Main monthly meeting
Presentations
The auditorium is the venue for guest speakers from Apple (here Joe Cox) and other leading Mac industry suppliers, demonstrating the latest hardware and software.
It's also the location of the monthly club meeting at which announcements about club activities are made.
Information desk
Here's where you can have all your questions about AUSOM answered, as well as taking out memberships, purchasing AUSOM-logo products, and more.
Raffle, CD/DVDs of the month, Update CDs
Tickets in the monthly raffle are sold on meeting days, and you can also pick up the CD/DVD of the month, and the latest Apple Update CD.
FirstClass information
Staff at the information desk can direct you to a Special Interest Group devoted to the AUSOM FirstClass System, an excellent online forum for problem solving, file downloads and general information.
Catering
Lunchtime catering provides hot snacks and hot & cold drinks for meeting attenders — especially important if you've made a start with one of the morning SIGs!
One-on-One Training
This activity caters for Mac users of all levels of experience who need help with system and program functions. Experienced members provide assistance in using and troubleshooting popular software.
Main Monthly Meeting
Special Interest Groups
More than 15 class room style presentations are also held throughout the day, by the various Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including:
- Newcomers & Greenhorns SIG
- Mac OS X Basics
- Mac OS X Intermediate
- Mac Forum
- Genealogy
- Digital Photography
- iPhone
- Digital Video
- Photoshop
- Garage Band
- Programming
- Graphics and DTP
- FileMaker Forum & Techniques
- Microsoft Office
- Introduction to FirstClass
CD exchange
The CD exchange library operates at each meeting.
Information sharing and social
Here is your opportunity to talk with fellow members and the club's resident geeks and gurus, as well as guest presenters.
It's always easier to discuss problems and queries with people you've met in person,and members rate this social contact as one of the key benefits of membership.
Traders' tables
From time to time, traders in computer-related goods take tables in the foyer to offer goods and services to members at a discount.
Retirees & Others SIG
This daytime monthly meeting was originally established for the enjoyment and instruction of retirees and others who were in a position to take one Wednesday morning a month off work. It gives experienced users a chance to demonstrate their areas of special expertise to an audience which might not have the chance to see such material at the major monthly meeting. The group's program is established largely on the basis of member requests. Next meeting information here.
AUSOM Mornington Group
This group met for the first time in April 2010 with an attendance of 67 people — a promising start. The purpose of the group is specifically to cater for Apple users on the Mornington Peninsula and environs, who have previously found the monthly meeting venue at Blackburn North just a little too far away for convenient travel. Next meeting information here.
