Final Cut Pro User Groups Around The World: District of Columbia (DC)

This recurring series looks at the communities that have sprung up to support Final Cut users. Big and small, near and far, users groups are a thriving part of the creative ecosystem.

(from left: Rich Volin, T.L. Smoot, Rodney Mitchell)

· When did this user group start? The new and improved DCFCPUG kicked off in March, 2008.

· Who runs the group? T.L. Smoot, Rodney Mitchell and Rich Volin

· How many members do you have? We only just started gathering member information in preparation for our inaugural meeting on June 2nd in DC, but the response has already been excellent. We expect to register 100 members by meet time, and expect dozens more in the weeks to follow.

· How often do you meet? Usually monthly, on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

· Where do you meet? Our June 2nd meeting will take place on The George Washington University campus in Downtown DC, at the Jack Morton Auditorium on 21st Street NW. We have made contacts with several vendors in the FCP community who have volunteered their business locations for future meetings.

· Favorite moment in the group's history? We are living our favorite moments right now - kicking off the first meeting, gathering all the contacts from separate FCP communities in the DC Metro area, and trying to build a common and comprehensive resource for each of our members.

· What makes you different from other user groups? The presence of the federal government, the National Archives, industry giants like Discovery Channel and National Geographic, and a wealth of other resources make Washington, DC, and its environs a truly unique location, offering varied opportunities for FCP editors. We are confident that the experts that have blossomed in this environment will allow the DCFCPUG to become distinct among the other wonderful FCPUGs around the country.

· Do you have any other info or fun anecdotes you want to tell us? As mentioned above, our inaugural meeting will take place in DC on June 2, 2008 - the evening before the Final Cut Studio World Tour hits town. The event is free, but space may be limited, so reserve your spot by emailing contact@dcfcpug.org. You can also register as a DCFCPUG member at http://www.dcfcpug.org/wp-login.php?action=register.