(1) continuing the gradual revamp (started in 2018/our 10th anniversary)  based on ongoing feedback + live situations (covid) + seismic shift in Tech … with a focus on what is actually of relevance well beyond 2024 … to be announced 2024-25  (hint:  pro-privacy/Simple_Safety™,  Simpler_AI±Quantum™) 

(2)  meanwhile, below is a glimpse into some things done/doing ... suggest signing up for your membership (still at no-charge)

• phasing out Meetup.com & Facebook.com ~ our/this site the single point of contact for everything we do,  click here to apply for membership, as we are phasing towards more member-only events;

• instated event registrations|confirmations|cancellations only on this site, to better cater to specifics of a given event (e.g., no press at certain events, type of food for certain events, etc.); 

• collaborated with and had some amazing fun times (pre-covid) with those who built Houston's tech communities/user-groups over the decades (e.g., Houston TechFest, Houston .NET, Houston SQL Server, Houston SharePoint, Houston C++ User Group (founded by David Cravey, MVP of MVP's, who brought his group under our HybridCloudGroup.org™) … shout out to the ol' guard ... and kudos to those who have taken over from the ol' guard, since covid;

• outreach:  this is our community and we support efforts of our members, even in areas that are not our primary focus, and when we see new efforts by others helping our Houston community well, in our non-primary areas,  we gladly step back and direct queries to them (unbeknownst to them) … as it is about helping our Houston community … here's just 3 examples:

  1.   accommodated Google's request to Valentino to run their Houston Google Cloud User Group (a.k.a. GDG Cloud Houston) … 2018 until 2022;  

  2.  PostgreSQL with the support of PostgreSQL.org leadership, who were so supportive that they even sent swag … 2018 until 2019;  

  3.  though Zane was asked by GoLang.org … suggested they contact the existing Houston GoLang user group and make them their official for Houston.
     
     

• stood by our standards (e.g., pro-privacy) … even when Google's GDG  instated new policies and appreciate Google for recognizing it.

(3)   as part of the ongoing revamp, evolving our efforts to something more relevant to post-covid … for our 15th anniversary :-)

• • • sunset  Houston Google Cloud User Group (a.k.a. GDG Cloud Houston)
      — shout out to Kubra for being consistently awesome, wishing you the best on your promotions!

• • • sunset  our  meetup.com  for  Houston C++ User Group  …  as the  C & C++  efforts are to be surfaced on this site, differently  
      —  shout out to David Cravey for doing so much for C++ in Houston over the decades
      … look forward to some more of David's amazing contributions in the years to come … to be surfaced here, with us :-)

0)  new tier of offerings:  Lighthouse — to focus on non-techies & techies navigating  precarious & perplexing digital waters

• Simple_Safety™ …  for non-techies & techies … Pro-Privacy & FREE tools for staying safer online 

• Simpler_AI±Quantum™ … those who are trying to get their head around AI & more 

• Showcase: Success Stories … to recognize those who otherwise may go unrecognized

• tidbit for non-techies:  starting at zero is a tribute to our C programming roots … so is the use of {curly braces} … (techies, enjoy the easter eggs :-)

1)    new tier of offerings:   Computing & Business Focus Groups — to focus on function (e.g., adoption, startup, grow existing business) … in addition to our Technology Focus User Groups 

• Hybrid_that_AI™       …  All about Businesses leveraging AI  (ethically, responsibly, & other criteria)  with strictly restricted events

• Hybrid_that_Business™ … All about  Businesses leveraging Computing & the Business of Computing (startups & existing businesses) with strictly restricted events

• Hybrid_that_Cloud™ … All about  Businesses leveraging Cloud, (multi & hybrid)  Cloud Adoption,  High-Availability & HP Clusters,  Cloud Productivity, etc.

• Hybrid_that_Data™  … All about  Businesses leveraging Data,  Data Security,  Data Privacy/GDPR,  Data Science,  Databases, etc. 

