TUG Aims

A summary of the general aims of the TUG organization (complete bylaws are available):

1. To encourage and expand the use of TeX, LaTeX, Metafont and related systems.
2. To ensure the integrity and portability of TeX, LaTeX, Metafont and related systems.
3. To foster innovation in high-quality electronic document preparation.

The most important reason to join TUG is to support these goals. The major projects in support of these goals, that membership dues go to fund, are listed below.

TUG benefits

When you join, you receive these benefits, all of which are member-supported:

1. TUGboat: A one year subscription to the journal TUGboat, The Communications of the TeX Users Group, containing tutorials, announcements, and plenty of articles. Beginning with the 2003 membership year, there will be three issues of TUGboat (or comparable publications) per year. Back issues are available through the TUG store. Beginning with the 2005 membership year, current issues are accessible online to members only.

2. TeX Collection software: ready-to-run TeX systems for most Unix variants, MacOSX, Windows, and an extensive set of fonts and macros. The TeX collection includes:
   • TeX Live for all major platforms and many Unix architectures,
   • MacTeX for MacOSX (based on TeX Live),
   • proTeXt for Windows (based on MiKTeX), and
   • a CTAN snapshot.

3. CTAN: the Comprehensive TeX Archive Network, the central repository for TeX packages and programs. TUG, UK-TUG, and DANTE e.V. run the three primary nodes of CTAN, accepting uploads, distributing the contents to many mirrors, and so on.

4. TeX Worldwide: When you belong to TUG you connect with other TeX user associations around the world. Reciprocal membership arrangements are currently available with the DANTE e.V. (German), DK-TUG (Danish), NTG (Dutch), and UKTUG (United Kingdom) user groups. (Join the group of your choice and select the option for joint membership with TUG.)

5. Discounts:
   • TUG is a tax-exempt charitable organization in the United States, so donations and some membership dues are tax deductible.
   • Discounted conference (see below) fees for all members.
   • Discounted membership rates for students, seniors, and citizens of countries with modest economies. (More info.)
   • Discounted membership rates for institutional members, which may name up to eight individual members.
   • Discounts on the purchase of Lucida fonts, TUG publications and other items from the TUG store.
   • Discounts on WinEdt registration, and free OzTeX registration.

   One other discount is available to anyone, not just TUG members: when buying books published by Addison-Wesley (or other Pearson imprints) through our TeX books page, you get a 30% discount and free shipping (within the USA).

The software distributions are produced entirely by volunteers, so the exact contents and timing of releases can and does vary from year to year.

Additional TUG activities

Members also support these TUG activities and initiatives:

1. TeXnical conferences: TUG's annual conference, and other sponsored conferences, bring TeX users together in a friendly setting to learn practical techniques, helpful hints, and the latest news in the TeX world through workshops, talks and informal gatherings. They offer an opportunity to connect with other TeX users at every level.
2. The PracTeX Journal: TUG's online journal, established in 2005, focuses on practical and user-related articles, generally at an introductory or intermediate level. It is available to anyone, not only members.
3. Mailing lists: TUG runs many electronic mailing lists on a wide variety of topics, from general help to special applications, for the benefit of the TeX community.
4. TeX Development Fund: created in 2003 to aid growth of TeX-related technical projects.
5. TUG Bursary Fund: provides financial assistance for attending TUG conferences.
6. Local Area Gatherings: listing and encouragement of smaller, more informal groups of TeX users wherever possible.
7. TeX Consultants: listing of TeX consultants and companies, for TeX users seeking professional service.

Ideas for additional benefits and initiatives TUG might undertake are always welcome. Just contact us. Thanks for your support.