A B O U T U S
ABOUT FRONT RANGE PC USERS GROUP
FRPCUG is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3), computer club based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Meetings are open to anyone interested in any microcomputer using the Windows or UNIX/LINUX operating systems. All knowledge levels, from novice to expert are welcome.
OUR MISSION is to provide an educational and scientific forum, where new computer users, together with other members, can improve their knowledge of, and skills with, their computers . Members offer a wide range of hardware, operating system and application software knowledge to other members and to the community.
A LOOK AT OUR PAST:
The Front Range PC Users Group (FRPCUG) came about as an amalgam of Apple and MacIntosh users, a Heathkit users group (led by Charles McJilton), a Kaypro group, a CP/M users group, a IBM PC users group (led by Dave Trump), a Compaq users group, Front Range Atari Users Group (FRAUG), and MIDI Users Group, all operating in the '70s and early '80s. The blending of memberships became a necessity for some of these groups as the basic systems forming the foundation of their groups became dated and no longer supported.
During the last 30 plus years, technical developments, continued expansion of the uses of computers, and the development of computer interfaces with other machines have all experienced exponential growth. The FRPCUG General Meetings, the Special Interest Groups and this web site offer extraordinary learning resources to help all computer users keep up with the rapidly changing technology. Special Interest Groups focus on one topic and have, in the past, included groups working on HTML, NETWORKING, INTERNET, and TECHNOLOGY. Other interests of our membership have included genealogy, photography, music recording, computer aided design or drafting (CAD), computer aided machine control (CAM), geographic information systems (GIS), and many more. Our program history has touched on these areas and many, many more.
After meeting in a number of churches and the Poudre Fire Authority (downtown), over the years, for the last five years, FRPCUG has been meeting at the Fort Collins Senior Center in the south ballroom. The space is currently "rented" by teaching classes in the Windows XP operating system, MS Word (Word 2003), Quicken, the Internet and MS Excel, most at beginning and intermediate levels. The classes, as a rule, are well prepared and well received by the participants.
THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE:
General Meetings, or Forums, afford the opportunity to meet other members, exchange ideas and team together on computer projects of mutual interest. We currently are examining uses of the computer by our members and, more broadly, in our culture. Our monthly program topics cover new application software and operating systems, accessories including printers, plotters, scanners, recycling services, security issues, digital photography, music making & downloading, genealogy, publishing and graphics software, swap meets and software/hardware "ZOOs".
The meetings have settled into a comfortable pattern of a welcome, introduction of new attendees, announcements, open forum (dealing with individual problems), and a program of about one hour. Our meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are over by 9:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month.
Meeting topics in 2008 have included both specific software application types, such as Personal Information Managers, and significant computer industry activities, such as the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) intiative. Plans for future meetings include topics on open source (free) software, and many others. These plans are expected to continue to stimulate the interest in, and attendance of, members and the community in future meetings.
Members are encouraged to add their thoughts on meeting topics or other club issues to our frpcug.pbwiki.com page titled "Discussion Page" of the frpcug.pbwiki.com. Please, join into building this discussion there.
If you are not yet a member and are reading this page, please explore the many resources offered in this website. You are invited to attend any of the FRPCUG meetings. They are open to the public at no charge. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments to offer, bring them to a meeting or send them to us using the CONTACT US link at the bottom left of this page.
