[wellylug] Very Important: Meeting of 13th Feb 2005

Ewen McNeill wellylug at ewen.mcneill.gen.nz
Wed Feb 15 17:16:18 NZDT 2006


NOTE: Unfortunately I didn't make it to the meeting on Monday, due to
      conflicting engagements, so I'm only going on what has been said
      on the list so far.  And this is more a general comment on the 
      thread than specifically about this post; it's just a convenient post.

In message <43F2A476.7090005 at infometrics.co.nz>, Michael Bordignon writes:
>After reading most of this thread, it seems that WLUG would benefit some 
>sort of formal organisation/structure. It has helped somewhat in the 
>clubs I'm involved in.
>
>Also, you can't get [personally] sued! :)

There's a couple of different types of "organisation" being discussed
here.  The first is "making sure the LUG continues to function".  The
second is more about how the LUG interacts with the world.

For the former (the LUG continuing to function), there are some things
which need to be done, such as:
- running the mailing list
- running the website 
- making sure we have a meeting venue
- (ideally) making sure there's some "topic" or talk or something to
  do at each meeting to give people a reason to attend

Some of these things are already well taken care of.  Others could do with
a bit more organisation.  "The purpose of the meeting" part seems to be
fairly ad hoc at present; I organised a few talks last year primarily
because people approached me about talking, and it seemed to help.
It doesn't necessarily have to be formal, or an external speaker.  But a
"purpose" to going to the meeting helps people overcome the intertia to
just sit on the couch, and gives people a topic to start talking about
at the meeting rather than breaking into cliques and "newbies" feeling
they don't fit in.

We had most of this sorted out last year, but unfortunately life moves
on and some of the people who volunteered previously have had to drop
out due to other parts of their life taking over.  All we really need is
some more volunteers to help organise the things without active people
left.

Almost separate from that is how the LUG interacts with the outside
world.  Both from the point of view of how outsiders perceive you, and in
terms of legal risks, there are advantages in having a formal structure
(and/or being incorporated) when interacting with the outside world.
But plenty of groups go a very long time without doing so.

In terms of doing things like installfests (which highlights some of
these issues), there's an intermediate option which is to do it under
the banner of an organisation which is already incorporated.  In New
Zealand, NZOSS is one obvious organisation with a mission to promote
open source (which clearly includes Linux).  I'm pretty sure that NZOSS
would be willing to assist like that.  And this is a role that Linux
Australia performs for LUG events in Australia -- offering their
incorporation as protection/presentation to the outside world -- which
seems to work quite well for the LUGs there.

So I think with some care, and perhaps taking advantage of something
like NZOSS when appropriate, we can do everything that everyone wants
without much change in structure.  Having the benefits of "formal
structure" when required, and avoiding the disadvantages when its not
needed.

Ewen

PS: WLUG is normally understood as the Waikato LUG -- and they are
    formally incorporated.  (One of the few LUGs in NZ to actually
    be incorporated.)




More information about the wellylug mailing list