 xO                                                                 s & tapes cost money. IT COSTS MONEY TO RUN AN AUG.  Some people are takers and not givers, some Adamites are people and therefore are takers and not giver 
HOW TO START OR EXPAND A LOCAL AUG CONT 
This article continued from last issue. We have discussed obtaining names for local AUG,setting up BBS, starting a newsletter.  Once you have the names of prospective members who must offer them a reason to join.  The BBS & newsletter are two possibilities.  PD (public domain, NON-copy righted) software is another. These can be sold to members for cost of media (disk,tape), postage,if any & small profit for AUG to help pay costs of mailings etc. Many of the AUGS, national & local have excellent PD libraries & will be happy to at least sell you some of these at a low price & a few will probably give you a few to get you started. Since they are PD you are free to duplicate them & sell or distribute to your members.  REMEMBER WITH COPYRIGHTED SOFTWARE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR DISTRIBUTE & the Adam world considers the Piracy of copyrighted software a very serious offense.  But with the PD materials you can use a large PD library as another reason for members to join your new local AUG. PD comes in all types, games, utilities,pictures, music, etc. and most other AUGS will be glad to help you get started.  
Group projects are another great reason for members to join your AUG. You will need someone with some technical ability.  Most other AUGS which do group projects will usually be willing to share the instructions, details, etc. with you. AWAUG (Wash.DC) has done some excellent work, such as producing memory expanders, 80 col. terminals, etc. for their members. With their plans & details, your group could also work on such projects. 
Of course the spread of Adam information is also a drawing card and your other activities such as the BBS, newsletter,etc. can serve to give you new Adam info for your members.  VERY IMPORTANT KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AS MANY OF THE OTHER AUGS AS POSSIBLE, whether this be by exchanging newsletters with them, subscribing to their newsletters, calling their BBS,etc.  Much information can be gained in this manner.  ALSO work with other AUGS on projects (for the good of Adam) that they may be promoting or having.  Then when you need similar help it will be available to you. 
SINCE COLECO DESERTED US WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, MUST HELP EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP ADAM AS GREAT AS ITS POTENTIAL ALWAYS WAS.
  
  

    SOME REALITIES 
Postage costs money, printing costs money, discs & tapes cost money. IT COSTS MONEY TO RUN AN AUG.  Some people are takers and not givers, some Adamites are people and therefore are takers and not givers.  You cannot be a one man AUG.  Eventually you will go broke, go crazy, or both. 
In the beginning it is OK to expect to do most of the work & put out most of the money but at some point you must realize that you cannot force an AUG on takers and if they will not give with their time, money, etc.  there is no point in trying to maintain the AUG.  
Try to involve as many people as possible in the effort. Even if they have NO experience, no knowledge, etc. they can still make phone calls, copy discs or tapes, type in programs or other articles for you, help assemble the newsletter, type mailing labels,etc.  This is important to preserve your sanity and to let others feel involved, that they are doing their part.  
What you are doing has value, what you are offering them has value and it they will not pay for this value, eventually you must no longer count them as members. This is very difficult as you will want members so badly, want you AUG to grow in size, that you will over look many things. But at some point it is not fair to those paying dues, doing working, etc. to carry others who are not.  That is not to say that we (St.Louis AUG) has not done this.  Usually it will be with a young (teenage) member who cannot afford the dues,etc. but then I try to make them do some typing or other work for the group.  Costs are a continuing problem for AUGs.  If you are lucky you may pick up some advertising in your newsletter from either local or national Adam suppliers, computer stores, etc. But don't count on it, I mean it when I say if you are lucky.  
You must charge for the services of the group, whether it be dues, subscription to newsletter, for items you are re-selling, etc. Adam supplies is another good service as many Adamites have no diea where to find replacement tapes, ribbons, etc.  You can obtain these from various sources and stock some on hand for sale. You MUST make a small profit from these to help pay some of the AUG expenses and you MUST charge non-members more than members. There must be an incentive to join your AUG.  These are just some of my thougths on Starting an AUG. It is hoped that others will respond with their hints & tips for future articles. 
CONTACT THE AUG IN WHICH THIS APPEARED OR THE ST.LOUIS AUG for further information or assistance in starting your own local AUG.  
  
 

u are lucky you may pick up some advertising in your newsletter from either local or nation
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