board of Directors for this purpose. These proposed revisions and/or amendments shall then be voted upon at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the ballots cast by voting members present at that meeting shall be required for approval. Such revisions or amendments shall become effective thirty (30) days following approval by the Membership.

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BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENTS of the CANDIDATES for the BOARD of DIRECTORS — SGVMUG Election December 15, 2008

BILLY CHANG
Computer sales specialist with DiNo Computers in Pasadena, Billy also is an independent computer consultant. A member of the Board of Directors of the SGVMUG for several years, Billy has made numerous presentations at our meetings.

FREDERIC FLETCHER
Fredric Fletcher is the Assistant General Manager of Burbank Water and Power, a municipal utility for the city of Burbank, California. Mr. Fletcher leads the power supply program, system operations, wholesale marketing and commercial fiber network services and is developing a Smart Grid Network for the utility for the control and monitoring of electricity at the point of utilization in real time. Fred has held this position since 1986 and has lead many projects and organizational change for the utility over the years.
He is a register electrical engineer in California and South Dakota. He graduated with an MBA from the University of South Dakota and a BSEE from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Prior to Burbank Water and Power Mr. Fletcher lead power system operations for Missouri River Energy Services in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and was a Distribution Engineer and Meter Superintendent for Black Hills Power in Rapid City, South Dakota. Mr. Fletcher has worked in the utility industry since 1974. He has also held technical positions in a two-way radio service station and television production for two broadcast stations.
He is currently serving his first term on the Board of Directors of the SGVMUG.

GAUTAM GODSE
Our own “switch hitter” was featured in one of these campaign ads by Apple Computers. Guautam has been a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the SGVMUG and has given us numerous presentations, including the new “Tips and Tricks” feature that opens each meeting.

SCOTT HARRELL
I first used a Mac in January, 1985 at a job at a software mail order company in Santa Barbara, California. I had the privilege of learning all about personal computers, graphic design and desktop publishing as a result of that job.
The Mac, and by extension, Apple, has become an integral part of my professional and personal life for nearly a quarter of a century now. I have evolved with the industry. My knowledge and expertise have expanded along with the technology. I have personally owned 11 or 12 different Mac models, and have operated or worked on nearly every model and operating system since the original systems came out. Some favorites : SE/30, Mac IIci, PowerMac 8500, Blue & White G3, G5 tower, iMac G5 or Intel iMac, and of course the new MacBooks are awesome.
These days, I am comfortable integrating my love of Mac into the world of business and commerce. I would like to renew my support and commitment by contributing to the board – I want to be of service and to give something back to the community that means so much to me – the Mac community.
Although I am very busy with my own business as well as family commitments, I want to continue to give of my time, energy and resources to serve the board and the needs of the Mac community here in the San Gabriel Valley.

BUD KEVILLE
Computer experience on Apple since 1975 and on IBM main frames for 37 years. Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer positions SGV Apple Club. Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer positions SGVMUG. BS degree in Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan. MS degree Syracuse University. Member of CalTech Sigma Xi. Employed by Union Oil 2 years, Carrier Corp. 10 years, Aerojet 28 years where I retired as Chief Engineer 1990. Active in the United States Power & Sail Squadrons (boating education) for 41 years including Commander of the local Squadron. Senior Member, Amer. Institute of Chemical Engineers: Chairman & other positions over 60 years. Associate Fellow of Amer. Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics: many positions for 45 years include Chairman of the National Thermophysics Technical Committee, three terms as founding Chairman of the San Gabriel Valley Section, and chaired other committees including Career Enhancement.
I’m a fix-it guy. Spent 40 years working & sailing on my 30 foot sail boat, maintaining the house and car, and keeping track of everything on my computer. HAM Radio license KE6ASN.

