OK, this is actually a companion email to one going out in tonight's ALUG announce about the hosting changes, but here it is first, thanks to the way these things are scheduled.
Newsletter:
Please write or forward more interesting announcements to the newsletter address announce@lists.alug.org.uk because I'd like to put out more editions than one every week or so.
IRC meetings:
OPN is currently having even more problems than before. In addition to the netsplits, the most powerful of its IRC operators sending spam global notices at least twice daily now to raise money for himself. Despite a crushingly bad financial situation, he seems determined to hold onto complete control and incorporate the network as a Texas company. I've said before that I'd like us to move to a UK network, possibly either irc.underground.org.uk or irc.blitzed.org, but other suggestions (eg good chat servers) are welcomed.
Name changes:
A fully working non-Linux-kernel GNU is supposed to be released in the next six months. Should ALUG change its name (Anglian Local Users of Gnu -- ALUG?) to reflect this? We've always discussed other free software than just Linux anyway, IIRC, but I think 99% of members use GNU software.