This Charter of the Southern Minnesota Solidworks User Group sets forth
• the purpose of the organization,
• the scope of our problem solving activity,
• the membership rules,
• plans for funding,
• guidelines for meetings,
• the goals for the web site,
• and the purpose for the membership database.This Charter will be subject to amendment by recommendation from user group participants with concurrence by the President and guidance from the national Solidworks Users Group Network.
Purpose:

The purpose of the Southern Minnesota Solidworks User Group (SMSWUG) is to promote the free exchange of information related to the use of Solidworks among the participants in the user group. It provides a forum in which the membership may assist each other in furthering their knowledge about and advancing their abilities in the use of Solidworks.
Problem solving:
• SMSWUG will not be a resource for product support related issues. Troubleshooting, bug reporting, and subscription service are available from Solidworks Corporation, Solidworks VARS, and Solidworks business partners.
• SMSWUG will be a resource for sharing practical experience, developing skill, and networking among participants who use Solidworks. SMSWUG meetings are an opportunity to share and to learn.
• All of this activity is done on a voluntary basis. No guarantees are made.
Membership:
• SMSWUG is organized and operated completely through volunteering participants.
• Participants need not own a copy of Solidworks.
• There is no fee for membership. Donations to the SMSWUG general fund are gladly accepted.
• Solidworks Corporation, Solidworks VARS, and Solidworks business partners are encouraged to participate as sponsors but are not eligible to hold elected positions.

 
Funding:
• Funds will be applied to the cost of the meeting room, equipment, snacks, hand outs, web site, or other expenses incurred by SMSWUG.
• The President will determine the funding method for SMSWUG. At this time, there are no dues to participants. At some future date it is possible that a membership fee could be established.
• The primary source of funding will be from charitable donations from sponsors. Sponsors may contribute material, facility, cash, or other forms of support as approved by the President. SMSWUG may acknowledge sponsors by posting links on the web site and other favorable mention in SMSWUG communications.
• The President may determine that donations will be solicited at user group meetings. Participants will be allowed to voluntarily contribute cash to the SMSWUG general fund.
Meetings:
• SMSWUG will meet on a regular basis 4 times yearly.
• Meeting agenda and subjects will be planned in advance by the President. Suggestions and requests from SMSWUG participants are of great importance and will be given top priority in setting the agenda for the next meeting.
• A time during every meeting will be designated for an open forum/discussion on subjects related to Solidworks.
• Solidworks Corporation, VARS, and other solution providers may be invited to give demonstrations of their products.
• Attendees are encouraged to volunteer to give case studies related to Solidworks.
• Members can request to be notified of meetings via email. They may opt out of the notification list at any time.
• As available, the meeting schedules and agenda will be posted on the SMSWUG web site.
Web site:
• www.smswug.com is intended to be the primary communication resource.
• The goal is to include such information as meeting minutes from prior meetings, preliminary agenda for the next meeting, topics of interest to participants, notice of upcoming Solidworks related events,

 
SMSWUG Member Database:
• A database of participants will be kept.
• The purpose of the database is to support promotion and notification of SMSWUG events.
• Sponsors and guest speakers may be informed only of the quantity of members, No direct contact information, names, or email addresses will be distributed by SMSWUG.
• Members will have the option of prohibiting the distribution of their contact information.
• The security and privacy of the membership database is the responsibility of the President.
• Abuse of the SMSWUG membership database will result in revocation of membership and exclusion from all further SMSWUG activities.
• Database information for all participants may include:
Participants name,
Participants e-mail,
Employer,
Job Title,
Phone number,