[Gllug] My response to Ivan's comments made at the recent GLLUG meeting.

[Zachary Struhs]

First, many thanks to the people who make GLLUG happen: Collen, Ivan, John, 
Steve, and speakers.

>1). Will GLLUG be dumbed down by the input of Westminster University?
>1a). Is this a bad thing?

When a group grows and becomes more diversified amoung its members, the group
needs to change.  Obviously not everyone in GLLUG is at the same level of 
knowlege. From the saturday meeting I thought I had the least, but in the lab 
I had something to offer those who wanted to just to learn  a basic 
installation. If GLLUG is going to be a user group to address the needs of 
all its members pressent and future, less advanced topics will need to be 
scheduled concurrently with the more advanced topics. What use will a 
discussion on LDAP or User-Mode-Linux be to a person who doesn't know what 
/dev/hda1 means.  I know Ivan will have a good rant on this. RTFM doesn't cut 
it for everyone. This is what a user group is about, teaching others. 
However, we do need advanced topics for advanced users.

I do think we need a more of a reguarly scheduled meeting(ie, 2nd or 3rd 
saturday of the month.) honestly this will attact more people having a set 
venue and date. Besides referring people to the GLLUG mailing lists for the 
time/place. My suggestion is regullar meetings every month for 
basic/intermediate topics(such as basic hardware concepts, linux file system, 
shell scripting). And if it is a hastle on finding external speakers for more 
advanced topics, then hold those every other month.

>3). That Ivan makes public his reasons for his distrust/dislike of the 
>University or of Sean.

Weather or not Westminster receives money for our meeting has nothing to do 
with lectures. If the accusation is true, then this might  be a bargining 
point for them to allow us to bring in personal box units.

OT: If someone knows the exact requirements of a system to be plugged into 
the university's power outlets. (ie, safety checking the boxes or cables). If 
it is just the cables I could be more than happy to buy a few cables to leave 
there for our use.

>4). Do you need someone else on the committee to help with the organisation 
>now that I have stood down, completely? 

After reading the previous mentioned question, I asked myself what can I do 
for GLLUG? (I think at this point every regular member should asking themself 
this same qustion.) This is what I can offer:
A.) Cheap Disks. I can download and burn disks for a relatively small fee, 
"Will burn for beer!"
B.) I have DSL, which means my phone line is not tied up all the time. And I 
am a home father. So If a new point of contact is needed.
C.) I live just a few blocks away from Westminster University; so, I can 
offer my flat as a venue for people who want to learn linux or perform an 
install(max 8 people). The only constraints are that I can't feed everyone 
and I have only one monitor. If this is something that anyone wants to to on 
a regular basis outside of GLLUG. I am open for suggestions.
D.) Lectures on basic topics: hardware concepts, linux basics.

Sincerly,

Zachary Struhs
zjstruhs at btopenworld.com
020-7580-9948

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