But providing that extra attention and assistance is far beyond what can be achieved by the goodwill of a few user group volunteers. Anyone who has been involved as a user group volunteer can attest to the fact that the patience of user group volunteers can get frayed at times. The most patient and kind volunteers can have their patience tested by the quantity of the needs out there. What is missing in this equation is the recognition by society that user groups are performing a vital function. If we are to move forward into the exciting possibilities of this technological age we need to find ways of bringing external financial support into the operations of user groups.
Several sources come to mind.
Foundations are one source. Local, state, and federal government is another source. And the media is a third source. Each one of these entities could play an important role in supporting the work of user groups. If all three of these entities supported user groups, the resulting benefits to society as a whole could be incalculable.