Friday, June 27th Meeting to be Rescheduled

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Mike Brogan

Steve Sorbo has asked me to notify everyone that Friday’s meeting is going to be rescheduled to sometime later in July. Apologies for the late notice, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

Details will be announced soon.

p.s. Mike Brogan has switched over our method of sending out newsletters. Information will originate at www.nwmacpro.com, and will then automatically email out to every subscriber via the MailChimp RSS service, and be posted to our new Twitter account @nwmacpro. So, there are now multiple ways to stay up to date on what’s happening here.

This is the first time we’re doing this, so we’re *hopeful* that the email looks ok.

Thanks!

Posted in meetings | Comments Off on Friday, June 27th Meeting to be Rescheduled

Minutes for April 25th Meeting

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Mike Brogan

In attendance

Steve Sorbo
Greg Ashworth
Shelley Watson
Chris Dawe
John Newhoff
Mike Brogan
Mike Ross

New meeting times

Steve announced new meetings for the rest of the year:

  • June 27th
  • August 29th
  • November 7th

Future meetings will focus on a:

  • Technical topic
  • Business topic
  • Vendor presentation

Other housekeeping items:

  • Education committee starting back up
  • Vice President and secretary positions still need to be filled
  • Revisit and follow up from the survey

Better Publicizing of Meetings

  • Email out minutes
  • Start Social messaging via Twitter, possibly Facebook
  • LinkedIn to Twitter?
  • Setup email account for social

Code of conduct/ethics

  • The Apple Consultants Network has a Code of Ethics, and Steve Sorbo brought up that the Northwest Mac Pros should have one too.
  • John Newhoff moved to adopt the ACN Code of Ethics guide, provided we remove the line about using fully licensed software since it is redundant and not applicable to all consultants.
  • Shelley to send revised version.

Mike Ross makes headway on database

Wifi Presentation by Chris Dawe

2.4 Ghz vs 5 Ghz
Wifi channel explanation

Software used:
Wifi explorer
$2.99 on app store

Netspot
Free and pro version

Posted in meetings | Comments Off on Minutes for April 25th Meeting

NWMP Meeting! Friday April 25th 3pm-4:30pm

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Mike Brogan

NWMP Meeting!

Friday April 25th 3pm-4:30pm(ish)

Note: Due to a Mariner’s game at 7:10pm, we will adjourn early.

Meeting Agenda

NWMP Business

  •         Future meeting planning
  •         Update on Database from Mike Ross
  •         Adoption of a Code of Ethics/Best Practices

Presentation

  • Chris Dawe: WiFi Best Practices, implementation & tools of the trade
  • Steve Sorbo & Gregory Ashworth: Macworld Expo & Conference recap

Time allows

  • Tech recommendations: Share a favorite tech tip or a favorite app.
  • On-going tech problems: Share your most vexing ongoing problem. See if the membership can provide advice in solving it.

Please RSVP as a courtesy to Wheelwrights!
Posted in meetings | Comments Off on NWMP Meeting! Friday April 25th 3pm-4:30pm

NWMP Meeting February 28th: Watchman Monitoring and MonkeyBox

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Mike Brogan

NWMP Meeting!
Friday February 28th 3pm-5pm
Come meet fellow NWMP members at UniversalMac!

The February meeting theme will be Business centric and focus on products that you can offer to your clients. We will have two presentations. The first will be from Allen Hancock. He will be presenting his service Watchman Monitoring.

Luis Giraldo, long time member of the Apple Consultants member and good friend of NWMP neighbor across the border in British Columbia, has an exciting new startup—MonkeyBox. As Luis describes it, “Monkey Box offers a unique IT asset management software-as-a-service (Saas) web application that brings many often-separated areas of information into a central documentation management platform.” I recently saw Luis demo this product at MacTech BootCamp III in Seattle. I am very excited by it as this is a tool that I’ve been looking for in my business workflow for a very long time. This product could be a great fit for many of us as independent tech consultants!

NWMP Member Picks
Finally, if time permits, we will open up the meeting to let members recommend their hardware or software gems. So come with a pick and let us know why you like it!

