[wellylug] A framework for WellyLUG (formalising renamed)

[Donald Gordon]

On 26 Jan 2004 16:20:17 +1300
Jamie <wellylug at vpc.co.nz> wrote:

> Hi all, 
> 
> My main concern is this sort of thing is potentially splintering the
> "community" funding. Let's say for examples sake I have $20-30 per month
> to spend on helping the penguin achieve world domination. My view is
> that money like that is better spent at a national level with a
> organisation like NZOSS or Openz. They're the advocacy groups that may
> need funding in advance. LUG's are *user* groups - if money is needed to
> do stuff then we pool it when we need it....Funding for LUG's should be
> event driven.

Firstly, I don't think anyone has suggested that the subscription rate
should be anything like $20 * 12 per year; I'd imagine a much smaller
amount.  Or that you'd be persona non grata at meetings if you hadn't
subscribed.

Also, event-driven funding, while useful, does not cover small things
like domain registration, purchasing stacks of CDRs in advance of a
installfest to burn things onto, etc.  Having money around that isn't
tied to a specific event is useful.

> If people want to create a business out of selling Opensource/Linux
> stuff (which would involve sales/sponsorship etc) then maybe they should
> create a business to do just that. 

I don't see how that has *anything* to do with the proposed framework;
may I suggest you read the proposed rules before commenting on what
their effect may be?

> The need for frameworks/formalising etc is only driven by the need to
> account for stored money IMHO. And if it's not about money then why go
> to the trouble of secretaries, treasurers, chairman etc (i.e a typical
> incorporated society structure). 

It also provides a structure for spreading administrative and
organisational load; an obvious place to say "I want to help", rather
than just having the same de-facto organisers do *everything* (it
doesn't prevent this, but it does make it easier to mitigate).

donald