SEAN McKINLEY
It amazing, that in January it will be 20 years since I started using the Macintosh. My first system was a discontinued Mac Plus I bought for around $900.00 from Personal Support Computers in Santa Monica.
Some time later Wally Qua invited me to attend a meeting of the SGVMUG. I’ve been a member since the early 90’s.
My service started when I volunteered to help distribute the Newsletter. I was then asked to attend a Board of Directors meeting and soon was elected to the Board.

AL RICHARDSON
Education: Music & Mechanical Engineering

Professioinal Careers:
• Professional Musician – Hawaiian Steel Guitar (1938-41)
• Staff – Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1942-73)
• Co-founder; Technology Training Corporation (1974-90)
• Consultant: Oral Communications and Parliamentary Law (1990 -To Date)
• Executive Director: Technical Marketing Society of America (1994-98)

Associations Memberships:
• Toastmasters Int’l: Distinguished Toastmaster & Past International Director, (1957-To Date)
• National Speakers Association: Past LA Chapter VP and Director (1974-To Date)
• American Institute of Aeronautics and astronautics: Past LA Section President 73-4 and
Region VI Deputy Director- Education, Associate Fellow (1944-To Date)
• Institute for the Advancement of Engineering: Fellow (1971 – To date)
• American Institute of Parliamentarians: Past Intl VP (1979 – To Date)

Computer Interests:
• Purchased “MAC-Plus” 1980
• Current IMAC & Power Book Computers
• Joined SGVMUG in 1991
•• Program Director 7/93 – 3/98
••President 4/1998 – 2/2000
•• BoD 2/2000 – to date
Assistant treasurer & Drawing Coordinator

BEN RITTER
I’ve been a mac user all of my life. In the last few years, I have become more experienced with Linux as well. I also have a fair amount of networking and server experience. I currently work for a school district, as one of three Mac techs. My duties include solving both hardware and software challenges, and imaging large quantities of computers (my record is about 80 MacBooks in one day).
I feel that with my youth, I could bring my interest and experience in Apple technology to the group. As a result, I am eager to stand for nomination of the Board of Directors.

THOMAS RITTER
I’ve been involved in photography since I was 14. That’s what led me to Macs and Photoshop in 1993. My first Mac was a “pizza box” shaped “LC”, loaded with Photoshop 3.
I work for Caltrans in the Graphics Department located in downtown Los Angeles. As an “Audio-Visual Assistant”, I photograph everything from “Grip and Grin” award presentations and portraits, to construction shots and aerials. I also assist our resident “Video Specialist” as needed.
I’ve been on the SGVMUG Board for approximately more than 5 years, and have been scheduling the monthly presentations as “Program Director.”

On the Board, we are always looking for new Board Members, so let me take this opportunity to fully endorse my son Ben Ritter. I may be able to take some credit for getting him started in computers, but he has “grown up digital” and in many areas has passed me up. We need his vitality and expertise on our Board, and I ask you to support him as well.

RON STREICHER
Ron Streicher is currently serving as President of the SGVMUG; he previously served nine years as Treasurer, and has been a Board member since the mid-1990s.
Professionally, Ron is an independent audio recording engineer specializing in live concert recording and production. Among his clients have been the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival and School, National Public Radio, Angel Records, and numerous musical organizations throughout the United States.
His book The New Stereo Soundbook, now in its third edition, has garnered world-wide acceptance as a standard reference text on audio recording and production.
In addition to the several presentations he has made to general meetings of the SGVMUG, Ron has developed international recognition as a guest lecturer on audio-related topics.

ANDREW ZIMA
Andrew has a background in computers and multimedia which includes training in both traditional and digital media. He currently has certificates from the Los Angeles Regional Occupational Program in TV Productions/Operations and Industrial Photography. Has been a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers student chapter at PCC and the Press Photographers Assoc. of Greater Los Angeles.
He was certified as an Apple Product Professional while working as a seasonal employee for Apple thru Marketsource.
Currently a member of the San Gabriel Valley Mac Users Group he has served as a meeting presenter, done software reviews, been newsletter editor, and Board of Directors member. In addition to the volunteer work he does Macintosh-based troubleshooting, support, and tutorials.