The proverbial bulleted list:
What: Northwest Mac Pro Quarterly meeting
Where: UniversalMac: 12011 Bel Red Rd. Suite 201 Bellevue, WA 98005
When: Friday, February 28th from 3pm-5pm. Happy hour to follow!!
Why: To meet and network with your fellow Northwest Mac Pros

Allen Hancock of Watchman Monitoring has graciously extend his GoToMeeting to be open for the entire length of the meeting today. So, we will not need to used UStream.

Here is the info need to connect via GoToMeeting. NOTE:Take a moment before the start of the meeting to download the GoToMeeting Citrix client.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/266472357
Dial +1 (805) 309-0010
Access Code: 266-472-357

Also, one update on today’s meeting. Unfortunately Jon Clayton of Big Mountain Internet who was to present on Kerio Connect is feeling under the weather. We will be rescheduling Jon for a later meeting. Today’s meeting will probably conclude before our normal time of 5PM.

Posted in General | Comments Off on NWMP Meeting February 28th: Watchman Monitoring and MonkeyBox

MacTech BootCamp III: February 12th

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Mike Brogan

MacTech BootCamp III is a one day event targeted at the issues facing techs supporting small-to-medium sized businesses, small office, and home office (often referred to as SMB or SOHO markets), as well as consumers. Specifically, it is for anyone providing support services as a consultant or part of an organization. MacTech BootCamp’s sessions cover a variety of topics from those in the know about the topics below, all of which are designed to make BootCamp attendees more successful in supporting these markets.

Register here and save $200 and get a full year subscription of MacTech!

Posted in General | Comments Off on MacTech BootCamp III: February 12th

NW Mac Pro Meeting Friday October 25th

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Mike Brogan

NWMP Meeting!

Friday October 25th 3pm-5pm

Come meet fellow NWMP members at Wheelwrights!

The meeting’s theme will be tech and hardware focused with a recap of the announcements from Apple’s Fall Keynote on Tuesday October 22nd, as well as an open discussion about the big changes that came with iOS 7. Some of the questions open for discussion are:

  • How are you preparing your clients for the rather dramatics changes to the UI of iOS 7?
  • What issues have you had with updating your client’s iOS devices?
  • Are you recommending that certain generations of devices NOT be updated?
  • What are your best practices for preparing your client’s iOS devices for the upgrade to iOS 7?

Additionally, Steve Sorbo from MacS.O.S will share tips and tricks he uses now that many former MobileMe users have had their complimentary 20 GB of storage discontinued. Learn how to make the best use of the free 5 GB!

Membership Survey Results
Mike Brogan will present the results of the membership survey conducted this past summer.

NWMP Member Picks
Finally, if time permits, we will open up the meeting to let members recommend their hardware or software gems. So come with a pick and let us know why you like it!

Holiday Mixer
This is our last formal meeting of the year. The December 7th meeting will be our annual Holiday Mixer.

The proverbial bulleted list:

  • What: Northwest Mac Pro October 2013 meeting
  • Where: Wheelwrights LLC 3201 1st Ave S. Ste 206, Seattle 98134
  • When: Friday, October 25th from 3pm-5pm. Happy hour to follow!!
  • Why: Come meet and network with other Northwest Macintosh Professionals

Please RSVP
Click the button below or reply to this email and let us know that you can make it. We hope to see you all you at the meeting!

Posted in meetings | Comments Off on NW Mac Pro Meeting Friday October 25th

Special Event October 7th

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Mike Brogan

Meet your fellow NWMP members at Brave Horse Tavern!

This summer the NWMP Newsletter had nearly 20 new subscribers, so to celebrate this epic achievement and to extend a warm welcome to our newest members, we are having a special mixer event at Brave Horse Tavern on Monday, October 7th at 4pm. This event is for ALL NWMP members to socialize, network, and show off your shiny iPhone 5s.

We’ll be in the “Tack Room,” a semi-private space where you’ll have access to the Brave Horse’s 24 taps, full selection of spirits, great food (try a pretzel!), shuffleboard and more. Happy Hour is from 4-6, but if you can’t make it until later, that’s fine too! Note: Brave Horse is a 21+ establishment, so don’t forget your photo ID.

