| * Fun With Friends Who Share Your Computer Interests | * Bimonthly Journal & Periodic Club Updates in the Pi News |
| * Monthly General Meetings with Guest Speakers | * Lively Online Discussion Forums |
| * Special Interest Groups Meeting on Various Topics | * Email, Web Hosting and Other Online Services |
| * Clubhouse Saturday, learn and socialize at Pi Clubhouse | * Opportunities to Volunteer and Make a Difference |
| * Afternoon Learners, 3rd Thursday of the month | * Periodic CDs of Software, Discounts, and Other Goodies |
| * Technical Telephone Help Line |
When Washington Apple Pi (WAP )was founded back in 1978, little did we know that over 31 years later, we would be one of the largest and oldest Macintosh computer user groups around. We started as a small group of Apple enthusiasts who just wanted to learn their new computers inside and out. Today, we try to maintain that "small club" focus while serving a much larger group of folks whose interests range from learning the basics of Mac OS X to Apple's iLife and iWork to sophisticated third party programs such as Final Cut Pro and Photoshop. We are users just like you - whose goal is to help make your Mac as productive as it can be without losing sight of how much fun it is to be a Mac owner. Here are details about what we offer:
Washington Apple Pi may be a computer club, but we are also a group of people who enjoy each other and the work we do. We have fun! If you had come to our Clubhouse Grand Opening or our 30th Birthday Party, attended one of our Saturday General Meetings, or participated in our Pi Photo Contest then you would know what we're talking about. Our members work hard, learn lots of new things, contribute in many ways ... we're all about members helping members. But there's always time to take a step back, enjoy each other's company and look forward to many future good times.
Our General Meeting, usually held on the fourth Saturday morning each month, is an opportunity to hear discussions on new products by some of industry's most knowledgeable representatives, see demonstrations of the latest hardware and software on the market, and learn more about the Pi and everything it has to offer, as well as get answers to any questions you have about your computer. From novice user to developer, there's something for every computer user.
Like to dig deeper? WAP has many Special Interest Groups (SIGs) covering a wide range of subjects from iLife to power user topics such as Graphic Arts and Genealogy. One of our most active SIGs is the Afternoon Learner's SIG for members of any age who want to have fun and learn about email and other basic computing tasks. Check Pi News for more information, schedules and contacts.
Every Saturday we bring members a Mac community activity. On those Saturdays when there is no General Meeting or SIG gathering scheduled, we meet for a Clubhouse Saturday of instruction and other help. It's primarily a chance to learn about using your Mac and about making friends. It runs from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. Come join us at Room 30-31 at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Use the lower parking lot (first entrance coming north from Beach Drive or second entrance coming south on Cedar lane).
When unexpected problems arise and you quickly need Mac or classic Apple help, one of our many Hotline volunteers may be able to help you. The listing is available via a member's Connect page. There's a list of experts available who know Mac hardware and software inside and out. And best of all, the service is free — to WAP members only!
The Washington Apple Pi Journal has been one of the nation's finest user group publications for years. In 2009 we transitioned from a printed Journal to the environmentally-friendly, downloadable electronic Journal with brilliant colors, clickable links and full screen readability. Every other month, the Journal includes "how-to" articles, question and answer columns, and candid reviews. Articles are written by exclusively by reputable and knowledgeable club members. We archive many of our best articles in an online repository repository of Journals. In addition we publish a periodic Pi News newsletter with a calendar of upcoming meetings, reports from our president and special interest groups and more to keep you up-to-date about Pi happenings and other notable items.
We maintain an online forum system called the TCS exclusively for our members. The TCS has undergone quite a few changes over the years. From its start as a text-based BBS, it has grown over 26 years into a true telecommunications service that offers four different conferences covering computing and many other topics. You can now access the TCS from any computer in the world to keep up with Pi discussions ranging from Mac issues to hobbies, local events, science and social commentary. There's also gigabytes of downloadable software too. And we haven't forgotten all you classic users of older Mac or Apple systems.
We give every new member his or her own email address and others can be inexpensively purchased. Your user name and password get you into the TCS Forums as well as access to our Web Mail service so that you can access your email anywhere you are in the world. Best of all, when you subscribe as a Classic member, you get one gigabyte of space on our servers to host your own Web pages at your own wap.org web address. We're continuing our campaign to enhance online services so expect lots more news in the future.
WAP's reputation as one of the nation's finest computer user groups is based on the work of its many volunteers, some of whom are nationally known. If you have an interest in community service, our club offers many avenues of opportunity from answering Hotline calls or serving as an officer or getting involved in day-to-day management of the Pi. WAP volunteers take pride in the fact that their efforts have helped thousands of Mac users around the world. Members helping members and having fun doing it! Won't you join us?