1. How often/when do you meet?

   We meet the third Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm

2. Where do you meet?

   We normally meet at the Genesco Office Building on Murfreesboro Rd., although we occasionally hold our meetings elsewhere. We probably average meeting somewhere else about 1-2 times a year. If we will be holding our monthly meeting elsewhere, it will be noted on our web site, in our newsletter, our email reminders, and in the schedule published in Nashville Computer User magazine.

3. What are your dues?

   We do not charge dues. Membership is free. We opt instead to support ourselves through a fee charged to vendors to present at our meetings.

4. How do I join?

   There are two ways to join. Either use the Member Signup page here on our web site, or send an email to our Vice President (see our Officers page) with your name, company, title, phone number, and email address.

5. Why do you need my email address and phone number?

   Email is our only practical way of communicating with you. Without an email address, your only way of staying informed is either by checking the web site regularly, or looking for us in the schedule included in each issue of Nashville Computer User magazine. You have to remember/have time to do these things. If you provide us with an email address, then you will get two email reminders each month, one a week prior to each meeting, and another the day before each meeting. And we need your phone number so that we can call you if there is a problem with sending you the email reminders – sometimes they bounce due to an email address being entered incorrectly or transcribed to the list incorrectly, you change email accounts, or possibly a network problem keeps you from getting them.

6. What about the privacy of NOUG member information?

   The security of NOUG membership information is of the utmost importance to the NOUG. NO ONE except NOUG officers is allowed access to NOUG member information, and then only for official NOUG business. Email reminders are sent out "BCC" (Blind Carbon Copy) so that no one sees who else is on the list. If a NOUG officer receives an inquiry about a NOUG member, the member is contacted and made aware of the inquiry, but under no circumstances is information ever divulged to a third party.

7. What about member information on the NOUG Sign-in Sheet used at NOUG meetings?

   The NOUG Sign-in Sheet used at NOUG meetings serves two purposes. First, it is a way for the NOUG to collect information on new members and validate information on existing members that attend a meeting. Secondly, it provides the presenter at that meeting with a log substantiating who attended their presentation. The presenter has the option of following up with attendees after the presentation, although past experience shows this rarely happens. Attendees are under no obligation to sign the Sign-in Sheet. But also be aware that the Sign-in Sheet is used to select door prize winners; so if your name is not on it, you are not eligible for door prize drawings. Also, please bear in mind that no information need be provided on the Sign-in Sheet except your name for the door prize drawing.

8. Other than email reminders, will I ever receive any other email from the NOUG?

   Occasionally, the NOUG officers receive information from Oracle, the International Oracle Users Group, or other organizations about upcoming events or seminars. In these cases, the NOUG officers will evaluate this information, and if they feel distributing it will benefit a significant number of members, an email will be sent to the NOUG membership making them aware of event/opportunity. Under NO circumstances will the NOUG allow advertising, solicitation, or any other form of SPAM to be inflicted on the membership. If a vendor makes us aware of a seminar, the NOUG officers must feel confident that there are tangible educational benefits related to Oracle development and/or database administration that can be gained from the seminar before we decide to forward information on it to the membership.

9. How do I resign?

   It’s also very simple to resign. Simply send an email to our Vice President (see our Officers page), and your name will be removed from the rolls.

Vendor/Sponsor FAQ’s

1. What is the fee to present at a NOUG meeting?

   Currently, the presentation fee is $150.00. As part of the fee, you will also get a copy of our member sign-in sheet faxed to you the next day by the NOUG Vice President. Also, your upcoming presentation will be posted on our web site, noted in our monthly newsletter and email reminders, and the Nashville Computer User schedule. Provide us with an URL and we’ll place it in our newsletter and email reminders.

2. What other opportunities are available to partner with the NOUG?

   A link to your web site can be placed on our web site. Advertising space is available in our newsletter. For rates, please contact a NOUG officer.

3. Who do I contact about presenting?

   Contact the NOUG President. See our NOUG Officer’s page for contact information.

4. What is your policy regarding headhunters/recruiting?

   It is of the utmost importance to the NOUG that area companies have confidence in the NOUG. We want companies to know that when their employees attend our meetings, it will broaden, deepen, and strengthen their knowledge of Oracle. For that reason, the NOUG does not allow any recruiting or headhunting activities. Promotional materials that in any way advertise or solicit job opportunities or promote a place to work are NOT allowed. If someone sets out any such materials at a meeting, the materials will be promptly removed and the person who placed them warned. If that person is caught a second time, they will be banned from the NOUG. Promoting the benefits of a working for a company/organization is also NOT allowed during a presentation. Any attempt to do so will bring a warning. Recruiters are not barred from attending meetings, but they are urged to confine their activities strictly to expanding their knowledge of Oracle. If a recruiter is caught promoting their services, they will be warned. If they are caught a second time, they will be asked to leave and banned from the NOUG.