[HLUG] Meeting venue thoughts

[Meijin]

The shop in Leominster looks worth a try.

Julian Robbins wrote:
> Hi
>
> On Saturday in Leominster I got chatting to a chap who has
> recently started his
> own business in the town selling pc's, accessories, training,
> with an
> internet cafe, art galley and a training room upstairs.
>
> http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=comput
> ers&sll=52.260593,-2.774048&sspn=0.126713,0.30899&ie=UTF8&radius=
> 6.54&jsv=160f&vps=2&latlng=52226515,-2740646,2580082804303326950&
> ei=3mglSvGIIpvQjAf6grSsBA&sig2=-dmLw3VxYj8MlvfV7iT9dA&cd=4&dtab=0
> &oi=&sa=X
>
> He's interested in Linux and indeed supports his customers who
> buy
> Linux netbooks or older pc's he has installed linux on for them.
> His internet cafe pc's also run Mint Linux too.
>
> He is happy for us to use his shop/cafe as a meeting venue for
> the LUG sometime,
> which is enticing in many ways, as it has:-
>
> Pro's
>   * 4 net pc's connected up in the cafe section
>   * Free hire for the meeting
>   * Coffee's and teas available, but he would charge us for
>     these.
>   * Internet access (I guess for free)
>   * In the middle of town, so near many pubs for afterwards
>   * 1 mins walk from the bus station, and 10 mins for the train
>
> Cons
>   * It's in Leominster, which isn't great for our members in the
>     south of the county. On the other hand, at our last meeting,
>     we had no members from Hereford, but two from North
>     Herefordshire, and one from Longtown.
>   * Space may be a bit tight if we had lots of people turn up -
>     but the extra room upstairs (which i didnt see) may be useful
>     here
>
>
> Altogether, I think we should support this guy one way or another
> (I plan to add a blog post on our site) as he's providing much
> required paid for support for Linux, which is something we can't
> provide and seemed a decent helpful sort.
>
> Our current main venue The Simpson Hall, at Burghill is ok, it
> has good wifi, (although some ports are restricted, ie SSH and
> VPN), is central in the county; but is a little difficult to
> find, and we have yet to speak to the CAP, one of the original
> reasons to meet there (!), as they meet on different nights than
> us !
>
> I am keen to keep things simple, as we had some regrettably had
> some chopping and changing last month.
>
> To help this I was considering 'block booking' the Simpson Hall
> for three months ahead, so we can publicise the meeting dates
> much further ahead which may help some people plan for the
> meetings.
>
> So what are your views on this ?
>   * Should we try out the place in Leominster, as a one off?
>   * Or should I just block book the Simpson Hall, for 3 - 4
>     months, to give us some solidity ?
>
> Please respond to this mail, with whatever thoughts preferences
> you have so we can make an informed decision.
>
> Julian
>