[wlug_org] Wellylug $$$ management plan (was reason for leaving)

[Wood Brent]

> There also appears to be a move toward trying to make the LUG make some
> money, which is something I am dead against - the instant a LUG starts to
> look at how it can make money it moves from being something 'good' to
> being something 'bad' (in my opinion).
> 
> Why does a LUG need money? I think the simple answer to this is that it
> doesn't. There are no costs associated with meetings as the venue is free
> and any special events etc. that may incur a cost should be run to recover
> the cost only rather than make a profit. It is just plain wrong for a LUG
> to make a profit then try and dedice how to spend it and have suggestions
> such as 'curry night' and the such which are purely of benefit to
> individual members rather than the group as a whole thus moving the LUG
> from being considered a 'not for profit' into a 'lets make profit so our
> members can spend it'.

I quite agree, the LUG doesn't need money. We can't even find anything to spend
it on, which clearly demonstrates this.

This is not really relevant. For various reasons, some expanded below, Wellylug
does have some $$. As (mostly) responsible mature adults we need to devise a
suitable way of handling the situation. No one has proposed we go out
deliberately to make $$, so getting hung up on this is a bit of a waste of time
IMHO, and a different issue to the real one, which I believe does need open
discussion & some decision. Not merely an opinion. We do have $$. We need to do
something about it. We need to discuss what to do before deciding.

So, IMHO we DO need to decide how to handle the $$ we have. Does anyone
disagree??



As some background as to why we have $$, & why I don't think it is a bad thing,
I'll waffle on below, as I think it is relevant, those who aren't interested
needn't read further :-)


Several people attending the installfest wanted to donate $$ as a thankyou for
the time and effort the LUG (or its members) donated. These people honestly
wanted to contribute something in return.

As someone who is technically minimally capable, and a less than adequate
programmer, often the only contribution I can make to a project is financial.
This makes me feel I can still be of value to the whole effort, rather than
just a leech. 

Therefore I do NOT tell such people that we don't want or need their $$, I
believe they feel more a member & supporter of the LUG if they can make such a
contribution, so such contributions should be received with thanks, and the
people should feel this is appreciated.

Some sponsors of the installfest agreed to sell goods there, and gave the club
a percentage. Again, it is churlish to say no thanks, they do want to support
the event, and this is their preferred way. I don't want to start telling
businesses who want to donate $$ to the LUG that we don't want or need their
support, I'd rather build up an ongoing relationship which they are comfortable
with and we can at least live with.

So, while the LUG is NOT going out there to make $$ from members or anyone
else, 
it is going to end up with some $$ in its coffers.

It is ignorant at best, deliberately stupid at worst to stick your head in the
sand & say we can't live with this, no-one is allowed to thank WLUG by donating
$$. It is reasonable & sensible to acknowledge that Wellylug has been give $$
by a variety of people wishing to express their appreciation. This is likely to
continue (unless we all vote to reject all such offers) and any reasonable
person with any integrity should IMHO welcome the open discussion about the
situation & how it should be handled.

It has nothing to do with the LUG deliberately engaging in profitmaking
activities, this is a total red herring and competely irrelevant. AFAIK,
Wellylug has never done this, and the cabal members are unanimously against any
such activities. About all we have said is that Wellylug should not be out of
pocket over purchases it makes for club members. Anyone who thinks my
suggestion of a nominal profit is different, grab a dictionary & see what
nominal means! 
(help: in the Miriam-Webster, it includes the synonyms: TRIFLING,INSIGNIFICANT
and "being according to plan", the plan being for the LUG to avoid being out of
pocket :-)


We do have $$ donated to the LUG, & as responsible adults (well, most of us,
including Jethro IMHO- adulthood is NOT measured by age) we should discuss how
this should be handled. 

I thought this was what we were doing, generally pretty well, tho with no real
agreement as to how it should be spent (as we don't really have any need for
the $$). Aside from this, we DO need a sensible (& legal) way to manage it, &
deal with the situation now with a view to managing it in future as well.


As a reason for leaving Wellylug?

 IMHO, reason is not an appropriate word. I don't think rational thought really
played much part in it.


'nuff from me for now :-)

   Brent