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Mark Henderson wrote:
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cite="mid:84baf577b0aac89542b6b836bd97dc5a@standardblue.org.uk"
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<pre wrap="">On 20 Jan 2009, at 22:32, Matthew Moore wrote:
</pre>
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<pre wrap=""><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:swlug@paulconnell.fastmail.fm">swlug@paulconnell.fastmail.fm</a> wrote:
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<pre wrap="">Topic point! Is there any interest in formalising the structure of
the
LUG? I've looked at non-profit charity status and anything earned
under £5,000 doesn't need to be registered as a charity - and it's a
bit of
a bloody grey area apparently - anybody on the list have any more
experience of not-for-profit organisations?
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<pre wrap="">Nice idea I guess. I can't really see the point to be honest. We
don't
do anything that needs formalising. As it is we organise a steady
stream of meetings and the odd talk or similar. Hardly needs an
official structure.
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<pre wrap=""><!---->
This was something we talked about at the last Cardiff night.
I agree that we don't currently do anything that needs formalising, but
who says we won't in the future? Taking a step back - what do we do?
Why do we do it? What's the point of the LUG?
What do we do? Meet in pubs on a semi-regular basis, have a drink and
chat about stuff that may or may not be Linux-related. Occasionally
have a more formal event like lightning talks, if someone takes it upon
themselves to organise it. A lot gets talked about, most of it never
becomes anything more.
Why? Because no-one can be bothered to do anything else. I've noticed
that the prevalent attitude (and if I'm wrong, please correct me) is
that if someone wants to organise something, eg Matt and the lightning
talks, then it's pretty much 'on you go then, don't expect us to lift a
finger but we'll turn up and support'. Doesn't exactly encourage anyone
to arrange anything.
What's the point of the LUG? You'd be forgiven for thinking it's a
geek's drinking club ;-)
What /should/ be the point of the LUG? Perhaps Linux/Open Source
advocacy to the S Wales area - to local authorities, NGOs, educational
establishments, etc. Linux support/advice to the residents, SMEs, etc
of S Wales. I don't know. I do think that pushing Linux in that way is
something we should be doing - through install days, propaganda, etc.
And if we're going to be taken seriously, we probably need to organise
ourselves a little. We don't need charitable status, or anything like
that, but a small amount of funds and a point of contact (elected
chairperson?!?) would be beneficial. Funds could then pay for the
Quakers hall for an install day and the publicity for it, for example.
If the LUG does get into Linux advocacy in a serious way, a single
point of contact into the LUG is possibly a better way to run things.
These are just my thoughts, from what we were discussing the other
week. It'd be worth seeing what some other LUGs around the country are
doing and how they do it. If their model works, perhaps it should be
ours too.
Cheers,
Mark
PS - I'm not having a dig at anyone or the LUG in general, just trying
to raise some discussion about whether folk want the LUG to develop in
this way!
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<br>
I second all that. <br>
<br>
I cant think of events specifically, but numerous times over the years,
I would read a nice event from another LUG and think "would be nice if
we did that!" I enjoyed the lightning talk from a few years ago -
people crammed some interesting info into their 5 minute slots, and was
enough to spark some follow up questions later. <br>
<br>
Part of the reason I stopped attending the Cardiff meets is because it
felt like the group had no ambition to 'go anywhere' - I remember
someone even saying "I use computers all day - last thing I want to do
is talk about them in the evening" - then why join a computer-related
group? Even though its a Linux User Group, I didnt even feel as if I
had anything in common with anyone (saying that though, I wasnt really
around long enough to get to know people, so that could easily be an
error on my part). The whole purpose of the pub meets is an informal
social, but, as far as I can see, in the last 4 years, there has been
two lightning talks?<br>
<br>
In uni - I asked one of the lecturers to arrange an hour where people
could come in and have any Linux questions/problems answered/fixed. The
room wasnt exactly filling, but there was a nice turn out, and most
brought their laptops along with them, usually with, say, a wireless
card which just wouldn't connect, or other such tidbits. If two people
could run that, imagine what, say, even 8 LUG experts could do for a
more public event.<br>
<br>
<br>
I guess time is also a big factor - it just seems that, if someone
misses an 'extra event', its a very long wait until the next one.<br>
<br>
<br>
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