At the last meeting of the Word Processing/DesktopPub (Desktop Publishing) group, Don Singleton asked for suggestions for upcoming meetings. We had a couple of word processing suggestions and then I suggested that we do a program on the DTP side of the group. I painfully admitted that until a couple of years ago I didn't know what DTP stood for. Then when I found out, I still didn't know what Desktop Publishing really meant. Thinking if I didn't know, I didn't need it, I never attended the separate DTP group that was active at that time. After finding out what it encompassed, I realized how much I had missed, because that was exactly what I was attempting to do with my computer.
After I made this confession, another member said that she didn't know what DTP meant and she is a programmer! Then when another attendee admitted she didn't know either, I realized maybe there are others who might be interested if there were some kind of explanation about what we are trying to do with this SIG (Special Interest Group--another acronym I didn't know when I first started reading the I/O Port.)
Desktop publishing is the fun and creative side of computing. It can range from making a simple greeting card using card-making software, to something as complicated as the I/O Port which Don puts out every month. Making a directory for your church group, a newsletter for your company, customized stationery using clip art and photo CDs, a jazzy Christmas letter, or scanning photos for photo albums and presentations are all examples of desktop publishing. And you don't need any special software to do desktop publishing--all the major word processing programs have numerous features which can make desktop publishing a breeze, if you just learn how to use them.
There are endless programs we can explore if we have a specific interest from members. If you, or if you know someone, who could put on even a very short demo, we would love to hear about it. Our group is interested in the very basics, from making a card to the more complicated ventures we might work toward. While we would also love to have interesting guest speakers present to our group, what we are seeking now are members who have even one aspect of DTP they would like to share--we're all hungry for ideas and "how to" programs. These don't have to be sophisticated presentations, just share something you enjoy. I guarantee if you enjoyed some desktop publishing job you did, there are many others who would love for you to show them how you did it. And to start it off, I'll do a short demo at one of our upcoming meetings on making greeting cards and importing clip art into text. Remember too that questions--even of the simplest kind--are always welcome!
Please call Don (622-3417) with suggestions. He would like to announce in the I/O Port the topics for upcoming meetings so you can know you are going to hear a presentation on a topic which is of interest to you. Word processing and desktop publishing are the most popular of all the uses of home computers, so surely there are many more of you who could benefit from our meetings. Come join us!
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