A FEW WORDS FROM YOUR VICE CHAIRMAN

By Nina Harrup

I should lie to thank all the members and others that attended our meeting at IBM Warwick on 20th March 2003 for what turned out to be another quite excellent meeting.

Considering it was the year end for many, and trading conditions are difficult we had a very well attended meeting, thank you to all who made the effort. It was a great pity that quite a few who booked did not turn up to the meeting, including some who booked late and still failed to turn up. I would remind you that the user group incurs cost for catering when you fail to turn up as it has to book this at quite an early date. We do not like having to spend your money in this way.

For me chairing the meeting was a new experience due to our chairman Henry Waters having arranged his holiday to suit the original meeting date of 5th March. I must admit to having some pre-meeting nerves about addressing a large room full of people, Jim Wigmore our technical director assured me "thinking about it, is worse than doing it", and afterwards I had to admit he was right.

You will see from the following reports about the presentations some of the interesting contributions that were made to the day. We highjacked the Reporting Special Interest Group session in the afternoon and turned it over to David Stokes from Sage who was interested in seeking the view of our members on the future of reporting tools to be delivered with future Sage product. You will find a copy of the Sage discussion document on the ISTUG Members Club web site, read it and return it, David will be interested to hear your views.

As always nobody left the meeting without having learnt something, and for many the revelations as always were quite illuminating, giving us all some interesting thoughts for the future, not only of the product we use, but also how we can evolve our systems to get the most from our investments.

Both Henry Waters and I look forward to meeting with you all at our future meetings and Awareness Days now in the process of being arranged throughout the year. See the ISTUG Presentation online here.

OUR NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

At the beginning of the meeting on 20th March 2003 Jonathan Lassman introduced Nicole James as the technical director designate. Nicole joins ISTUG on 1st April 2003 and will be working with Jim Wigmore until his retirement in mid June 2003. Nicole was chosen by a sub-committee of the main ISTUG committee who were appointed to short list the applicants for the post, and then interview and select the most suitable candidate. We all wish Nicole success in her new role.

Nicole has a financial background but has been involved for a significant period with system implementation within the NHS, she is currently going through a number of Sage training courses to raise her awareness of some of the issues within both Manufacturing and Distribution.

Members should note that as the result of this appointment, from the 1st June 2003 the ISTUG office will be moving to the following address PO Box 7298, Tadley, Hants RG26 3ZX telephone 0118 981 3223 and email istug@nj3.demon.co.uk

Make a point of coming along to one of the venues where we will be hosting the first of what we hope will turn out to be an annual exhibition and conference. You can find out and see some of the interesting products that will work with your Sage system to benefit your business. The dates and venues are as follows.

6th May - IBM Bedfont

7th May - IBM Warwick

8th May - IBM Manchester

An information pack for the above should be included with this newsletter. You do need to book, and can do so via the ISTUG web site www.istug.com/events.htm  Further information can also be requested from the same web site address www.istug.com/events.htm