In the early days of home computers, each machine had its own proprietary format. People who owned a particular make would seek out others who owned the same type of machine and form a users group to share with, and help, each other. There were as many groups as there were brands. Most of these groups were small, limited by the number of people within a given geographic area who owned the same make, and they met in coffee shops or a member's living room.

As the IBM format emerged as the predominant one, the many machines with proprietary formats ceased to exist. Some of the users groups made the shift to the IBM format and merged with others to form larger ones. ICON is such a group. The merger that formed ICON created a base of users with different backgrounds in computing. With the rise of the Windows operating system, the foundation was laid for large numbers of computer enthusiasts to share the same group.

There are advantages to a larger organization. Because our computers are alike, we can share information with more people. We can also have two or three meetings at one location on the same day. Because we use the same operating system, it is simple for programmers to write a wide variety of software that all of us can use. Compatible software is readily available to help us pursue personal interests such as genealogy, desktop publishing, digital imaging, or the Internet. The very things that drew us together (i.e. one format and one operating system), also make it necessary to create more diverse groups within the larger organization.

Therein lies the catch: the more we consolidate, the more we must diversify, creating Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to meet the needs of the members, and the more planning and effort that is required to make it all happen. Without your attendance and support, it isn't worth the trouble. It would be simpler and less costly for those of us interested in the same subject to meet at a coffee shop or in somebody's living room as people did in years past.

Over the last several months, I have attended every ICON function I was able to get to, and I'm really glad I did. I can't think of a single time when I didn't learn some valuable information about the subject under discussion. Not everything I learned was from the SIG leader either. Often, one of the newest ICON members shared the most valuable gem of the day.

At one particular meeting of the Surf The Net SIG, I was disappointed to see only one newer ICON member attending. We had a great discussion about using search engines, browser tools, bookmarks, and preferences, etc. Bill and Faye Patrick, Sarah Marshall, and myself are veteran Internet users, but because we took the time to attend the meeting, and participate, we all learned something that day!

The real value of ICON is the sharing of ideas and information, by each of us, with each other. Make the commitment now, to attend as many ICON functions as possible this month. I'll bet you will enjoy them and if you aren't extra careful, you'll learn something!

Happy Computing,
Terry