[Gllug] LinuxVolunteering summary - last word man/woman

[Pavel Bradut Boghita]

Simon - aggreed 
failing that - Alex ?

Bradut

On Thursday 03 October 2002 11:39 pm, you wrote:
> Pavel Bradut Boghita wrote:
> > On Wednesday 02 October 2002 10:33 pm, you wrote:
> >>Rev Simon Rumble wrote:
> >>>Thanks for the summary Alex.  Very good!
> >>>
> >>>On Tue 01 Oct, Alex Gonzalez bloviated thus:
> >>>>1) Decide a name. Proposals: squad-geek ( Simon, correct me if
> >>>> incorrect ),  LinuxVolunteering.
> >>>
> >>>Geek Squad.  LinuxVolunteering is just a bit too, umm,
> >>>straightforward, for my liking.  But hey, I used to work for dot-coms
> >>>with names like "Spike" and "Wide West" :)
> >>>
> >>>>2) Set up a mailing list. Maybe introduce ourselves and send some kind
> >>>>of skill list to make clear areas of expertise, who to ask when and
> >>>>about what, and what we can offer as a group.
> >>>
> >>>Yes.  Who runs the linux.co.uk mailing lists?  The sooner we get this
> >>>set up, the better.
> >>>
> >>>>4) Speak about PC recycling. What if the NGOs don't have adequate
> >>>>equipment, can we help?  In www.do-it.org.uk I found a NGO which
> >>>> recycle PCs and equipment. Should we contact them to see if they would
> >>>> help other NGOs?
> >>>
> >>>PC recycling is a high maintenance job.  It requires someone who is
> >>>very dedicated and, here's the hard part, a good amount of work and
> >>>storage space in a location that is centrally accessible to everyone.
> >>>Transport is also needed.
> >>>
> >>>Great idea in principle but in practise it needs a very dedicated
> >>>champion to make it work.
> >>>
> >>>>Thinking about how to make decisions, I suggest a flat structure were
> >>>>issues are decided on simple mayority, were we are under no obligation
> >>>>and we invest only the time we can. If as a group something is decided,
> >>>>individuals are free not to feel tied to the group decisions.
> >>>
> >>>I suggest no decisions.  Mailing list run by a benevolent dictator
> >>>(don't like it, set up another one principle.)  We don't need an
> >>>"organisation", just a mailing list and a loose network of people.
> >>>Will explain next week how it works in rent-a-geek.
> >>
> >>My concern is that if we go for a no decisions basis, everything is
> >>going to be too slow.
> >>As an example, I count at least 2 offers to set up the mailing list, and
> >>  plenty of dates for a meeting, but no decisions. As I see it, if we
> >>had a fix number of people ( i.e members of a mailing list ), we set a
> >>period of time to give a vote on something, and we apply simple mayority
> >>after that time, at least things move.
> >>
> >>Any other input on this?
> >>
> >>My vote for mailing list would be Jason Clifford's ukpost, and date for
> >>a meeting 12th October, possibly arriving after 5.
> >>
> >>The PC recycling point was not to get involved in it, but mainly acting
> >>as a bridge between NGO's. If a NGO recycles PCs ans send them for
> >>example to developing countries, maybe they would offer to help out
> >>other NGOs, but need to make sure that the equipment is going to be
> >>installed and used.
> >>
> >>Finally, a vote for LinuxVolunteering. I just think that a name easy to
> >>understand and that links clearly with the purpose of the group is easy
> >>to market and will make it easier to attract NGOs.(Have I counted 3
> >>easies?) Most NGOs and non profit organizations have names which are
> >>very explicit with what they do. I think that's the way to go.
> >>
> >>Alex
> >
> > In my humble opinion we need the mailing list set up a.s.a.p. (read now)
> > whoever wants to do it.
> >
> > I aggree with Alex that we need a quicker way of taking decision. In my
> > view this will be best achieved if we first agree upon a person with "a
> > last word" on things. Someone who like Alex did in a previous post can
> > colate overall opinion on things, draw conclusions and say "it will be
> > done this way". This should work for now until we meet and possibly
> > decide upon a more formal decision structure. So someone please, be "the
> > boss" for now.
> >
> > Things like name are not that crucial for now. It is important to start
> > with a couple of key points about what we want to achieve and how we want
> > to achieve this - establish our mission statement so to speak (something
> > fairly low key though, sorry about the big sounding words) We can use any
> > name for now, it won't come into its own until it is aggreed what we are
> > all about, and it usually emerges naturally after this. (all this stuff
> > reflects my own experience and in no way should be understood as the only
> > way of doing things) I too think LinuxVolunteering is good enough for
> > now, it's general and reflects what we sort of established so far about
> > this initiative - i.e. we want to do volunteering and involve Linux.
> >
> > PC recycling is quite a market in itself and there are companies being
> > paid money for doing just that, so again in my view is an issue which
> > deserves separate discussion and planning if we are to be effective in
> > this field once it will be decided a role could be played in this.
>
> I agree with all the above, specially in choosing a "last word" person.
> I would suggest Simon Rumble as he already has experience in something
> similar.
>
> So just a few "I agree" replies to this, and he will be a candidate.
>
> Alex

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