Re: [Nolug] ideas to help nolug grow

"Brett D. Estrade" <estrabd@yahoo.com> writes:

I nominate Brett for organzing and running the next NOLUG meeting.
Learn by doing. It is the UNIX way.

I'm serious, by the way.

There are lots of websites on running a LUG. there's even a HOWTO.
BRLUG is not as organzied as you think. It just has a few strong
individuals who take a leadership role and make sure that things
happen.

> Even if there are no officers, organization is key. If not, things
> will not get better for the simple reason that there is nobody
> directly accountable for accomplishing a set of goals and tasks.
> Roles evolve naturally out of organization, and it just makes sense to
> provide a formalized system for the group to decide who will serve in
> what role. Although Robert's Rules refers to the system that is used
> to run meetings, I think I still get what you are saying. I've been
> involved with organizations with formal leadership roles that also use
> RR to run their meetings, and I have seen it work very well; so it is
> not all that bad. I am not suggesting that be done with NOLUG, but
> its still a viable way to run an organization.
>
> I understand this is a casual deal and I know *nix has the grand
> tradition of non conformity, but I find it very hard to believe that
> the vision most people have for this group will be realized with out
> some level of group leadership and the mechanism to hold someone
> accountable for seeing a certain thing through.
>
> Maybe an idea would be to have the group come to some consensus about
> some efforts they think will help grow the group. Once these are
> identified, people can either volunteer or be selected (elected?) by
> the group to head up that a particular aspect of what we are trying to
> do. No need to have it formalized to the point where there is a
> president, etc; but I am willing to bet that eventually the need will
> arise for roles that look suspiciously like the what a president,
> treasurer, etc might do. Just don't write the concepts off because
> you have stereotyped ideas about such systems being inflexible or
> ineffective. The beauty of most systems like that is that they can be
> as flexible and adaptive as you need, and it is obviously up to the
> group how something like this would be implemented.
>
> The main point is that there needs to some kind of charter and some
> basic leadership, IMHO, if the group is to grow into what most
> envision it could be....
>
> Quick question: Can someone provide a quick snapshot of BRLUG and Gulf
> Port, ie how they run things, membership size, current intiatives and
> the level of success vs how the group is organized? Maybe another
> idea is to study other successful LUG's, see why they are successful,
> and borrow ideas from them that suit our needs/style.
>
> Brett
>
> Joey Kelly (by way of Joey Kelly ) wrote:
>
>><snip>
>>
>>
>>>Does the group have a mission statement or some other charter-like
>>>document, or is its direction dictated by which direction the linux
>>>winds happen to be blowing? If not, I think it would help provide some
>>>focus on exactly what the group is intended to accomplish regularly.
>>>
>>
>>BRLUG is more organized than we are, and if overkill is more your style, the
>>guys in Gulfport/Mobile is definitely that.
>>
>>Do we have a charter? Not that I'm aware of. Scott and Hunter set up nolug to
>>be a casual affair. While a little organization certainly couldn't hurt,
>>frankly I'd rather not see officers, committees, elections, and all that.
>>
>>I've been thinking about this for a little bit before sending this post. I'm
>>not fond of the "Roberts Rules of Order" crowd, and will fight that kind of
>>organization at nolug tooth and nail. What I would like to see, and would be
>>more in keeping with nolug's historically laid-back, casual atmosphere, is
>>the formation of ad-hoc working groups, composed of those who are
>>willing/interested/experienced (pick any of these) to get together to work on
>>whatever projects we can come up with. This could help us get stuff
>>accomplished, while keeping things informal. I'd rather see someone helping
>>out on a project out of an interest in learning more about the technologies
>>needed for a particular project than to have someone on a project because
>>they were appointed to it by some committee.
>>
>>
>>>How big is BRLUG? Also, how are they structured?
>>>
>>
>>Ask Dustin, he's from that group. Me, I just lurk on their list.
>>
>>
>>>It has always been my
>>>opinion that organizing NOLUG to have a president, vp, treasurer, etc
>>>would allow for a much more viable organization. I've never heard any
>>>discussion since I have been on the list about that, but my gut tells me
>>>it would meet some resistance. I am not saying this is the solution to
>>>the dilema, but it sure make it easier to deal with many of the issues
>>>that are constantly raised.
>>>
>>
>>To my knowledge, this type of organizational structure hasn't ever been
>>discussed before.
>>
>>
>>>Although changing venue would suit the needs of some people who
>>>currently attend or atleast keep active on the list, I do not think it
>>>would serve to attract new members or help NOLUG grow. Also, Delgado is
>>>just as far away from most in Metairie as UNO is. What about the Jeff
>>>Center or the JP Regional Library?
>>>
>>>Brett
>>>
>>
>>Perhaps we could work something out. BRLUG has a newbies meeting every week,
>>with the more epxerienced crowd getting together maybe only once per month.
>>
>>Technical discussion is important, demonstration of various technologies,
>>new/neat programs, etc. all have their place. Bull sessions are also
>>important. In the past, we've had the regular presentation, then an
>>after-meeting out in the parking lot for another hour or so, talking shop and
>>whatnot.
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>Joey Kelly
>>< Minister of the Gospel | Computer Networking Consultant >
>>http://joeykelly.net
>>
>>I'd rather crash a Ford than wreck a Chevy
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>>nolug@nolug.org
>>
>>
>
>
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-- 
Scott Harney<scotth@scottharney.com>
"...and one script to rule them all."
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