On Sun, Mar 23, 2003 at 10:59:59AM +0000, Syd Hancock wrote:
Hmmm.... Seems like people HAVE indeed heard of this part of the world. Maybe we need a special East Suffolk Branch?
You know, I've thought for some time that one of the difficulties that we face is that ALUG covers a very large area. As linux use spreads then perhaps we need to focus on smaller catchment areas. It is significant, for example, that the Norwich PC user group has recently held two monthly meetings devoted to linux.
They have? I didn't even know there was a Norwich PC user group TBH, it would be nice if their meeting announcements were posted here as I am sure some of the Norwich people would be interested in attending.
Of course is important to avoid schisms and splintering - or even to give the appearance of setting off alone. Within the LUG structure, is there any provision for local groups, affiliated to a regional umbrella group (e.g. a Martesham LUG affiliated to ALUG)?
Anybody is free to setup their own lug, its kind of the Linux thing. If you want to setup a Martelsham LUG then go for it but surely it would be better to get the people from Martelsham on this list and arrange meetings here for everyone to attend? I don't see what you gain by having 100 different LUGs in East Anglia right now as the few lugs that there are seem to be quite small. I think you lose more by having lots of fractured LUGS as then to keep up with everything you have to be on more and more mailing lists.
IMHO you would be better off getting people on here, and arranging maybe your first meeting or two through Alug, if it really takes off then it may be worthwhile creating a seperate entity/mailing list etc. etc. and just cross post meeting announcements etc. here and to Alug-announce. The LUG community gains from sharing of information, when you make it more difficult to share information then you lose overall.
Maybe I am just a bit sullied at the thought of people nearly (but not quite) getting around to the old suggestion that nothing happens with Alug so they want to setup their own groups but these people never seem to want to get involved with Alug in the first place. Anyhow the old thing of Alug *needs* and *wants* more organisers, more meeting venues and more impetus, more talks, more website content, more publicity etc. etc. If you have something you can offer then please do it and post it on the list. Also if you do know of any East Anglian LUGS or related groups that are interested in Linux please point them at us and us at them! Then we can add links to them on the Alug webpage and hopefully they will link back to us, lets share our publicity and our catchment area!
Adam