"Acting Locally" will report the latest happenings and meeting notices for Regional User Groups. If you are a RUG leader or member and want to highlight your group’s activity in COE NewsNet, please email us at NewsNet@COE.org.

Perhaps you’ve been to a COE conference, perhaps not. Yes or no, you may enjoy participating in a RUG (Regional User Group). RUG’s tend to pop-up in locations where there are three or more CATIA sites, and in many ways are mini COE organizations. Organized by volunteers, supported by CATIA suppliers, RUG’s will typically hold one day conferences at a location that is within a few hours driving distance of their most distant member. IBM is always helpful with meeting sites and logistics, but it is neat to move the site from one user’s company to another if possible, including a plant tour within the meeting agenda.

COE is eager to support RUG formation and all group activity. In coming issues of this COE NewsNet, you will see articles highlighting RUG activities. There are RUGs established all over the world If you don’t see one in your area, and are interesting in starting one, COE will work with IBM to help you find other CATIA users in your region. Many of COE’s members are also very active in RUG’s, and they are particularly proud to share their knowledge about how to start and sustain a RUG. Among the most successful groups is COW, that is the CATIA Operators of Wisconsin. Jim Tilidetzke and Peter Van de Bogert have been of great assistance to Larry Gauthier in forming an Arizona group. If you think you may want to start a RUG, call COE headquarters at 1-800-COE CALL, and we’ll get you going on the right foot.