How to Start a Newton User Group

1. Try to find others in your area. This is not very important buta good starting point. Decide or a time for your first meeting. Try to make it after work around 6 or 7. Also, meet at a restaurant--it will give you something to eat and a neutral place for others to meet you.
2. If possible Post Messages on comp.sys.newton.announce, America Online's Newton forum and Compuserve's Newton forum any User group announcements.
3. Let NewtNews, the weekly Newton Newsletter, know you are forming an user group.
4. Your first meetings should be informal. Some user groups have formal Meeting and make their members pay yearly dues. If your group doesn't have any expenses try to keep the money out of the group.
5. Something else you might try is to go to your local Macintosh or Windows User group to recruit new members. Offer to give a Newton demonstration.
6. Some companies will send User groups demos of software to review or for the group to raffle off.
7. If you have a Newton programmer in your area it would be beneficial to invite them to come to Some meeting.
8. If you have a local newspaper you might be able to advertise your group in it.
9. Give flyers of your meetings to the local Computer stores. The Macintosh stores are Usually Very willing to help out by distributing the flyers. The Wintel Stores Were not so friendly to me when I tried, but yours might not be so bad.
10. Another consideration would be to become a special interest of your local Macintosh or Windows user groups. (NewtChamp is a special interest group (SIG) of MacChamp.) This way you get the benefit of being members oF a user without the extra paper work.
11. If you don't become a Macintosh SIG then you should become an official user group with Apple. Official groups receive benefits such as discounts on Macintosh and Newton hardware and software.

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(last modified : Feb 25, 1997)