LUG meetings are the primary benefit of membership.
At LUG meetings, there are dozens of presentations, breakout sessions, and opportunities for dialogue.
Meetings include in-depth, technical and strategic presentations. They are not geared toward marketing or sales.
Each meeting focuses on a topic of general interest to members, such as availability, systems management, strategy, or database.
Member companies are encouraged to send several representatives to each meeting. Attendance for the full week is recommended for the primary and secondary contacts, but other staff members may want to attend specific days where the presented topics are most useful for them.
There are no hospitality suites or vendor sales activity at LUG meetings. Where appropriate, non-IBM offerings may be referenced during the meetings.
Meetings are held three times per year, generally in February, June, and October, in Rochester, Minnesota, birthplace of the IBM i™.
Meetings usually start Sunday evening and end Friday about noon. These are working meetings. Typically there are no scheduled outings, golf tournaments, or area tours.
Participate in the LUG and gain multiple benefits.
See and influence IBM i™ strategy
Solve problems through interaction with knowledgeable IBM i™ users and developers
Exchange ideas with other IBM i™ users
Work directly with the IBM development team
Meet the IBM executive team responsible for IBM i™
Arrange face-to-face meetings with advocates, development leaders, management and executives
IBM also benefits from your participation in the LUG.
Receive direct feedback from knowledgeable clients
Understand prioritized and broadly applicable client requirements
Preview proposed new and enhanced functions
Member web site
The LUG member web site adds to the benefits of membership.
Participate in active discussion threads where you can receive answers to questions directly from others like yourself, or from the IBM development team
Create and comment on requirements for improvements to IBM i™ and related products
Learn about future topics and activities of the next LUG meeting
See presentations from prior meetings
Find contact information for other LUG members and the IBM team
Conference calls
Conference calls provide a means to engage between meetings.
These calls are a vehicle for LUG members and IBM to exchange ideas on important issues that cannot wait for the next scheduled meeting
Examples of past calls are product previews, descriptions of proposed enhancements, or updates on questions raised at regular LUG meetings
Calls may be held at any time, usually several each year
Calls may be requested by LUG members or IBM