-----Original Message-----
From: Paul M Foster <paulf@quillandmouse.com>
To: slug@nks.net <slug@nks.net>
Date: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: [SLUG] re: A new idea?
>On Wed, Jan 08, 2003 at 09:49:47AM -0500, Joe Brandt wrote:
>
>> . I just discovered last night that the PC users group in Bradenton has
>> Linux classes every other Saturday afternoon.
>> Their membership is $25 per year. I will join it.
>>
>> The idea of a free as in beer group has a lot of inherant drawbacks.
>> Charging an expensive fee has others.
>> I would be willing to pay a nominal yearly membership as it is certainly
>> in my best interest to do so. Then we can do things that do not require
>> volunteers. Basic business dictates that something for nothing does not
>> work. It does not have to be an all or nothing setup either. We can
>> make the list one price (or none) and have an alacarte menu. As far as
>> the legal aspect of it maybe we can hook up with an existing non profit
>> group. Or we can start our own.
>
>Early on in this group this was discussed. I argued for having dues, but
>the concensus was that "free as in beer" was the way to go. So we put it
>in the bylaws, and it's set in stone now. You're welcome to send SLUG
>money if it will make you feel better <grin>, but we won't be charging
>dues.
>
>I'm not sure what charging dues has to do with relying on volunteers to
>work for the group. The Tampa Bay PC Users Group charges dues, and I
>think everyone who works for the group does so voluntarily. What they
>have that we don't is an office and a helluva lot more members. They
>also have (free) vendor company speakers at nearly every meeting. That's
>because they deal in the Windows world, and there are a ton of companies
>who make software and would love to sell it to user group members. Not
>so in the Linux world.
>
>Another question (rhetorical) is what more do you think you'd get from
>SLUG if we charged dues?
>Paul
I agree with the way we do not charge dues some people I think may feel like
they may get more out of a group by paying. I think most miss the things we
never charge any Dues because we do not need to. Not to mention the fact
that we are still able to provide just as much from our meetings.
Next it also helps people intrested on Linux to see even the meetings are
Free as in Beer. So they already get the idea that you do not have to pay to
get something good.
The things that I feel we can offer is showing people how to use resources
such as list, meetings, and chat are just a few ways to get help. Next the
part of people working together who feel the compassion to advocate the
Linux Gosple and Community. When people realize you are doing this for a
means of learning and having fun and that you are doing it voluntarily then
they start seeing that you are not giving them a paid response then they
will feel more intrested in joining nor are you trying to sell them a
product.
Bill P.
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