Today's message is simple: If the AMS you're using has a users group, you should join it and be active in it. If they don't have one, start one on your own! (Click here for tips on how to do that.)

On an almost weekly basis I'm reminded of how valuable users groups are. Many of the AMS vendors serving this space have online communities where you can ask questions of others who are using the exact same software as you. And very often, asking your peers is far more valuable and effective than actually asking the vendor directly.

In just the past couple of weeks I've seen users help each other with things as simple as finding the proper setting to make event registration work better to something as complex as which scripts to run when a new service pack is added to a system. All done without ever talking to the vendor!

All you have to do is participate to reap the benefits! What are you waiting for?