WASHINGTON APPLE PI

IS

YOUR COMPUTER USER GROUP

INTRODUCTION

  • Washington Apple Pi is one of the the oldest - and largest - Apple and Macintosh User Group in the United States -For 20 years now, we've remained dedicated to one objective - helping our members get the most out of their computers:
    • "I understand you're a new member of Washington Apple Pi - Why did you join?
     
    I'm self employed, work on my own, and find that trying to figure things out on my own is a frustrating and lonely experience. And while I consider myself to be an advanced beginner, I crave and need input from other people who know what they're talking about.
     

    -WAP Member

     
    "Washington Apple Pi is a group where members help members learn how to use their computers."
     

    -Jon Thomason

    WAP Member

     

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    A LITTLE HISTORY

  • We've been helping members get the most out of their computers since 1978. At that time, a small group of Washingtonians met to talk about their new Apple IIs. From there WAP expanded to meet the growing needs of folks who purchased the revolutionary Macintoshes and upgraded Apple IIs. That emphasis hasn't changed today - as the iMacs, G3s, G4s, MacMates and OS 8& 10 take us into the 21st Century. Our members come from all over the world and include families, schools and businesses. Most important of all - we support all Apples, Macs and clones no matter how old.
    •  
    There's a lot of experts in the particular user group that I belong to. Which is? Washington Apple Pi!
     

    -WAP Member

     

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    THE WAP JOURNAL

     

  • From the beginning we had a newsletter - and then a magazine to keep everyone informed. Today - the award-winning Washington Apple Pi Journal is a bi-monthly publication of some 95 pages. It's written entirely by volunteers:
  •  
    • "It's full of tips and tricks on how to use your Mac, articles from users like yourself that give you practical, hands-on discussions of new software, applications for the machine, tips on maintaining your Mac and not only the Macintosh, but also provides full support to the Apple II and /// community, the Newtons and the Power Macs.
     

    - Lorin Evans

    WAP President

     

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    EXPLORER SERVICE AND TCS

     

     

    If you'd like to surf the Internet - WAP provides our
    Explorer Service for Macintosh members who want access to the World Wide Web and beyond. We offer high-speed, reliable Internet service at reasonable cost. WAP members also can have their own web page at no additional cost. Explorer members are able to search our file database and download needed material quickly and conveniently. Our Explorer Internet Service (and TCS Bulletin Board Service) was put together and programmed entirely by WAP members:
     
    "We are not a commercial operation. This is a strictly membership run operation and it's intended to educate the members into the use of the Internet and introduce them to it..."
     

    -Dale Smith

    TCS Crew

     

  • If you have a modem and any Apple or Mac- our fabulous TeleCommunications System - or TCS for short - offers 8 32 board conferences for just one phone call. It's available to all members 15 minutes daily -or longer for a small additional cost.
    • Dale Smith in the TCS RoomIt's a center for communication between the members and lets them exchange technical information, answer questions when they come up with problems with their computer.
     

    -Dale Smith

    TCS Crew

  •  
  • The TCS has great discussion groups for the Apple II family, Macintosh; Power Mac, iMac & G3s, Mac OS and software, many Usenet discussion groups and tons of general topics from sports to food . The TCS has gigabytes of downloadable files for every machine ever manufactured by Apple.
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    CDs, Public Domain Software and Book Library

     

  • WAP offers a growing number of CDs for members and non-members alike. Our original "Pi Fillings" disk offers tons of Mac OS and other software updaters, utilities, informational files, and much, much more. A huge hit, we've sold thousands. Cost is just $10.00 per disk with quantity discounts for user groups (P&H is added). "Pi Fillings Goes to School" has also been well received - it's got every conceivable program and utility anyone interested in education - at any level - might want. It's cost is also $10.00 each, with volume discounts for educators. Call the PI office for more information.

    •  

  • WAP maintains a huge public domain and shareware floppy disk library for every make of Apple and Macintosh:

    •  

    "We have a large, large library - one of the best in the country."
     

    -John Ruffatto

    WAP Member

     

  • On the Apple II side - we offer hundreds of disks in the format and operating system you need - with a wide selection to choose from. WAP has the only remaining active Apple /// public domain library in the U-S, and our IIGS library is one of the best:
    •  
    "The (Apple II) market has dried up on a lot of the commercial software and the only thing left is freeware and shareware. So going to a user group is the place to get the freeware and shareware."
     

    -John Ruffatto

    WAP Member

     

  • And for our Macintosh members - we can supply software whether you have the original Mac, a G3 iMac or clone. We even offer money-saving groups of disks - fonts, an Internet Starter Kit, graphics, utilities and much more:

    • Jim Ritz and Dave Weikert

     
    "There's a lot of stuff that would be useful to people. Many of the things there are free or have nominal shareware fees. Typically, there's almost anybody that can find something in the library that they can use."
     

    -Dave Weikert

    Macintosh Librarian

     

  • We maintain a wonderful hard copy library at our office in Rockville, where we have one of the best selections of Apple/Mac computer books in the nation. Members can check these books out as needed.

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    TUTORIALS

  • Would you like to learn more about your Macintosh Computer or a particular piece of software? Then you'll want to attend one of our popular - and low-cost tutorials.
    •  
    "A couple of evening sessions and they'll show you everything there is to know about your computer from the user's point of view."

