Hi folks, Many of you will have got Dann's letter about Canterbury Software's AGM inviting everyone to the meeting (this Friday, 29th, 4pm at the Innovation Incubator, 200 Armagh St).
If (like me) you put the membership renewal to one side to do later -- DO IT NOW!! And if you haven't yet joined, DO IT NOW! Today, if not this minute. Please.... Why? Well the tagline for the cluster has always been "success through connections", but we gotta connect first to succeed. That is, as an industry, Canterbury software can only get stronger by us having a common forum where we can find out what works (and sometimes more importantly, what doesn't) in getting our products/service out of our offices and into the marketplace. I know that I have learned a lot in the past year through being involved with CS Inc: * the very practical focus of the workshops has been great in generating workable, tested ideas and approaches for our own operations (what's new to us is old hat to others and vice versa -- I've learnt as much from the other participants as the presenters :-) * I've got a group I can go to and ask whether the latest off-the-wall idea we've had has been tried before, found wanting, or actually does offer a new way of doing things -- friends, colleagues, mentors, call 'em what you like, but they are very handy (and very much appreciated) * I've learned a lot more about the support systems that are out there, and have a much better idea of likely funding sources, places to go to for specific grants etc which will make some of our "on spec" research easier to justify in the future * I've been able to bend the ear of Trevor Mallard and a bunch of ministry IT people about how We (i.e. CS members et al) do world-leading software here in Canterbury and they should damn well recognise it (maybe it won't come to anything, but I've never had that opportunity before -- it was fun! :-) * we've joined up with the GETS system to expand our horizon domestically and see if we can actually get government to use software from the South (no luck yet, but the mere fact of doing this has sharpened our overall operations in any case) * I've been able to point journalists at very real success stories from the "silicon plains" because I've heard about them firsthand, and it's pushed us to try and be one of them too :-) OK, enough of the flag-waving. What I'm hoping to point out is that for $50 you can get a helluva lot out of Canterbury Software Inc, practical or philosophical, your choice. But to do that, you've got to make the connection.... So please, send in that membership fee now and RSVP for the AGM (contact details below). It's be the most cost-effective membership you have. All the best, Vicki Hyde Send $50 to Canterbury Software, CDC, Box 2962, Christchurch (cheques payable to CDC). Or talk to Dann Olykan (353 6862; [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Or join online at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz P.S. Please do RSVP for the AGM -- we'll take memberships there, but you wouldn't want us to under-cater the food and drinks...Remember: Friday 29th, 4pm, Canty Innovation Incubator, 200 Armagh St, BBQ to follow P.P.S. Confession of ulterior motive -- SPIS is printing out the nice membership certificates to hand out at the AGM, so it would be REALLY HELPFUL if you get your membership in beforehand so we don't have to spend the whole evening and BBQ doing calligraphy by hand...so go on, do it now. See you there :-) ====================================================== SPIS Ltd, Box 19-760, Christchurch, NZ http://.spis.co.nz * FREE TurboNote+ sticky note trial: http://TurboNote.com --> via Canterbury Software email forum: Success through Connections Email your messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Searchable list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Leave or rejoin the list: http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/forum.htm
