🚀 go-pugleaf

To add to what Howard Chu said about Bob Brodie's coming to Michigan next
week...   He's arriving on Friday night, and Bill and Pattie Rayl, publishers
of the Atari Interface Magazine (and members of the Washtenaw Atari Users'
Group, and former officers of the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts)
are going to pick him up at the airport...  if I can arrange to trade Friday
night with someone else where I work, I'll probably go along too..
 
We're planning on getting him slightly greased and talkative at some of the
local hotspots.. er.. that is.. we plan to show him some real Michigan
hospitality...   if he happens to spill anything on his own, we'll be
happy to listen...              :)
 
Saturday he's scheduled to appear at a meeting of the MacTehnics Macintosh
users' group to demonstrate the Spectre GCR/Stacey combination... then 
Saturday night will give us another opportunity to pump him.. that is, 
inquire gently into Atari's plans for the future...
 
Sunday, the Washtenaw Atari Users' Group is hosting a meeting with Bob for
local Atari users, at the University of Michigan Student Union... if he's
still moving under his own power after that, there are a few nice spots
in Ann Arbor that we'll be sure he doesn't miss..
 
Monday Bob's scheduled to ride to Grand Rapids, Michigan to meet with the
users' group there.  Since the Atari Interface Magazine goes to press about
that time, Leo Sell, president of the CHAOS user group (and local fictional
writer) has volunteered to drive Bob across the state. Since that's my
day off, I might see about riding along with them... I love fairy tales...
 
Then Tuesday, Bob Brodie is to attend the regular monthly meeting of the
Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts.   MACE is one of the oldest, and at
one time, one of the largest Atari users' groups in the world.  
We expect a recent record turnout to meet Bob, and hear what he has to say
about Atari Corp...
 
All in all, this should be a very memorable visit, both for the Atari users
of Michigan, and for Bob Brodie himself...!
 
As for what a user group needs to do to insure such a visit is a success,
you first need someone who cares enough about both the user group and the
Atari representative to make it all work. Pattie Rayl is the sparkplug
who almost single-handedly made the MACE Atari Expo of last year a
success, even in the face of interference and collusion between ST-World
and John Nagy.  When she heard Bob Brodie was to visit our area, just for
the Macintosh user group meeting, she immediately contacted him about
expanding his visit to include the Atari groups in the area, with the
eventual result of his spending at least four days here, and contacting
several users' groups during his stay.
 
Yes, by all means, meet him at the airport.  Take the time to make his stay
in your area enjoyable, not because he's from Atari, but because he's
a nice guy who's taking his time to visit your group.  Try to arrange the
maximum possible exposure for him, to make his trip as worthwhile as
possible, both for you, and for him.  Advertise his visit to your local
members, and to other Atari owners in the area.  Post flyers in local stores
and make special mailings to club members, both current and recently
expired.  The fact that someone from Atari Corp is willing to visit your
area may be enough to bring some former members "back to the fold".
 
It's been a long time since Atari Corp has had anyone like Bob Brodie
representing them (long time, hell.. I can't remember anyone EVER), so
it's worth the effort for everyone in the local groups to make the most
of his visit..!
 
BobR
 
(I'll let you know how Bob's trip to Michigan turns out...)