[wellylug] NZLUG discussion

[David Murray]

On Sun, 2005-07-10 at 10:52, Mark Foster wrote:
> Sorry but this statement here is plain wrong....
> 
> NZLUG exists. Its not just a one man band and a mailing list that
> happens to sit on a domain which is fairly appropriate
> (linux.net.nz)...
> 
> We've got a mailing list of more than 300 participants; A website with
> a goodly amount of valuable content and now, a Wiki based on the WLUG
> beginning.
> 
> The NZLUG == Auckland reputation was undeserved, frankly.

OK.

To what extent are non-Aucklanders actively involved in the NZLUG? And
to what extent are non-Aucklanders represented on the committee?

What percentage of ACTIVE members of the NZLUG do NOT live in the
greater Auckland district?


>  AuckLUG started and sits now at around 75 subscribers. Taken from the
> 300 or so on NZLUG that means that theres still more than 200 people
> who have chosen not to be involved with AuckLUG - implying theyre
> either apathetic, or funnily enough, _not from Auckland_.  And going
> forward, NZLUG will hopefully regain the reputation that it had in my
> eyes when I first got involved back in the late 90s - that of being a
> 'New Zealand' 'Linux Users Group'. Ala, a group of Linux Users.  Which
> is where the value is - in that we can talk to eachother about Linux,
> ask questions, gain assistance, advice, and develop friendships.

I would respectfully suggest that many things have changed since NZLUG
started - not least being the development of active regional LUGs.

And therefore, the role that a national LUG should have, is to provide
support and resources for the regional LUGs. It should not function in
the same way as a regional LUG.

Such a national organisation should have its committee made up of
elected representatives from the regional LUGs - not just from Auckland;
and should not have a bias in favour of any particular region.



> nzlug.org.nz - which has never been openly advertised as NZLUG's
> domain name, as this has always been linux.net.nz (thus
> http://www.linux.net.nz and nzlug at linux.net.nz) - is a test site that
> Nic Bellamy created, based on a domain he registered as a whim, more
> or less.  As has been stated in various places Nic, myself, and some
> of the other guys from WLUG have been discussing for nearly a year
> now, how to best strip the 'Aucklandesqe' identity that NZLUG seems to
> have developed in some peoples eyes.
> 
> One idea cited was that we move 'NZLUG' to NZLUG.org.nz and
> essentially make linux.net.nz the 'Auckland' domain.  This would be
> tied to renaming the NZLUG mailing list as it currently stands to
> AuckLUG, and forming a new NZLUG list.  The new list could either have
> been a full public discussion list as it is today, or simply a means
> of coordinating between the Regional LUGs.
> 
> The decisions we made included:

BTW, any decisions about a NATIONAL LUG should involve persons from all
the regional LUGs making those decisions - not simply persons from the 
Auckland LUGs!



> - linux.net.nz being a better domain name to represent 'Linux in NZ'
> than nzlug.org.nz.  Although nzlug.org.nz's future is not determined,
> and we'll probably retain it.
> 
> - NZLUG to remain NZLUG as it was aways intended to be. Not fair to
> simply assume that everyone on it would want to be involved in an
> Auckland LUG.

OK - so you're not wanting it to change, or to grow, or to adapt to any
change or to take on a new role.

That's how I interpret what you've just said.

To what extent does NZLUG *actively* function as a NATIONAL
organisation?

What does it do nationally?



> - Creation of a new LUG for Aucklanders (AuckLUG, found at
> http://auckland.linux.net.nz and using email address
> aucklug at linux.net.nz).


Um, if it really IS a completely new and separate LUG for Aucklanders,
then shouldn't AuckLUG's website be http://www.auckland.linux.net.nz and
its email address be: lug at auckland.linux.net.nz - that is, if AuckLUG
really IS a completely separate organisation with no direct or indirect
control over the domain linux.net.nz and has been granted control over
the use of anything under the domain "auckland.linux.net.nz".

It doesn't make sense for AuckLUG to have an email address that is not a
part of its own domain.


<snip>

> www.linux.net.nz will remain as the 'NZLUG' website.  Its a CMS, and
> anyone who would like an account on the system for the purpose of
> putting up linux related content, etc, just let myself or Nic Bellamy
> know.  It serves as a useful pointer to the regional LUGs also.
> 
> auckland.linux.net.nz is the AuckLUG page. Its pretty basic, but a CMS
> is to come. We've agreed to build on the NZLUG Wiki and our own site
> will mainly host administrative and Auckland-Centric information that
> isnt appropriate for the Wiki.
> 
> So finally,
> 
> NZLUG is about New Zealanders who are into Linux.


Shouldn't it be about co-ordinating and resourcing the regional groups
of NZers who are into Linux?


>   The mailing list and Wiki together are a great resource and the main
> disadvantage of the 'regional lug' structure is that when a question
> is raised in Wellington, and the answer is with a guy in Christchurch,
> its quite likely that never the twain shall meet.  We see NZLUG as a
> companion for the role the regional LUGs play and basically would love
> to see All NZ'rs contribute in any ways they see fit.
> 
> The main reason its run the way it is now, is that no one else has yet
> stuck their hands up with suggestions and offers to contribute
> administratively.  Always happy for that to change :)

Have you asked for the regional LUGs to elect representatives to the
committee of the NZLUG? Have you given those representatives a REAL say
in how the NZLUG is run and organised?

How would discussions and decisions be made? How would this committee
meet? Monthly? Quarterly? Electronically?

Just how much do you really want *active* participation and
decision-making in the NZLUG from representatives of the regional LUGs?

Sorry for all the questions, but I detect an inconsistency in what you
have said about the NZLUG.


Regards,

David Murray



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