After pulling it not once but twice, AT&T is finally letting US iPhone users have free access to their hotspots in places like Starbucks. After having read articles like this one in at CNET – http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-9994170-94.html I had to go check it out for myself. Sure enough, once inside Starbucks the iPhone easily recognized their WiFi (be sure it selects AT&T and not T-mobile). The Process is straightforward enough – type in your iPhones number complete with area code and a Text is sent to your phone with a special link. You’re not charged for the text and the link let’s you log in for free instead of having to pay. Keep in mind the link only works for *that* Starbucks and if you go to another you have to re-login and get a new link.

Often, when you give a Keynote (or PowerPoint) presentation, you may have to interface your computer with the projector and/or sound system in a conference room or lecture hall. These are installed systems, so you usually have no options other than to use the cables they provide to you for connection to their equipment. If the systems are well designed, you should have no trouble. However …

The first and most important concern you face is proper electrical safety for your computer. If the AC outlet they provide to you is not on the same AC power leg (circuit) as their equipment, a “ground loop” can occur. I won’t go into detail on what a “ground loop” is, just be aware that it is not a good thing for you or your computer.

For a quick reference, the following is quoted from Wikipedia. For more details, do a Google search on the words “ground loop.” – “In an electrical system, a ground loop usually refers to a current, generally unwanted, in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same potential, often ground, but are actually at different potentials. Ground loops created by improperly designed or improperly installed equipment are a major cause of noise and interference in audio and video systems. They can also create a hazard, since ostensibly “grounded” parts of the equipment, which are often accessible to users, are not at ground potential.” -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_(electricity)

If you do experience a ground loop it probably will be evident by a low-frequency “hum” or a spectral “buzz” through the sound system. With luck, this is all that will result. In the worst case, you could cause damage to your computer.

WARNING: If the AC power adaptor that came with your computer uses a three-prong (grounded) plug, DO NOT remove the ground pin or use a “ground lift” adaptor. This is inviting disaster! The ground pin is there for the safety of you and your computer. If the (US) plug has only two prongs with one wider than the other, it is a polarized plug, and relies on the wider plug to make a proper ground connection. While this also is a safety feature the computer still may incur a ground loop. If the (US) plug has two prongs of the same width,it is non-polarized, and as a result probably will not experience a ground loop through the AC system.

The first thing to do is try to get all of the equipment onto the same power circuit. This may solve the problem immediately. If not, then there are two easy ways to avoid most ground loops:

1) Operate your computer from its battery rather than the AC power supply. This will “float” the computer from the AC power system and should avoid any power-related problems. However, if the audio system and the projector are on different AC power circuits, you still may create a ground loop when you connect them together via your computer. (This is bad system design.) If so, then try the next suggestion.

2) Use an audio-isolation transformer between the output of the computer and the audio input to the projector or sound system. One such device is the “Hum Eliminator” from Ebtech Electronics (www.ebtechaudio.com). This method offers another advantage in that it often can reduce or eliminate the low-level self-noise of the audio output stage of the computer. You will need a few simple cables and adaptors, and these are readily available at any Radio Shack store.

Sadly, there is no easy way to isolate your computer from the projector. The VGA (or DVI) connector makes a direct connection between your computer and the projector. If you experience a ground loop here, the only thing you can do is float your computer from the AC and operate from its battery.

In extreme cases, you may need to do both 1) and 2) above to get rid of the ground loop.

Now comes another serious WARNING:

Do not ever connect the audio output of your computer directly to a “phantom powered” microphone input. This will, in all probability, cause serious damage to your computer! This usually happens only if you are connecting to a mixing console (hence the “phantom powered” microphone inputs); it is not likely if you are plugging-in directly to a projector or power amplifier.

How can you tell if the input has “phantom power” on it? Ask the sound system operator. If he/she doesn’t understand your question or know the answer immediately, do not connect until you can be assured to your satisfaction that it is safe.

