[Preston] A LUG needs a purpose

[Guy]

Hi Mark (and others),
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TlsZq2qUQ8M/UKY8iLgsSmI/AAAAAAAAAxA/2CwSmy5HtHQ/s1600/plug.gif
https://lug.org.uk/node/91
https://prestonlinuxusergroup.blogspot.ch/

PLUG was originally founded in 2001 by Phil Robinson. (He had the
prestonlinux.com domain registered, but it seems to have lapsed now.)

I used to organize the meetings in the mid noughties as I worked in IT
at UCLan (and still do) and could get a room booked at Uni (and still
could).

I stopped organizing meetings in 2008 as my wife gave birth to twins and
I didn't have the time. I seem to have a lot less free time nowadays
than I used to.

The group has been dormant since then, pretty much.

I think to run a PLUG as anything other than a drinking society (not
that there is anything wrong with that!) takes effort and organization.

I was occasionally disheartened when someone had freely volunteered to
present on a topic, donating their time and expertise, and the audience
could be counted on one hand. The effort and organization requirements
are the same if 5 people or 50 people show up.

But ... as Richard Stallman says - he fights the fight expecting to
lose, so any win is glorious. :-)

We used to meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month, starting a 19:30 at the
Uni, then at 21:00 go to the Greyfriar pub.

I would be prepared to attend / contribute to meetings etc, if they were
to occur, but I would say I have served my time as a primary PLUG organizer.

I also know there are a few of the old guard still reading this list.
Maybe some of them can be prised from under their rocks, blinking, into
the light of day.
:-)

Regards,

Guy Heatley

Ken Walker via Preston:
> Sorry mate Saturdays not good for me as I'll be at grasshoppers at the beer
> festival followed by my mates wedding.
> On 12 Jul 2016 20:46, "Daryl Knight via Preston" <preston at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Ken,
>>
>> The date and venue are fine for me... but a 3 hour window is a bit vague
>> (guess I like precision a tad too much).
>> If someone could let me know what time they'd be arriving then I'll pop
>> along at the same time, to avoid sitting for up to 2-3 hours waiting for
>> people.
>>
>> - Daryl
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:19:15 +0100
>> To: bob.mclellan at gmail.com; preston at mailman.lug.org.uk;
>> keneawalker at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [Preston] A LUG needs a purpose
>> From: preston at mailman.lug.org.uk
>>
>> Bob, Ken, Daryl, Nick and Olly,
>> Thanks for the responses, its good to see that there is life out there on
>> the old mailing list.
>> All your points are valid and very topical. Im especially interested in
>> Nicks views from inside the edtech sector and the opportunity this
>> presents. There could be a very beneficial relationship to be forged by the
>> LUGs with the schools now having more direct control over their IT, but
>> having limited insight into alternatives beyond MS, Apple and Google; or
>> the downsides to these options that the marketing materials tactfully avoid.
>> I also had a thought about coding, but using Sonic-pi, Scratch and
>> possibly Squeek or Turtle.
>>
>> It feels like there may be some interest in a meet up.
>>
>> If I suggested somewhere like Cafe Nero opposite the train station in
>> Preston on Saturday afternoon, dropping in/out say 2pm to 5pm would that be
>> possible for anyone, or would an alternate date/venue be easier for the
>> majority?
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> Sent from my ASUS
>> _______________________________________________ Preston mailing list
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>>
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> 
> 
> 
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