     

    -WAP Member

     

  • We offer an ever-growing list of classes that can help you get started, learn new desktop publishing skills - even how to surf the Internet or repair your Mac. Our Tutorial Room is now outfitted with the latest Power Macs to get you going quickly and easily.
    •  
    "By joining Washington Apple Pi, one of the first things you get an opportunity to do is take some discount classes that will help you better understand your Macintosh and get the most out of it. The Intro to Mac class is a three part series that helps take some of the frustration out of buying any new appliance - including your computer."
     

    -Lorin Evans

    WAP President

     

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    ORPHAN SUPPORT

  • If you own an older Mac or Apple computer - Washington Apple Pi is the place foThe Apple /// SIG r you! Remember that theme of ours? Members Helping Members? It's especially true if you own an orphan machine - we have knowledgeable people and the software you need. And if your orphan is sick - bring it into the office for a checkup on Tuesday Night. For a donation, we'll take a look and fix anything that's broken. We can even install software or add memory.
    •  
    "There's no place like the Washington Apple Pi - especially for Apple ///s in particular (laughs) and Apple IIs. I know that there are a great many enthusiasts who know about them and are willing to help.
     

    -Ambrose Liao

    WAP Member

     

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    THE WAP HOTLINE

  • And for all our members - we have the Hotline - volunteers who make themselves available to help on the phone - for free.
    •  
    People call me up and say "how do I do this, how do I do this?" And not just me -a lot of people in the Pi are available as resources - you just can't beat that."

     

    -Ron Evry

    WAP VP-Apple

     

  • So if you have a problem - give our Hotline Volunteers a call. They're all listed in the WAP Journal:
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    • "When you have a computer, you have to wait on hold on SOS Apple for ages or if calling about software you are on hold. Here, you just call individuals in our catalog, in our Journal and get quick answers to problems. I've actually had situations where I've called people at their homes and to have that kind of home-based support is really great."

     

    -WAP Member

     

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    VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

  • If you would like to volunteer - we have lots of jobs to do:
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    "Like any member organization, we thrive on volunteer help. The best way for members to give back something they themselves have gotten from the club is to volunteer. No job is too small. Anything members can do is always appreciated."
     

    -Dave Ottalini

    WAP Member

    Lawrence Charters gives a few tips to members.

     

    "We love people helping out and helping each other."

    -Ron Evry

    WAP VP - Apple

     

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    THE WAP GENERAL MEETING

  • Another way to get support is by attending one of our General Meetings. Each month, we bring in the top software and hardware developers to talk about everything from the latest Apple software and hardware to business software and games. We also have question and answer sessions - if you have a problem - we'll help you solve it. And there are lots of freebies and give-aways most months too!
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    "I really don't know of anything that can be improved - it just has everything."
     

    -WAP Member

     

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    SIGS AND SLICES

  • If you're interested in Desktop Publishing,Women's SIG Meeting QuickTime, Telecommunications - even Stocks - we have a Special Interest Group for you. SIGs hold their own meetings - usually once per month - to demonstrate programs, answer specific questions and have fun with folks of similar interests:
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    "I had been going to the Desktop Publishing SIG Meetings and enjoyed it a lot - I'm a freelance photographer and I'm interested in getting into the imaging and digital imaging end of things, and find all of the information one has to absorb is pretty much overwhelming. And the only way you can do it is over time and the meetings give it to you in bite sized lumps that are digestible."
     

    -WAP Member

     

  • We also have SLICES of the Pi - WAP members who live in outlying areas of Washington, DC who hold their own meetings. We have SLICES in Annapolis, Frederick and Columbia:
    •  
    "Attention! I would like additional information on membership in the Columbia Slice."

     

    -Potential WAP Member

     

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    COMPUTER SHOW AND SALE

     
    And here's another great benefit of being a WAP member: Want to save a lot of money and have some fun while you're at it? The answer is a Washington Apple Pi Computer Show and Sale!
     
     
     
     
    "Twice a year, Washington Apple Pi puts on the largest garage sale between New York City and Atlanta. It attracts folks from all over that region who have to buy and sell Mac and Apple products. It's an ideal way for you to unload material - software or hardware that you no longer use and to acquire at a significant decrease in cost, memory, accessories, software to add to your own machine ."
     

    -Lorin Evans

    WAP President

     

    "Why did you come to the garage sale?
     
    To find bargains for my
    school."
     

    -Teacher

     

     

     

     

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    FINALLY...

  • There you have it - the inside story about a Macintosh/Apple computer club that works harder than anyone to help you get the most out of your computer. Members Helping Members. We hope you'll join our family! For more information, call our office at 301-984-0300 or e-mail us at info@tcs.wap.org. Our web page at www.wap.org has an application to download.
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    "Anytime you're looking for support, you're trying to get a sense of who else is out there, who can help you with what seems to be your problem, unique to you , you can't find a solution to it, you should know that there are over 4000 people who have machines similar to yours who most likely passed though the same dilemma you had and are prepared to assist you just as they received assistance in the past from other members of Washington Apple Pi."

     

    -Lorin Evans

    WAP President

     

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    This presentation was written and produced by Dave Ottalini - a Washington Apple Pi Member and Volunteer for more years than he can remember. Updated March, 1999.
     
    Email to: dave.ottalini@tcs.wap.org. Thanks to all the WAP members who helped with this project!. It is Copyright AD 1999 and beyond. All rights reserved by Washington Apple Pi, Limited.