2)    new  HybridCloudGroup.org™ Private-Time … 1:1 time for consult/whatever,  be it business or individual 

• folks can  request 1:1 Private-Time with leadership and/or other members, for consult at no-charge during registration of in-person events

• folks can request for 1:1  Private-Time outside the  no-charge dates

3)  new HybridCloudGroup.org™  Membership-Program 

• grandfathering the no-charge/FREE for local & international membership (anyone can apply, not all are confirmed) 

• a lot more details on the Membership Application page

4)  some new Member-only Benefits … to help members grow … e.g.,  grow their personal brand & generate revenue for themselves 

• HybridCloudGroup.org™  platform :  our offerings & expertise that members can leverage to generate revenue for themselves :-)

• HybridCloudGroup.org™  outreach :  expand our outreach now via our members (e.g., beyond the 1:1 direct assistance that exploded in Mar-2020/covid)

• HybridCloudGroup.org™/HCCUG.org™   bump :  GDG Houston  (not GDG Cloud Houston) had failed twice before Valentino accepted Google's request to run the new GDG "Cloud" Houston.   Looking into ways to give a similar bump to our members, so they can grow :-)

• HybridCloudGroup.org™/HCCUG.org™  funding :  we have been funding upfront & in-full all events & now meetup.com of the official/recognized Google Cloud User Group for Houston, GDG Cloud Houston, as Google's GDG Team had budget constraints, and this group is being run by our members.    Similarly, we are open to help select members grow/startup/accelerate, etc. 

DISCLOSURE:  Houston Google Cloud User Group (a.k.a GDG Cloud Houston) is an example of our effort to support our members' efforts  (click here for more info)

5)   new  HybridCloudGroup.org™  Digital Assets & nomenclature  … 

• new site logo and other logos (e.g., recognition badges/logos for members)  with digital use rights, e.g., for use on linkedin & elsewhere

• shift to HybridCloudGroup.org™ nomenclature from HCCUG.org™,   given the slew of offerings & programs, plus the clarity in the name

6)  some new  Event & Segments … in addition to our Exclusive (restricted, strict security),  Special (collaborations), and Christmas events

launched NEW event multi-segment format (2021-H1)  that are quite different  from user-group type meetings, especially since we cater to  our multiple Computing & Business Focus Groups ~AND~ multiple Technology Focus User Groups

• new multiple-segment event (not meeting)  format,  as our events are quite different from regular user-group type meetings 

• HybridCloudGroup.org™ Private-Time — dedicated time-slots to reserve in advance 1:1 Private-Time for no-charge consult

• HybridCloudGroup.org™ Social-Time — relax, network & connect   ~~~   folks are welcome to come in earlier :-)

• HybridCloudGroup.org™ Focus-Time — multiple segments, varies by event  ~~~  hard start, as we have folks online

• HybridCloudGroup.org™  Showcase — the little-things with life-changing impact,  e.g., showcase non-techie who entered the tech world via us 

• HybridCloudGroup.org™  Discussion — a collaborative conversation about something,   e.g.,  FREE 30 days of Machine Learning event happening in 2021-Aug

• HybridCloudGroup.org™  Labs — bring your laptop & walk-throughs,   e.g., use Zane Moreign's Simple_Safety™ Digital_Privacy_&_Survival_Kit™

• HybridCloudGroup.org™ Workshops — by members for members,  to support individual members' efforts to grow their brand …

• HybridCloudGroup.org™ Conference  —  followed  by  the  HybridCloudFest™  after-event  (details to be announced at that time :-)

7)    new  HybridCloudGroup.org™ Focus-Space  …  dedicated space within this site,  for each focus area (Computing & Business Focus Groups, and Technology Focus User Groups)

• so each group can focus on their respective technology/function/use/adoption

8)    new  HybridCloudGroup.org™  Phone App,  social media, and more … (being gradually phased in)

• reviving Facebook as most non-techies are on it, and are the most in-need of PRO-PRIVACY (this is a community effort, we have to reach out)

• all social media is for 1 way communication only (our announcements),  comments/ questions/etc. will not be answered on their respective sites

• www.HCCUG.org/contact-us  is the ONLY way to reach us