General meeting
Thank you, Ellen Williams, for a terrific presentation on “Email and Social Engagement” last month. The presentation got very high ratings from the surveys collected after the meeting. It was very informative, with you sharing your expert knowledge on the topic and comparing the effectiveness of different flavors of social media and their target audiences. It was apparent from all the questions you answered afterward that it was a very engaging presentation. We would love to have you back again next year.
Once again we had an excellent presentation that the vast majority of our members missed. Why? I really want to know. What will draw you away from your day-to-day activities to participate in an enlightening, informative and educational presentation? You have the opportunity to interact with experts in their fields at our general meetings, something you don’t get by reading about them or watching videos. If it is the meeting topic that is holding you back then please let the program committee know your suggestions. Better still, if you have listened to a speaker recently on a topic you think might interest the group, please send information about it to programs@dacs.org so we can look into it. This is your group and we are working hard to make it beneficial to you.
DACS 25th year anniversary preparation underway
We are in the midst of making preparations for the 25th anniversary of the Danbury Area Computer Society. Bruce Preston made an excellent suggestion at a recent Board meeting: that we put together a commemorative CD of all 25 years of past newsletters. Another suggestion was to present a timeline of what has happened in the computer industry linked to DACS events and milestones during that time. Photographs and videos of DACS events might also be collected on this CD. What are your recollections and suggestions? Can you remember anything that stands out in your mind? What event(s) would be fun to celebrate next year and at the same time get our name out to the public? Share your thoughts with us at 25years@dacs.org.
Public Relations
Every month we send notices to all the local newspapers but only a few bother to publish our general meeting announcements. If you have any suggestions on how to better publicize our events to the general public, please offer your thoughts to PR@dacs.org.
There is something every one of you can do to boost attendance and possibly increase membership. Spread the word. Tell a friend or neighbor or coworker about us. Everybody that has a smart phone, tablet, or computer will walk away from our general meetings a little smarter and empowered to get more from their devices. Go forth and evangelize!
Thank You
I am grateful that many of you have stepped up to do what needs to be done month after month. Our entire Board of Directors does a lot behind the scenes as do our committees, SIG leaders, and many of our members. I try to acknowledge your contributions when I can. This month I am happy to recognize Drew Kwashnak who has not just joined the Civi development team but has taken the lead to integrate CiviCRM and WordPress in an organized manner. This is significant to expand ‘members only’ benefits on our website and allow you to update your own information eventually.
Open Opportunities
- DACS meeting ambassador and Greeter. Two months ago Cathy Quaranta assisted Bob Green and learned the process so that Bob has been able to pass-the-torch to her. She has suggested several members should step up to greet attendees on a rotating basis. Why don’t you ask her how you can help when you check in at our next general meeting or send email to Opportunities@dacs.org and let us know you would be happy to help out. Thanks.
- If you are already using social media and have suggestions for how we can use it to create better word of mouth marketing for DACS events, please contact me at PR@dacs.org . We need to seize this opportunity to entice more potential members to experience DACS.
- Would you be interested in learning more about a topic but don’t see a SIG for it? Do you want to start a Special Interest Group (SIG) or workshop? We could be utilizing our Resource Center much more and there are many available time slots available. Please send a message to NewSIG@dacs.org if you are interested in attending.
From mobile to desktop, we inform, enlighten, and educate.
– Dick Gingras, President