On Mon, Feb 04, 2002 at 01:10:50AM -0600, Rodd Ahrenstorff wrote: > On Monday 04 February 2002 11:27 am, John J. Trammell wrote: > > I agree. Any TCPC members who want to "join" (whatever that means) > > the LUG can do so, and likewise I presume. No need to make any sort > > of formal arrangement between the two. > > One negative aspect concerning TCLUG is it's comlete lack of formality as > concerns the nonprofit status and so forth. Could TCPC better serve new > Linux users than TCLUG if they were to add a Linux SIG to their already > impressive list of 15 SIGs? SIG= Special Interest Group? But what does formality buy in exchange for loss of flexibility? What does TCPC that warrants formal entanglement? > I see three primary benefits TCLUG provides to new users at no cost (and > there are probably others): > > 1. Mail list > 2. Install Fest > 3. A wealth of knowledge given freely by very experienced members. At the very least you have to include 4. Regular meetings. > > The downfalls are (and there may be more): > > 1. No BOD, By-laws, and lacking nonprofit status. BOD = Board of directors? How are these things negatives? What advantages would there be to having a more formal organization? Someone has been working on the non-profit issue, but I have yet to see any strong arguments for a more hierarchical LUG. Being unorganized has its advantages. > 2. No regularly scheduled discussion group (except beer meetings). This > seems to contribute to little followup learning after the install > fest...kinda like "I got linux installed...now what?" So, what are you looking for? Meetings more than once a month? Monthly newby meetings to go along with the regular monthly meetings? Meetings can be a bear to organize. > 3. For whatever reason, I don't see much involvement in TCLUG by new Linux > users concerning the direction of our LUG. You seem to be involved. How about some more specific ideas on what direction you'd like? I'm happy with our current directionlessness ;) . -- Jim Crumley |Twin Cities Linux Users Group Mailing List (TCLUG) crumley at fields.space.umn.edu |Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Ruthless Debian Zealot |http://www.mn-linux.org/ Never laugh at live dragons |Dmitry's free,Jon's next? http://faircopyright.org