I had a great conversation with Debbie Lynd, one of the technical editors behind The View. It turns out that Debbie, Ed Brill, Dave Stevens and Chris Miller are starting a new organization to be known as lotususergroup.org. Now that the organization known as VALU has ceased to exist (Ruth Allen, where are you???), the folks I mentioned above had formed a council dedicated to helping users start Notes User Groups, as well as to assist existing Notes User Groups. Debbie and several other Notes User group boosters will be handing out some clever buttons, as well as registration cards at the opening party at LotuSphere this Sunday. If you fill out your registration card and take it to the Lotus User Group booth, you will get a free T-shirt. Too cool, huh? There will also be a Notes User Group Birds of a Feather (or BOF) session. Some of the things I would like to see this new resource be able to provide (if possible) are:

• Quickplaces for individual user groups (VALU had done this previously)
• a list of IBM Lotus speakers available to speak on topics like Lotus Workplace
• a way to request a modest amount of IBM Lotus themed merchandise to give away at meetings
• the ability to request videotapes or DVDs of the LotuSphere sessions
• a place where group members can post their resume if they are looking for work
• a free ticket to LotuSphere for each Notes User Group President (its worth a shot)

While I'm partial to the free ticket, I think that if any of the above items were there, it would be great for any existing user group. I wonder why IBM has never looked at user groups as a great marketing tool like Microsoft. But then again, IBM does handle DB2 user groups. In any event, I wish Debbie and her comrades much success in getting their new organization off the ground. For anyone with IBM reading this: please support this effort. Its worth it!

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