Why piggy back? Assuming the general nature of topics for the mailing list would be linux related, there's no reason that you couldn't just use the main@lists.alug.org.uk list for that. For social events, there's nothing wrong with using social@lists.alug.org.uk and joining that (and, you know, occasionally there might be events on those 2 lists that you might want to go to, or know someone that might be interested in going).
Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear - that's exactly what I meant by piggy-backing. The reasons for not doing so are basically to do with traffic. There's quite a few posts to the ALUG mailing list so that's a lot busier than an Ipswich-centric one. If I setup an Ipswich-only one then people have the choice of subscribing to both, whereas if we only use the ALUG one then it's required that all new Ipswich members sign up to what might end up being quite a busy list which contains news for the whole of East Anglia (not much fun for those who can't travel) . I know using ALUG would mean that there will be more people on the list to answer, say, tech questions but there are plenty of other lists online for specific tech. discussion, plus there is always the option for members to subscribe to both. Basically, the feeling was we may not want to force new users to being inundated with mails about things that may not be "local". The primary advantage of a local LUG is the contact with other local Linux users and basically to facilitate local meets - and Norwich, ain't local ... :)
Ooops ... I think I may have come across as rather The League of Gentlemen-ish for a bit there... :)
Anyway, I was asking the question to see if anyone had any other reasons why not starting a new list might be better ...
WRT the website, I believe that David and Simon are currently working on making that more community based, with that in mind there may be a possibility of your own section of the site, maybe (I don't know, but hey, worth putting it out there now ;)
Indeed, a simple wiki-style which could be expanded is what's called for, I think. Though if we could also reach it through a domain name of it's own that might be preferable for publicising it (have no problem with prominent links to ALUG).
Which David and Simon are you specifically referring to and how best to contact them ... do they read this list?
Peter.