The Chicago Windows User Group (CWUG) Mission Statement

CWUG aims to help anyone, irrespective of means, skills, and experience, to draw the fullest benefit from the availability and use of personal computers that use Windows and software that runs on the Windows operating system.

CWUG's activities will be focused in the area in and around Chicago, IL, that is, Northeast Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and Southeast Wisconsin.

CWUG's members will be drawn from many different groups that use personal computers as part of their everyday lives, including:

• IT professionals, such as systems administrators and software developers, who help others make fullest use of information technology
• Information workers who use personal computers in their professional lives to simplify the processing of information, to communicate and collaborate with co-workers, and to maximize the efficiency of their work
• Educators and students who use personal computers to accelerate learning, to undertake research and analysis, and to maximize the value and impact of education
• Home users who use PCs to improve their quality of life, for example, by providing recreation and entertainment, or by helping them organize their finances and their households

Scope of Activities

CWUG activities will be designed to meet the needs of its various constituents, consistent with its Mission Statement.  These activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Community Gatherings:
  • Have an in-person gathering at least every two months to establish and maintain open communication between members, and particularly among members from groups that might otherwise not meet, such as IT professionals and educators
• Technical Education:
  • Provide formal and informal technical presentations on the use of the Windows operating system and the wide range of software applications that operate on it
  • Create a "hands-on" training laboratory to help users get direct experience of Windows and PC-based software
  • Establish training groups to help members achieve certifications for Windows and Windows-based applications
• Community Action:
  • Assist groups and users, such as public schools, seniors, or other charitable groups, who may otherwise find it difficult to access appropriate resources, to deploy and use Windows and software that runs on Windows to improve their quality of life and work
• Special Interest Groups:
  • Create special interest groups (SIGs) to discuss specific topics, e.g., security, or to meet the needs of specific groups, e.g., educators
• Communications:
  • Create a Web-based portal that will promote the exchange of ideas among members and between different groups
  • Distribute an monthly electronic newsletter that gives a voice to members of the CWUG community, and which promotes forthcoming activities, and informs members about available resources