If you must connect into a microphone input (with or without “phantom power”) always use an audio-isolation transformer between your computer and the mixing console (as described above). It will, at the least, make your audio sound better and can save your computer from a major disaster.

By the way, you cannot always trust even the line-level inputs of some mixing consoles. In a church I once worked in, the inexpensive house mixing console (Peavy) had “phantom power” even on the line-level inputs. You know, of course, that when you allow the smoke to escape from a piece of electronic equipment it stops working.

Now, a few words about sound cards or external audio interfaces:

If the audio quality of your presentation is critical, the best way to output audio from your computer to any sound system is to use a high quality outboard audio interface (either FireWire or USB or a Digital-to-Analog converter). These devices generally will have better audio stages than the sound-driver in the computer. For my seminars, I use a TEC Audio TC-7510 outboard D-to-A from the Optical Digital output of my MBP and the audio quality is significantly improved over any other device I have tried. (www.avartix.net/english/TC-7510-DAC.html)

Be aware, however, that even these outboard interfaces can incur ground loops and if so, the only cure is to insert an audio-isolation transformer between them and the house sound system.

Have a happy and safe presentation.
Good Luck
—
Ron Streicher

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Since its inception in the mid-1980s, the San Gabriel Valley Macintosh Users Group has operated on an informal basis, without any official structure or legal status. While this has served us fairly well for the past two decades, the Board of Directors has decided that it is time to take the Group to another level by incorporating as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The immediate benefits are: 1) we will be able to solicit and accept tax-deductible donations from individual and/or business sponsors; 2) we will be a legal entity, able to enter into agreements or contracts as appropriate; and 3) the individual members of the Board of Directors will be relieved of any potential for personal liability relating to the operations or activities of the Group.

As a prelude to the formal process of incorporation, the Group will be holding its Annual Business Meeting on December 15th, during which we will elect a new Board of Directors and approve the SGVMUG Bylaws. Details of the nomination and election process can be found in my previous message on the website (It’s Election Season … September 30th, 2008).

At the October 20th General Meeting, Al Richardson was named chair of the Nominations Committee, assisted by Bud Keville and Billy Chang. The Call for Nominations for the Board of Directors will remain open until the end of the November 17th General Meeting. Any member may nominate him/herself or another member. All nominations must be confirmed by an agreement in writing (via e-mail) from the nominee that he/she is willing to be nominated and to serve the full two-year term if elected; complete contact information and a brief biographical statement (maximum 200 words) also are required from each nominee. Nominations and supporting documentation should be sent to the Nominations Committee using the following link: nominations@sgvaug.org All e-mail nominations must be received no later than Noon on Monday, November 17th.

Following the November meeting, the final roster of nominees will be posted onto the website and sent via e-mail to the voting membership.

The proposed revised Bylaws document also is available on the SGVMUG website for your review. It can be found by clicking on the following link: SGVMUG Bylaws.

This is your Group. We need your participation to be successful. Please consider placing your name in nomination for the Board. Then be sure to come to the December 15th meeting and vote.

With best regards,
Ron Streicher, President SGVMUG

The US Presidential Election on November 4th is garnering much of the attention of the nation – if not the entire world. However, not to be lost in the shadow of this historic event, please mark on your calendars that the SGVMUG will have its own election the following month at our December 15th meeting. At that time, we will be electing a full slate of Directors – with a minimum of five and a maximum of twelve positions available – to serve a two-year term, beginning in January.

This Board of Directors, in turn, will select from among its membership the Officers of the Group: President, Vice-president(s), Secretary, and Treasurer.It is the Board of Directors – all of whom are members of the SGVMUG and serve as volunteers – that develops the meeting topics and other activities that we enjoy every month. We invite all members to consider becoming more involved in your Group by participating on the Board. Quite literally, we cannot go on without you.Our election process (unlike that for the US presidency which seems to have been going on forever) actually begins with our meeting on October 20th, when a Nominations Committee will be announced, and nominations will be opened to the general membership.Any member wishing to place his or her own name in nomination, or to nominate another member, may do so at this meeting.

