When I hear someone say that one aspect of ICON'S many functions is better than another, or that they wish we would do more of this or that, it reminds me of the story about Joe and Fred one night at the street corner. "Whatcha lookin for Joe?" Fred asks, and Joe answers, "A quarter I dropped." After peering around, but not finding the missing quarter, Fred says, "Are you sure this is where you lost it?" Joe says, "No, I dropped it around the corner, but the light is better over here!"

I have heard many people (particularly beginners) say they don't know enough to ask intelligent questions, but if they listen to the questions others ask, they will pick up bits of valuable information. All too often, those who need help finding answers to their questions, leave the monthly meeting as soon as the scheduled program ends, complaining that they didn't learn anything helpful that day. If they had stayed and listened to (or participated in) the discussions at one of the help stations, and/or attended some of the Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings each month, they might be amazed at what they learned.

Your leaders strive to offer a wide variety of help for our members. We try to provide an interesting and informative program once a month, but that is only a small portion of what ICON is all about. Several times each month, we have open discussions about various aspects of personal computing, as well as more structured classroom type lessons. Most recently, we added the mini-seminars on common interest topics (such as CD burning), and ICON'S very own members' forums at our web site.

If you really want to learn something, don't be in such a rush to leave after the program ends, sit in at one of the help stations, make time to attend one of our 5 active SIGs, take one of the classes we offer, attend the mini-seminar next month, and make use of the forums at: www.iconusersgroup.org If you don't have specific questions, just listen to others. ICON provides a nearly continuous opportunity for help in many different ways.

Like Joe's lost quarter, the answers you need may not always be found right under the street light, but if you really look in the right place, other ICON members will bring flashlights, floodlamps, and spotlights to help you search until you find the answers you need.

Happy Computing
Terry