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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga User Group News => Topic started by: AndyM on January 20, 2004, 11:05:40 PM
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It is with deep regret that I announce the closure of the South West Amiga Group, the Amiga user group based in Bristol, England.
After spending over 7 years at the helm, I am unable to provide the time, energy and enthusiasm that it rightly deserves. And after spending so much time, effort, money and myself in it, I can no longer bear to see SWAG continue on its current long and withering death.
A new head honcho had been advertised for from within its ranks, but no one has come forward to take over the complete running of the group. I have not advertised outside of the group as I do not want to risk handing it over to someone I do not know and trust - someone who may not do anything with it, or just wants some “freebies”.
What there was in the way of equipment belonging to the group (most of it was my own personal property) will eventually be sold off and any profits given to a local charity.
I have met many people, and have made many friends through SWAG, and that I shall always be grateful for, it’s just a shame that there’s no longer the interest to keep things going.
The mailing list will remain in operation for the foreseeable future at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/swag
All the best,
Andrew Mills.
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man this is not good news ;(
i wish you best of luck with the future and i hope you will be around still even after this..
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I find this announcment somewhat odd to say the least.... SWAG to me was a non entity until they organies and held the OS4 on tour event only a couple of months ago... and now it seems they are going back into obscurity again... I thought after the relative success of the show SWAG would go from strenght to strenght and we would see another show from the SWAG team later in the year... alas it doesnt seem that way :-(
On another note, anyone around my neck of the woods fancy setting up a usergroup? nothing special just for meets and a drink or whatever...
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SWAG have been in a lingering state of limbo for years. Back when Amiga Format was still being published, we had regular meetings that were even attended by Ben Vost and Richard Drummond. We havent had a meeting in years. The fact that some of the SWAG members came together to put on a show in December doesn't change the fact that nobody in the group has the time to organise regular meetings, or look after the memberlist and website.
Thanks Andy for all your efforts. I have enjoyed all the meetings in the past, and met lots of fellow Amigans through SWAG, and its such a shame to see it go.
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sorry to see the group go, but its really was mostly gone for a while, as others have stated.
things will get better this year, as morphos and pegasos have all year to build sales momentum and are in release mode...wow finally.
OS 4 carries the Amiga name, and really needs to be released, but who knows about that one :-(
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As xeron said, SWAG had basically been in a state of limbo and just existing as an "online" group for some time, and I have been trying to find someone to take over for a while now.
The last year or so has been totally &%£% for me, and basically, I'm just "spent".
:-(
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Sad news indeed... Brings tears to the eyes, to see how Amiga community is slowly fading away.. :cry:
Good luck in whatever you do in future :-)
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Ryu, you get all these people moaning they have no user groups in their area. They think they are the only one for a hundred miles that owns an Amiga.
So you try and do something about it.
And you know what I dont know why i bother either.
They still moan, but when there is the opportunity to have a drink and meet like minded people they dont show up and still moan, with the exception of a few that is.
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jura: i wish i had an opertunity to join one , i joined one in sweden infact!! , so i go there once every year or more..
no such thing here in norway ;( , not that i know of anyway..
anyway i am happy in norway and in sweden :)
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@JC, yup its the human condition I think, people just love to piss and moan... just look at the state of the "community" at the moment..
Having said all that I understand Linchys going to try to make the next meet, I will attend too JC and I guess the_elf will make it too, then theres a guy I met who lives in Melton who wants to go... though you need to sort the website out...
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If someone has took the time to sort out usergroup meetings then these people should at least turn up instead of spitting in the organizers face.
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@Ryu and JC:
how far are you lot from cheshire?
i am no longer as big an amiga user as i was, but i still have an A1200, and think it would be cool to get together and meet some other amgia users, and see their amigas
i'd make an appearance probably, maybe not every meeting, but if its close enough
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@Ryu, next meeting its going to be here: http://www.bpslangar.co.uk
@ 3500ft. ;-) You coming ?
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@Ryu
I'm in Donny, PM me if you want to get something organised, I'm definitely interested.
Cheers
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It's always a great shame when a user group disappears- especially our nearest neighbouring group.
On occasion we have been invited over the bridge to help out Bristol Amiga owners with problems. When questionned why they contacted us for help and not their local group, SWAG, they were suprised to learn of the existance of SWAG.
Anyway all the best for the future,
South Wales Amiga User Group
www.swaug.org.uk
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On occasion we have been invited over the bridge to help out Bristol Amiga owners with problems. When questionned why they contacted us for help and not their local group, SWAG, they were suprised to learn of the existance of SWAG.
I had advertised SWAG in all of the Amiga mags (when they were around), in their directories - I also believe SWAG was the first group featured in AF's page about user groups.
Then there were the online user group directories.
I also advertised in some local publications, like "Trade-It", in their computer section. All I ever got from that was one phone call from someone selling stuff.
Then there was the adverts in some local shops, notice boards and stuff.
There's only so much one person can do. And very little I was able to do over the last year and a half or so.
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Well hi there!
I founded the 'Gloucester Amiga Group' which, unfortunately, consists of one member...me! Although some of the former members I keep in contact with the group is now non-existant.
However, I HAVE been seriously thinking about setting up an Apple Mac group (with a little Amiga/Mac-on-Linux theme) because I sell the things for a well known computer company.
Many of my customers regulary come to me in my place of work and ask for basic help which I'm glad to say I am able to do....however, since the G.A.G I have wanted to set up a user group for all the customers I currently deal with. I could probably muster up about 20 almost immediately by looking through reciepts!
The only problem is that I need some serious help as finances an accomodation don't help.
If anyone can offer help or wants to start the group for me then please contact me..I'm only just down the road from SWAUG!
nickdj@glosamigagroup.co.uk
:-) :-)