Year of the Pug

[Ocean West]

[blurb]

So you have been scouring the web and found your way here (after all you are reading this ).

You started to search for an answer to your FileMaker questions. Or perhaps you are FileMaker expert user with oodles of time on your hands and feel the burning desire to aid a newbie out of a jam.

Either case you've enjoyed in sharing a wealth of information by many within this online community. But where else you wonder where can you meet and mingle with more users local or abroad?

Let me draw your attention to FMPug (http://www.fmpug.com)

[/blurb]

You see FM Pug is your personal meeting place where you can go and meet and mingle with more FileMaker users & experts. Each meeting you have the potential learn more about FileMaker thus broaden your horizons for the future, perhaps meet a new friend. At the very least as a pug member your have even more benefits, including product discounts, product giveaways, product reviews, directory listing, and more.

Here are a few testimoials...

"I saved the cost of my membership in one meeting. One tip saved me 4 or 5 hours of programming"

Phil Robertson - Chapter

"FMPug has been a welcome addition to my monthly schedule. Not only have I picked up valuable tips, useful tricks and critical new uses for FileMaker but I've found and developed a database of new friends"

Leon Flesdrager - Chapter Member

"The real value is in the information you get from real FileMaker professionals"

Walt Sellers - Chapter

"The group is great! A bit higher end than my current level of expertise, but gives me much to aspire to. In particular, I appreciate the aesthetic considerations in your (FMPug original) database designs. Most DB creators don't seem to put much consideration into the visual presentation for the user."

"Meetings have been great - very informative"

Kathy Shea - Chapter Member

"Although I am a Virtual Member and cannot attend meetings, FMPug has already more than paid for my membership. I have won valuable FM prizes (totaling 10 times the cost of membership) and still have the benefit of FMPug training materials. The presentations are so well documented that, even from a distance, I have learned a great deal. FMPug is simply the best bang for my buck."

LaRetta Kwandt - Virtual Member

"FMPUG is a great place to learn and share FileMaker information. Each meeting, I have had more than one "aha" moment that has led me to a better understanding of FileMaker 6 and 7. The tone is friendly and supportive, which makes it easy to be a student and gain knowledge. And while that's great, the best part is the food. Sorry, Andy. Go PUG!"

Katherine Russell - Chapter

"Our local FMPug meeting is a great place to network, share ideas and share the enthusiasm of FileMaker with others. With all the new items in FM7 along with new products, new plugins, new books this is the place to be. I can definitely say that I have received far, far more in return than what I have paid for in dues. The web site is top shelf and a tip of my hat to Andy at PUG HQ and Stephen in San Diego for all their leadership in keeping the PUG plugging forward. My advice to those thinking about joining... what is stopping you.? It is good to be a PUG!"

Ken Newell - Chapter

"Thank you to Andy Gaunt of FMPug HQ / FusionDzine in helping us in getting started. I strongly suggest any and all who wish to start a user group in their area to become a Pug. We are working closely with many vendors to help grow membership by their generous contributions of giveaways, discounts, and their presence at our meetings. By centralizing to a single point of contact for FMPug's nationwide/worldwide we can better leverage the resources of all involved."

Stephen Dolenski - Coordinator

"I just wanted to thank you for the excellent work you have done organizing and developing the FMPug. The site is not only beautifully designed, but it provides so much for the user group facilitator and the individual developer. My own knowledge of FileMaker has advanced most through collaboration with other developers. FMPug extends that opportunity to any developer anywhere. Keep up the good work!"

Scott Howard - Coordinator

"Anyone developing FileMaker Pro Databases can find kindred developers, advice, and assistance as a member of FMPug. I have received assistance from other developers by reading the forums and from downloads and especially from the local folks at the Birmingham chapter. Scott Howard does a great job coordinating the meetings in Birmingham and is generous in providing a venue.

William S Ritchie - Chapter

People in the FMPug have been most generous with help and tips. I am also pleased to have the opportunity both to review and read reviews by others regarding some of the products (Training, books, etc.) offered to FM Pro 7 developers. Not only does a review offer another opinion (before I buy), but also, many of the products are discounted to FMPug members.

The forums and downloads are another entire area of helpful ideas and "good practice" examples. FMPug is a valuable find. The membership has certainly paid for itself already."

"Great food (Orlando Chapter), Always fun!"

Jeff Duck - Chapter

"FMPug is a shining star in a black void of mis-information."

LaRetta Kwandt - Virtual Member

"This isn't your average user group. FMPUG is a fantastic place to meet with your FileMaker peers!"

Hal Gumbert - Chapter

"No where else can I find such a concentration of Filemaker knowledge. There is always someone at these meetings that can answer my questions. The resources that are reviewed and demonstrated are invaluable."

Phil Robertson - Chapter

"This is a great group. Being well-focused on the topic makes the meetings very productive. The people are friendly and helpful with a wide range of experience. And the food is good too."

Walt Sellers - Chapter

"In a place far, far away, the word was FileMaker - and the word was good! To make the WORD even better a bit of a Pug came into my life and the word changed to FMPug. Every month my plans require changing so that the word will continue to be F(ile)M(aker) PUG hereafter known as an extreme enjoyment called FMPUG. Long live the Pug and FileMaker!"

Dan Dickson - Chapter

"There is a reason that they call Andy Gaunt "De Mitico"..."the myth". His FileMaker expertise is of mythical proportions, but there is nothing mythical about his results!"

Mark Merchant - Virtual Member

"The Pug is an invaluable resource for all developers and we are proud to sponsor its activities!"

Keith Larochelle - Chapter

"This is probably - no IT IS - the best Filemaker driven site out there. Brilliant"

Alan Betts -