About the Georgia RACF Users' Group

GARUG Facts

• Formed: 1988
• Based in: Atlanta, Georgia
• Number of Members: ?
• Meeting Dates: To be determined
• Cost: No membership fees are assessed
• Features
  - Maintains a RACF library of SAS utilities
  - Maintains the GARUG Web Site
  - Provides RACF job and personnel posting
  - Provides RACF training and presentations
• Past Group Chairpersons
  Carlos Mena, Suntrust Services Corporation
  Ron Smoak, The Atlanta Journal/Constitution

The History of GARUG

The Georgia RACF Users' Group (GARUG) was formed in early 1988 by Carlos Mena of Suntrust and Ron Smoak of the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. It began when Carlos and Ron committed to meeting quarterly to discuss their RACF problems at their respective employers. They decoded that if they could get several other RACF users together, it might broaden the discussions and lead to a better flow of RACF information. As other RACF practitioners in the Atlanta area found out about the quarterly meetings, more and more users wanted to be included in the discussions. So, in June 1990 the Atlanta RACF Users' Group was formed. Twelve members strong, the ARUG was a network for users committed to providing support to other RACF users in the Atlanta area.

The membership continued to grow throughout 1991. Our membership spread to Columbus, GA, Augusta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. In late 1991 we changed our name to the Georgia RACF Users' group to reflect membership across Georgia. GARUG was officially formed. It has continued to grow from a simple lunch meeting to a bimonthly meeting providing quality RACF information.

In April of 1995, the GARUG truly became international. On Thursday, April 27, 1995 the Georgia RACF Users' Group Web site became a reality. We began producing web content and presented the GARUG site to everyone on the internet. We started with the intent of only providing information regarding tour schedule of meetings. Since then our site content has included not only GARUG meeting info, but training information, SAS programs for RACF users, timely RACF related announcements, and links to RACF and security related sites across the world.

We were not aware of what impact the web site would have on users. We were faced with inquiries for membership from around the world! We were naive to think that we would only be a service to the Georgia much less US users. We were sincerely humbled by the world-wide response.

After a few years several of the original group members moved out of the area or out of security jobs. We lost our hosting site for the web and the GARUG went into silent mode. We were still there but definitely not active.

In 2003, an attempt was made to restore the group and web site. Unfortunately this did not succeed. Now, in 2005 we are trying once more.