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Looking for a great weekend event to attend? Check out the APCUG regional conference and annual meeting to be held in Cleveland July 15-17.

We have a great slate of speakers lined up, including presentations by:

• Bill Jelen
• Marie Vesta
• Kathy Jacobs
• Susie Sharp
• Don and Michelle Tillman
• Don Corbut

Topics are going to range from Office tips to Genealogy, from iPads and Ebooks to Drupal and Linux. Looking for ideas for your group? Check out the presentations on Skype, fundraising, and social media. We even have Q&A sessions scheduled with the members of both the Board of Directors and the Board of Advisors.

You want more? Ok – how about keynotes from Jeff Carlson from Intel, Matt Hester from Microsoft, and Hank Feinberg? Does that make it worth your time?

I hear you asking, so what’s the cost? All this, plus two meals for only $50 per person. We even have a special room rate arranged at the Crowne Plaza of $79 per night (plus tax of course).

Be sure to check out the event. Let me know if you are going to be there!

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Every year, APCUG holds a number of contests for our member groups. This year, I have taken on the “challenge” of running the website contest. I am working on finding judges. (I have asked some MS MVPs to help out, but can’t share the names until they say yes.)

The target audience for these sites are users helping users and users needing help. Many are computer users, but not experts. A good percentage are of an age where tiny print isn’t a good idea.

While putting together the information for the contest, I realized that the fallback rules for the contest haven’t been updated in years. Each year the rules get tweaked, but it has been a while since they have been reviewed from start to finish.

One of the potential judges, Cheryl Wise looked at the existing rules and said:

“I’ve never used Dogpile and you need to add in that it is accessible, aka alt attributes.”

She’s got a point.

My main requirements for a good user group website include:

• Ease of use (consistent interface, search button, etc.)
• Information provided (updated content, meeting information, contact information)
• Reasonable look and feel (doesn’t have to be fancy, but needs to look inviting enough that people come to visit it)
• Accessibility (especially important for older users)
• Imagination and spirit

What do you think makes a good website? Share your thoughts in the comments. Keep in mind that these sites are volunteer driven and volunteer maintained.

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The more things change in life, the more we grow to appreciate what we have. Our loved ones, our communities, a regular paycheck, our health. All things we take for granted. But when one piece goes away, what happens?

Two weeks ago, my position with The Social Media Party went away. I was let go with less than 4 days notice. I have been struggling to come to terms with what happened. I have been trying to keep positive as I (yet again) look for new contracts and new work.

It is great to have supportive friends whom I can call on when the edges blur. It is great to have work to do that keeps me moving through these times. Without the connections I have here on the social web and in Phoenix, it would be harder than it is. Without the prayers and support of my family, I wouldn’t know how to move on.

But moving on is what my life has taught me to do. I am not good at pricing what I do for a living. I am not good at asking for help for myself. I am good at getting people what they need and what they desire. Holding on to those skills will keep me going at night.

Moving on means finding a new job. Moving on means finding a way to pay the bills. Moving on means updating all my social web profiles and my resume. Moving on means worrying about myself as much as I worry about others. (In one of life’s great contradictions: Worrying about and sending prayers and strength to those who need it makes handling all this a bit easier.)

The old standbys have helped. I am answering Office questions again – this time out on Microsoft’s Social Answers site. I am playing with and learning all about new social websites. (Tried Amplify? If not – do it.) I am putting the word out that I am available. I am keeping connected to my real world network in Phoenix. I am throwing myself into PodCampAZ preparation and APCUG work. I am putting feelers out for speaking engagements and applying to speak where I can.

And… I am learning:

The more things change, the more they stay the same.