[Lancaster] Setting up as a uni society.

[Sam Barnett-Cormack]

Andy Smith wrote:
> On Mon, May 29, 2006 at 08:11:35PM +0100, Clair wrote:
> 
>>On Monday 29 May 2006 18:29, Andy Baxter wrote:
>>
>>>Maybe the way to do it would be to have the uni LUG as an officially
>>>separate organisation who just happen to have all their meetings at the
>>>same time and place as the Lancaster LUG ;)
>>>
>>>What I'm saying is if there are some benefits for the group from becoming a
>>>society, fair enough, but not to let that official status get in the way of
>>>what we're trying to do.
>>
>>I'll be honest and say I didn't think of that - I don't want to stop non-uni 
>>members from taking part in any meetings, of course (I only think it would be 
>>a nice addition to have).
>>
>>I think I'll look into it further, and if there's no way non-members can still 
>>be part of the LUG without joining LUSU (which atm costs #10, if it was free 
>>then it wouldn't be much of a problem) then I'll drop the idea.

The other issue there is that a student society is legally required to 
act primarily for the benefit of student members...

> I agree with Andy that perhaps a new uni society (Lancaster Uni Unix
> Users Group or somesuch) which is nothing to do with the LUG as such
> but can organise meetings at the uni which the public is invited to,
> is the way to go if possible.  These would not have to be the only
> meetings that the LUG has.

The only problem with that is that the uni stuff, under the auspices of 
the student society, couldn't do anything that had any H&S risk or 
insurance liability unless it were members only (and possibly invited 
speakers and that sort of thing). This would preclude, by the silly H&S 
codes, anything involving plugging things in, pretty much. Now, I'm not 
saying that it's essential to abide by silly LUSU rules, just stating 
what the rules are AIU them, in their most opprosive interpretation. A 
LUG certainly isn't as bad as an electronics group, or even the 
live-roleplay part of LURPS. Similarly, a LUSU society is perfectly able 
to hold meetings and events open to members of the public if they are 
very-low-risk and do not attract insurance liability, except towards 
people attending the meeting (in which case the only people who can 
organise it are members).

Taking a leaf out of the afore-mentioned LURPS's book, however, if we 
really do want to do something that requires insurance cover and is open 
to others, we can seek independent insurance. That costs money, of 
course. It all depends on what activities are to be done where and under 
who's auspices.

Sam, with far too much experience of LUSU insanity and beureaucracy.