Nominations also may be submitted directly to the Nominations Committee. All nominations must be confirmed by an agreement in writing (or via e-mail) from the nominee that he/she is willing to be nominated and to serve the full two-year term if elected; complete contact information and a brief biographical statement (maximum 200 words) also are required from each nominee. Nominations and supporting documentation should be sent to the Nominations Committee using the following link: nominations@sgvaug.org

Nominations will remain open until the close of our meeting on November 17th. Following, a roster of the Nominees will be posted on the SGVMUG Website and sent via e-mail to all current members.The Election will be conducted by a ballot of those members present at the December 15th meeting, so please plan to come to the meeting to cast your vote.While you are making your calendars, please plan to join us for all of our meetings, regularly on the third Monday of (almost) every month throughout the year.

While there, you will enjoy networking with the other members of the Group, learn about new and interesting things you can do with your Mac, and have an opportunity to win some valuable prizes in our Drawing.

VOLUNTEERISM
The Key to a Successful Community Group

The San Gabriel Valley Macintosh Users Group needs your help! It is common knowledge that the SGVMUG is organized by a small cadre of dedicated volunteers. What might be less obvious to the casual observer, however, is just how small this “inner circle” really is. In fact, of the approximately 125 members of the SGVMUG, only about a dozen are actively involved in developing and producing the regular meetings and website on which the Group relies each month. Now, having twelve dedicated people out of 125 is not an unworkable proportion … unless you realize that these twelve are responsible for all of the work, and many of them have been doing this for the past several years, without very much “turnover” within their ranks.

The problem with this scenario, however, is that after a while, this very small group of individuals can become overburdened with their tasks. Sometimes it is just a matter of having to juggle the demands of the SGVMUG with the necessities of and responsibilities to their family and “day job.” Taken to the extreme, the stress becomes too much and “burn-out” becomes an issue. We experienced this earlier this year, when some of our Board members decided it was time to step aside and let someone else take over.

Some of the tasks necessary to keep the SGVMUG going forward include arranging meeting topics and presenters, securing prizes for the Drawings, maintenance of the membership database, development and maintenance of the Website, assisting at the General Meetings, publicity and promotion of the SGVMUG activities, membership recruitment, etc.

In December, in accord with our Bylaws, the SGVMUG will hold elections for the Board of Directors. At present, all twelve members of the Board are serving as an ad-hoc committee following our reorganization meeting in July. The December elections will be an opportunity to confirm these people or to elect “new blood” as Directors of the Group. We will begin the election process at our General Meeting on October 20th by naming a Nominating Committee and issuing a Call for Nominations.

Many of the activities listed above can be accomplished by volunteers who, although they cannot commit to being a Director, still want to help keep the SGVMUG a vital and active group for all of us. At the October meeting, let us know who you are. Volunteer to stand for nomination in the upcoming elections or offer to help as a non-Board member. Remember, the word “we” involves you!

Jayson Adams from Circus Ponies Inc. will be our guest speaker for the August 25th monthly meeting. Circus Ponies is the maker of NoteBook – the best note organizer for the Mac.Is your desktop cluttered with files? Are you drowning in sticky notes? Do you remember where to find that important web clipping? Circus Ponies NoteBook is the award-winning application that helps Mac users manage all those bits of information that lack a good home. Whether it’s the notes, clippings, and to dos of your life, or the e-mails, diagrams and spreadsheets of that important project, NoteBook helps you keep it all organized and accessible.Jayson will be presenting the latest version of NoteBook – v3.0. I know some of our users are already fans of this software and use it daily in our work. So come join us to watch the creator himself give us a demo and some sneak peaks into the future versions.Remember, in August we are meeting on the fourth Monday, Aug 25th ! So be there…