Event Sponsors: The Omni Group & BusyMac

But wait, there’s more! If 24 taps, Happy Hour, shuffleboard, and amazing pretzels aren’t enough of an incentive to get you to attend, we’ve also confirmed The OmniGroup and BusyMac as sponsors for the event.

They are both giving away licenses to their great software, so bring a business card.

We’d love to know if you can make it. Please RSVP here.

For those that prefer bulleted lists of details:

  • What: Northwest Mac Pro Social Mixer Event
  • Where: Brave Horse Tavern, 310 Terry Avenue North, Seattle
  • When: Monday, October 7th from 4pm-8pm
  • Why: Come meet other Northwest Macintosh Professionals!

We’ll see you on the 7th!

Posted in General | Comments Off on Special Event October 7th

Take the 2013 State of Northwest Mac Pros Survey

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Mike Brogan

We’d love to hear from our members about what they do and what they’d like to see Northwest Mac Pros focus on in the future. So, please take our 5 minute survey! We will share the results at a future meeting and on the website.

Posted in General | Comments Off on Take the 2013 State of Northwest Mac Pros Survey

NW Mac Pros June meeting Friday 6/28 3pm-5pm

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Mike Brogan

A reminder that NWMP will have it’s 3rd meeting of 2013 next Friday June 28th. The meeting will be hosted by Noah Patton and his team at UniversalMac: 12011 NE Bel-Red Road, Suite 201, Bellevue, WA 98005

The theme of this meeting will be a recap of the announcements that came out of WWDC, with a focus on iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks. Dave Peck, the maker of Cloak attended WWDC and has graciously agreed to be at the meeting and talk about iOS 7 and OS X. Dave also will update us about the latest version of his app. He also has a special promotion that he will be announcing to the membership. I also might have another developer attend the meeting. This is currently still in the works. But I hope he can make it as he has a very long pedigree in the Apple developer community having written some very well know apps, and recently teamed up with 2 other VERY well know developers to create an iOS app that is getting a lot of buzz recently online. I don’t want to show my cards just yet as I don’t have the speaker confirmed. But stay tuned folks!

Meeting Agenda:

  • Membership Intros
  • Announcements by Noah Patton on the ACN
  • Discussion on OS X Mavericks lead by Greg Ashworth of iDigital LLC
  • Discussion of iOS 7 with guest speaker Dave Peck moderated by Steve Sorbo
  • Tech recommendations: A product (software or hardware) that you have found helpful in running your business.
  • Tech problems: Share your most vexing ongoing problem. See if the membership can provide advice in solving it.

I look forward to seeing as many of you there as can make it. Please RSVP.

Thank you,
>Steve

Posted in meetings | Comments Off on NW Mac Pros June meeting Friday 6/28 3pm-5pm

NW Mac Pros meeting Friday, April 26th

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Mike Brogan

A reminder that NWMP will have it’s 2nd meeting of 2013 next Friday April, 26. The meeting will be hosted by Shelley Watson and Chris Dawe of Wheelwrights. 3201 1st Avenue S., Suite 206, Seattle WA 98134.

The theme of this meeting is Business and tools we can use to grow our consultancies. Allen Hancock will present on his product Watchman Monitoring. Watchman Monitoring is software that will monitor over 40 different parameters on your client’s Macs and report back to you when they have a problem. NWMP member Greg Ashworth is currently a Watchman Monitoring customer and will discuss how the product has become a valuable service offering for his company iDigital, LLC.

Meeting Agenda:

  • Membership Intros
  • Update on NWMP
  • Watchman Monitoring presentation
  • Tech recommendations: A product (software or hardware) that you have found helpful in running your business.
  • Tech problems: Share your most vexing ongoing problem. See if the membership can provide advice in solving it.

And finally, a note from Chris Dawe, on where to have our Happy Hour:

“you may wish to let folks know that Epic Ales has finally opened its brewpub Gastropod on the first floor of our building, and is generally serving from 4 PM-10 PM Tuesday through Saturday, there’s a place to go right after the meeting if people so desire. I can attest that the beer and the food are both terrific (if sometimes a little out on the edge of…”normal”)

Posted in meetings | Comments Off on NW Mac Pros meeting Friday, April 26th