History of the WMNTUG ... how it all started
by Rafael DelCastillo
(edited by Terry Davidson)

In 1995 I embarked in a career change, and I entered the Computer Field.  Computer Field is quite a generic term, but that is what I called it back then.  In reality, I was trying to break into the System Analyst area, but a fresh degree was not getting me anywhere in GR.  I then got an opportunity to work for a company doing "computers" - whatever that meant, and so I embarked on what turned out was my "real" education.

 The first thing I noticed was nobody really helped you learn. You were sort of on your own to figure things out.  I started taking training classes at local training centers, especially in Novell and Microsoft operating systems but that didn't seem to be enough. I always encountered situations that were not covered in the classes. I started looking around for support groups, one especially dealing with Microsoft OS. I didn't' find any. I then ran across Vance Bowers, who I had met in some of my training classes. Vance and I decided to start a group. We enlisted the help of Laurie Forte who was working at one of the local training centers. She called Richard Kenyon who was involved in other user groups and had experience in that area.  From there it took off.

By Fall of 1997 we had a core group. Laurie was essential in getting the word out and if my memory serves me right, by January of 1998 we had our first official board meeting.

One thing we always wanted to do in our meeting presentations was not be some kind of marketing platform for vendors.  We wanted substance.  We wanted to be able to network with peers.  We wanted to learn from each other.  This is what we try to accomplish every meeting.  We share our problems with each other and we try to answer questions for each other.  We get presentations on a WIDE variety of subject matter from gadgets to Windows directory services and everything TECHIE in between that we encounter each day as technologists (That is what we are isn't it?).

Our group consists of many individuals: Small Business Owners, Large and Small Consulting companies, Individual Network Administrators, some developers, Students in the IT field, Vendors, and probably other categories that I left out.  All are welcomed.  Nobody is excluded.  We don't care what you work with: Microsoft, Novell, Linux, Mac, even if you are still on DOS or (hee hee) OS2 -- Hey OS2 was the real Windows at one time!

I have a lot of memories about our group.  We have had a lot of growing pains and we even declined a bit but we are still here. On our board we still have 3 of the original board members and most of the others have been on the board for years.

One thing about our group.  We have all become good friends.  Yes we sometimes have our differences as all friends do but in the end we are all in this crazy field together.  We need to make it work.  We need to make it grow.  Please join us.  Visit our Events Page and we will see you at our next meeting.

by Rafael DelCastillo
past WMNTUG Vice President