** 1 page regular user group / 913 words **

User Group News

I sometimes wonder why it seems to be so hard to get people interested in actually attending a user group meeting. As can be seen in this months report from a recent WRAG meeting people are there to help each other, and it is a place where there is always something to learn, no matter what your level of experience is. So why not make the effort to get out to a meeting and see for yourself.

Drop a line to Harry Sideras, chairman of The UK Association of Atari User Groups and he'll put you in touch with a group in your area, or give you advice on how to start one if there is no local group.

As Harry says "Wherever Atarians gather, the sharing of accumulated knowledge and demonstration of those skills renews the passion we all have for our machines. The flexibility to achieve impressive quality results in the fields of art and raytracing, music and MIDI, communications and web page creation, database creation and spreadsheet manipulation, desktop publishing and document processing, with a little bit of image retouching thrown in for good measure, pay honourable testament to that fact. It's in the user group domain that these skills can be shown in their best light - by people you know taking their time to show you exactly how they manage it".

Please remember to enclose an SAE and disk (if necessary) when writing to Harry expecting a reply because the UKAAUG is a non-profit organisation.

The UK Association of Atari User Groups compiles an index covering all currently existing UK Atari User Groups, to enable people to make contact with others to share their knowledge and skills and to demonstrate solutions to real-life questions. These groups fall into two categories:

** UL **
* Local groups who can offer experience and general knowledge across a range of topics.
* National groups with specialist knowledge of one subject area, such as Calamus User.

** boxout **
** UKAAUG.IMG here **
For up to date information on all UK Atari user groups, send a blank disk and SAE to:

** BC **
Harry Sideras
(UK Association of Atari User Groups)
37 Garwood Road
Yardley
Birmingham
B26 2AN

Email: sidcelery@cix.co.uk
** /BC **
** /boxout **

** WRAGLOGO.GIF here **
WRAG (White Rose Atari Group) meeting report
** italics **
Stephen Barszczak reports...
** /italics **

The meeting started quietly with a few late arrivals, but once everyone arrived we couldn't believe how time flew. The biggest surprise to everyone was the announcement from Alan Jackson that he had a new toy to play with - and soon he was the envy of us all.

While on holiday up in Scotland [Why didn't he come to one of our STAG meetings? - Al] Alan picked up the bargain of the decade, a Falcon with 4Mb memory, a 127Mb hard drive and SVGA monitor for the princely sum of œ100! We all joked with him and tried to offer him a few pence more for it so that he would show a profit, but surprise, surprise, he resisted our offers.

In another corner Scanners were in action. Antony had just bought a new scanner and was demonstrating its capabilities and how to use the software. Sadly I didn't have the time to try the scanner out at the meeting because Adrian Haigh spent the most of the meeting trying to figure out what was wrong with NVDI on my system. After many a crash it took a full re-installation to get it working, and now there's just some fine tuning to do.

Everyone seemed to have a good time - we just wish we had a bit more time because before we realised it was time to go. Future meetings of the White Rose Atari Group will be held at 4 Langdale Street, Elland, Near Halifax. Please get in touch for directions and dates:

** BC **
Telephone:
Tony: 01422 375673
Stephen Barszczak: 01274 826353 before 9pm
Email:
Nest: 90:100/402.0
FidoNet: 2:250/303.0
Internet: wrag@tgm-bbs.demon.co.uk
** /BC **

SWAG (Stratford & Warwickshire Atari Group)

A quick mention for a fledgling user group starting in the Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire area. The group was started by Carl Turner and Peter Fenwick who first met each other through the "Atari Wrinklies" disczine which contained a name and address listing of everyone in the club on disk. Both Carl and Peter were online so after a couple of emails back and forth, they started the user group.
They're actively looking for new members to try and establish the group where all aspects of Atari computing will be discussed. Carl and Peter can offer experience connecting to the "Web", setting up email and handling files attachments and generally troubleshooting any problems people may have.
Initially, meetings will be held at "The Bird in Hand" pub in Newbold on Stour. Meeting dates are still to be confirmed, so if you live in the area and fancy a friendly chat with like minded people give do get in touch:

** BC **
Carl Turner, 39 Saxonfields, Bidford on Avon, Warwickshire, B50 4BS
Tel: 01789 490892
Email: cturner@zetnet.co.uk

Peter Fenwick, "The Bird in Hand", Newbold on Stour, Warwickshire, CV37 8TR
Tel: 01789 450253
Email: pfenwickc@cix.co.uk
** /BC **

** boxout **
This page is for user groups all around the world - not just UK user groups. If you've involved with a user group and would like a mention then please do get in touch:

** BC **
Atari Computing (User Groups)
"Rois Bheinn", Overton Crescent, Johnstone, PA5 8JB, Scotland
Email: usergroups@ataricomputing.com
Netmail: 90:100/315.0@nest.ftn
** /boxout **