Part I - Benefits of Membership
You got fired up at a monthly HAL-PC show or HAL-PC booth at a trade show and joined. You may have signed up for HALNet, our members-only Internet service. The Magazine started arriving. Then What?
The above are great benefits of membership; but if that is all you are receiving then you are short-changing yourself. Education is what HAL-PC is really about.
HAL-PC is a “PC User Group” consisting of members who voluntarily contribute their time and talents to benefit other users. “Each One Teach One” is a commonly heard phrase. The idea is to come learn something, then help pass that knowledge on to others.
Last month we discussed how to attend the 70+ SIG (Special Interest Group) meetings held each month at the HAL-PC resource center and offices. These are our primary educational tool, and cover the gamut of hardware and software products.
In addition we offer formal hands-on classes (see listings elsewhere in this issue) at a nominal charge for handouts and materials. These, unlike SIG meetings, require pre-registration. Each student will be on a PC so attendance must be limited.
You have a free e-mail account provided all members via our free BBS (Bulletin Board System ), even if you don’t join HALNet. Send your e-mail to any location on earth at no charge beyond your HAL-PC dues. Such a deal!
Special HAL-PC pricing is periodically available on hardware and software. This is routine from the presenting vendors at the monthly show. Other specials are arranged by our Member Services Committee. Years ago HAL-PC sold thousands of diskettes at the monthly show at a price available nowhere else in town. When local stores reduced their pricing to match, HAL-PC quit selling as it had achieved its goal. About two years ago, U.S. Robotics Courier V-Everything modems were sold to members at about $200 less than the street price. Recently Maxstor 7 GB hard drives were available at $50-75 off street pricing, with 1-800 ordering and special same day shipping and handling from the Maxstor warehouse. The Committee is gearing up for more such sales.
A Swap Meet is held at the monthly show. Members can sell their no-longer-needed hardware and software to other members at a reduced price. Advanced reservations for table sales space must be made at the HAL-PC office.
There is a Vendor Area at the show, where local vendors generally sell their products at a show-discount rate. Help support them as they support us. Remember, Christmas and Hanukkah are coming up.
The Help Committee (listed elsewhere in this issue) provides ready answers to your PC questions and saves you many $$$ in fees and LD calls to tech support desks.
And lest we forget - fellowship is one of your greatest benefits. Friends are fantastic.
So Welcome to HAL-PC. Next month, in Part II, I’ll review your obligations of membership in a volunteer organization.
Tom Lassiter, a HAL-PC member, is Membership Secretary.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.