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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Since the list is starting (slowly) to be populated, I
thought it would be a good idea to send out a short email and start some
discussion around the creation of the users group. I’m hoping that
everyone will help get the user group established. Please inform anyone
else you may know who would be interested as well.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I’d like to find out what people would expect from a
local PERL users group. I know some of the groups meet regularly and some
groups are merely email lists of users. I’d prefer a regular meeting.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Evidently, the meeting styles are also quite different –
some more social and others more technical. I’d prefer a mix.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I think it would be good if we could identify a corporate
sponsor of some kind. At a minimum to provide us a conference room and
projector for presentations and perhaps graciously provide some type of snacks
as well (soda, chips, pizza, whatever). I’m going to approach my
company about the latter, but I don’t think we could host it (as our
office is in </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Massachusetts</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, which seems a little far to go for
a </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Portland</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> based UG).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Of course, if we choose a corporate sponsor of some kind,
they may like some free publicity as a result. I’m OK with that,
but I don’t know anyone else’s general attitude toward that.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Assuming we do decide to meet regularly (monthly?), I would
suggest a meeting format of something like:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> Introductions/Welcome</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> Q&A
(allow people to ask questions about PERL and its usage)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> Presentations
(1 or 2 per night)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Lastly, we’d need presenters (Kanji, I see that
hand). So let me know if you’re interested in that too.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thanks!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Joe Minieri</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Pownal</span></font>, Maine</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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