Introduction 
Do you want to start a new NT User Group? Or do you want to learn how to effectively manage and expand an existing group?
If so, then this manual was written especially for you.
When we use the term "NT User Group" we are referring to a user group or SIG whose focus is on technology
based on the core platform of Windows NT. That could be a SQL Server or BackOffice User Group. It could
also be a NT/DEC Alpha, NT/IBM Server, or NT/Oracle focused group. In short any group whose focus or
core platform includes Windows NT.
This manual was put together by the Worldwide Association of NT User Groups (WANTUG)
to help you acheive those goals! Founded in August 1996, WANTUG is a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of
Windows NT-based solutions through open forums, user groups, education, and other media.
The founding members of WANTUG all have years of experience in the start-up,
management, and building of successful NT User Groups. Many of them had years of experience in
general purpose user groups before becoming involved with NT groups. All of the WANTUG officers and members
want to share their knowledge and experience with you and the NT community. We felt that this
manual was a convenient and readily accessible method to do that.
We'd also like to emphasize that we see this as a "living" manual. That is, we see it growing and expanding over time. To
do this we'd like to solicit your support. If you discover new and innovative ways to start, manage,
or grow your NT-based group, please share them with us and we'll incorporate them into this manual--giving you
credit for your contribution. Also, should you find any glaring errors or omissions, please let us know about it.
This manual brought to you by:
About This Guide
This guide is directed at both new user groups and existing ones. We think it will be
beneficial to those starting new groups, to those learning how to manage an established
user group, and to growing your group into a valued resource.
This guide is divided into three main sections: Starting, Managing, & Growing. The Appendix contains
samples and other resources for user groups.
- Starting NT User Groups describes the different types of
groups and a decision tree on starting a user group. "How To Start A New NT User Group?"
presents step-by-step guidelines for starting a new NT User Group, along with decisions to
be made when organizing a group--including purpose, name, structure of group, officers,
elections, dues, and legal decisions.
If you are just looking for a very simple guide, please see our simplified version
to starting a user group, "WANTUG's Quick Checklist for Starting NT User Groups".
- Managing NT User Groups introduces business affairs, accounting,
funding, promotions, and publicity. It also includes suggestions
for membership recruitment and tracking, retaining, and utilizing
volunteers.
- Growing NT User Groups details the kind of information
necessary to provide for meetings that sustain the growth of the
group, partnerships, and meeting programs. It also touches on other services
and activities offered by some typical user groups, including
newsletters, tips on successful software reviews, Web pages,
Special Interest Groups (SIGs), shareware libraries, training,
user group libraries, fairs, and shows.
- Appendix offers other resources and additional sample user group documents
as examples and starting points. These are definitely a good starting point for any group.
It is not necessary to follow all the suggestions in this guide when starting
out. Some of the most successful groups broke or ignored many of the suggestions, but succeeded anyway
thru sheer brute force and determination. Remember these are only guides not absolutes, What
works well for one group may not for another for a variety of reasons.
Remember that user groups exist to share information among users,
and user group officers are willing to share information about
management with officers of other groups. It's all about
sharing knowledge!
What Is An NT User Group?
The following definition is from the Microsoft Mindshare User Group Program :
"A computer user group can take almost any form, from an informal group of ten individuals
meeting over a laptop and take-out food to a nonprofit corporation with a membership the
size of a small town, a board of directors, and a telephone directory-sized newsletter.
User groups can serve whole communities, educational institutions, corporations, professions,
or associations. They can center around a single software program or an operating platform.
They can be exclusive to in-house information system managers or more general to, for example,
home users who want to have more fun with their computers. Or, they can be so large as to
encompass all of these things at once. Whatever their size or form, user groups share in common
the commitment to providing a platform for sharing experience, insight, and knowledge about
computing, for the personal and professional enrichment of its members."
User groups vary just as much as users do, ranging from informal to formal organizations. NT
User Groups are also very varied. It is common to see NT User Groups focused on a wide-range
of NT-based technologies: NT Server, NT Workstation, NT on Digital Alpha, Microsoft BackOffice,
SQL Server, Exchange Server, Systems Management Server, SNA Server, Internet Information Server, NT-based
Development, and wide-variety of other emerging NT-based technology groups. Individual NT Groups
are difficult to classify, because of their diversity, but most fall within the following categories:
- NT User Groups: local or regional computer group representing or supporting
various vendor- or platform-specific computer technology. Most of your groups will fall in this area.
- Associations: usually an umbrella organization of computer user groups. Groups that want to focus
on being professional associations with several or many subgroups will fall into this area.
- Corporate In-House User Groups: provided for employees only, usually during normal
working hours and often supported by the corporate Information Center.
- Special Interest Groups (SIG): usually a part of a larger general purpose user group
focusing on a specific product, discipline, or topic. Quite a few NT User Groups have sprung up via this method.
How Can WANTUG Help?
WANTUG is just starting up itself, however we have a growing list of programs and services that we intend to
provide to our member user groups in the coming months. These programs and services will be phased in
as WANTUG develops. As you will find in starting or running your NT User Group all these programs and
services require a great deal of dedication and a whole lot more effort!
This WANTUG Guide to Starting, Managing, and Growing Your NT User Group is one of the most immediate
examples of how WANTUG can help. This guide will continue to be improved, expanded, and made more relevant
through your input and feedback. Help others by sharing your experience--both good and bad.
WANTUG will identify regional areas and then provide the tools, knowledge, resources, and
support to build new groups. We will also put programs in place for existing groups to
be able to increase their management skills and administrative abilities, thus ensuring
the long-term success of these ventures. These programs will be enhanced by an aggressive
Internet presence supplying the latest information from WANTUG and from companies with
NT-based products and services. Acting as a central clearinghouse for the distribution of
such enhanced information to the many NT-based user groups world-wide will be a key service provided by WANTUG.
What does WANTUG provide to member user groups?
- Establishing WANTUG as the primary source of Windows NT-related information through trade show appearances, increased linkage and support from Microsoft and others in computer industry
- Providing on-line support forums focused on NT- and BackOffice-related issues
- Leveraging our strength in numbers to secure software and hardware discounts; certification training and discounts on that training; and expand access to vendor beta programs
- Updating member groups via a monthly WANTUG electronic newsletter
- Developing materials and programs to help establish new NT-based user groups and to augment and assist existing groups
- Facilitating on-line discussions with MS product managers
- Providing a database of vendors, vendor contacts, and materials to provide content for local user group meetings
- Addressing the special needs of SQL, Exchange and other BackOffice product-specific groups
- Promoting a worldwide NT-related jobs database
- Sponsoring an annual meeting for leaders of all member user groups
[Index ] [Starting] [Managing] [Growing] [Appendix]
