Re: [SLUG] a few ideas

From: Robert Waldo (rjw6844@gmail.com)
Date: Tue Jun 12 2007 - 21:47:41 EDT


I appreciate the positive responses. This is something that has been on my
mind for at least a year. My next step will be to consult with everyone
who's interested in making improvements and if we decide to pursue that
route, allow the president and his staff make their decision. I really
don't want to reinvent the wheel, just prevent anymore groups from their
demise. We have a tremendous body of knowledgeable people here that can
grow once again.

On 6/12/07, Ken Elliott <kelliott11@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>
> Good ideas. I have considered starting a Linux User Group in Daytona Beach
> and have been trying to figure out how I should go about it. I ran an
> AutoCAD user group and am starting a local SolidWorks user group, so I
> know
> the basics. But I know I need to cover the newbees while also attracting
> the advanced users that the noobs want to chat with.
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
>
>
>
> Ken Elliott
>
> =====================
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: slug@nks.net [mailto:slug@nks.net] On Behalf Of Robert Waldo
> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 11:02 PM
> To: slug@nks.net
> Subject: [SLUG] a few ideas
>
>
> After following the emails of the SLUG for a few years and attending no
> more
> than a few local meetings (Dunedin, St Petersburg, and New Port Richey) I
> have drawn a couple of observations regarding our local LUG. The reason I
> am writing this now is the unfortunate demise of the Brandon chapter.
> Let me say that I want nothing more than to see this group flourish and
> thrive. As a person who supports PC's on the front line, I believe with
> all
> the problems that Vista (aka ME II) is experiencing we have an
> unprecedented
> opportunity to close the gap between proprietary and open source operating
> systems. If we don't, I believe Mac OS X is standing ready to take
> advantage. And people are willing to spend stupid amounts of money to do
> this.
> I will try to keep this brief and non-accusatory but to the point.
> 1. We need to find another way to broadcast our existence. Nobody knows
> we
> exist unless they do some digging on other websites. I found out about
> SLUG
> by accident in reading a British Linux mag and seeing a LUG in Germany and
> wondering if there was anything local. We could probably start by
> creating
> a 'Meetup" and let their weekly published newsletter advertise for the
> group. There are PHP and other related Meetup bulletin boards for Tampa
> published every week. Look here: http://www.meetup.com/
> 2. Maybe we should reorganize based upon Distribution, i.e. Red Hat based,
> Debian based and/or LiveCD based meetings.(or whatever suites the group)
> and
> not have them tied to a geographical area. Anyone who follows the blogs
> sees that there are a growing number of forks with different abilities and
> skill levels. A dyed in the wool Slackware user may have little in common
> with the casual Ubuntu user.
> 3. and last but not least, create an organized plan to teach newbies the
> power of Linux instead of the underlying RTFM attitude that prevails in
> much
> of the Linux community. I have met some really good teachers in the group
> but I have also met some folks who are proud of their genuine Windows
> hacking abilities. One of the reasons I quit going to the meetings is
> that
> new people are not 'welcomed' but merely tolerated. Personally, I have
> learned more online, so why go to a meeting? I know some folks may take
> issue with this, but I have walked out at least one meeting feeling like
> it
> was a waste of time because the format of the meeting was not conducive to
> learning. I realize it is a social group of sorts, but what is the point
> of
> the meeting? Are we going to be advocates? What is the purpose of the
> RTFM
> attitude? to show you're more experienced and runoff potential Linux
> enthusiasts?
> 4. I realize I may become persona non Grata, but I would really like to
> see
> this group take the lessons of the Brandon group to heart and maybe one
> day
> resurrect it.
> 5. I have recently switched to day shift and can now attend some meetings
> again.
>
>
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