[wlug_org] Re: [nzlug-discuss] WLUG and NZLUG tentative position

[Brent Wood]

--- "jamie.baddeley@vpc.co.nz" <jamie.baddeley@vpc.co.nz> wrote:

> thoughts on this?
> 
> WellyLug needs it's own version of this....

I think we need input, but not our own version, surely? I would hope the NZLUG
organisers & WLUG will come up with something we can agree with & adopt. I
don't think a different vision from every LUG will be useful, but a
ratification of a sensible proposal seems a good way to progress this.

The key feeling I got from Mark's & the Wellylugites at the meeting last week,
is that the NZLUG should not be an NZ super-lug, but more a LUG for those who
want to belong, whether or not they also want to belong to a regional LUG. So
NZLUG is more or less "just another LUG", with a focus on a list & individuals
(but not meetings).

We also felt there was a role for an uber-LUG, to try & avoid unnecessary
duplication & encourage sharing of resources for the regional LUG's & NZLUG.
Whether or not this meets the "Linux Australia" theme I'm not sure, but it fits
with the description below. The focus of this group was not political, (NZOSS
does that), nor individual members (LUG's do that) but as a resource for LUG's
& Linux in NZ, primarily acting as a NZ Linux Portal.


Is this position one that others here are comfortable with?

If not, what are your concerns & what alternatives do you prefer?

I suggest we either ratify the general proposal (not necessarily the detailed
implementation) or provide our differing consensus for their consideration on
Friday. Persoanlly, th eproposal is close enough to what we agreed at the
meeting that I believe we should agree in principle with the proposal.

I'm not too concerned if we kick off with a Waikato flavour, they have done
most work so far & are opening their doors to us... I'd like to think we can
join them in this & add some value to the project.


Brent


> 
> jamie
> 
> On Tue, 2005-07-26 at 14:57 +1200, Greig McGill wrote:
> > Waikato Linux Users Group Inc. Interim Statement on National Linux Body
> > =======================================================================
> > 
> > Tue, 26 July 2005
> > 
> > During this year discussion has intensified around the creation of a
> > national
> > Linux body in New Zealand. WLUG committee members have been involved in
> > this
> > discussion and WLUG has shown its commitment to the ideal of a national
> > linux
> > body by offering to host an "NZLUG Theme" into the WLUG Wiki.
> > 
> > WLUG envisages a national Linux organisation for New Zealand which would
> > be
> > very closely modelled on the successful Linux Australia. In particular
> > such an
> > organisation would have the following broad goals:
> >   - Support, resource and promote local LUGs
> >   - Provide national co-ordination services (speaker organisation, etc)
> >   - Provide hosting for LUGs where required
> >   - Provide financial support
> >   - Partner with organisations like NZOSS to advocate and educate the
> > community
> >     (and particularly Government) on the benefits of Linux and OSS.
> >   - Partner with organisations like Linux AU to support and enhance the
> > LCA
> >     conference. 
> > 
> > The national organisation would not perform the functions of a LUG
> > itself, 
> > instead it would:
> >   - Provide a central location where users could be connected to their
> > local LUG
> >   - Provide co-ordination and communication between individual LUGs
> >   - Undertake national initiatives supported by all LUGs
> >   - Aggregate LUG opinion and present a unified voice to the Government
> > and 
> >     other industry groups.
> > 
> > The WLUG committee intends to meet this Friday (July 29) to discuss this
> > issue further
> > and to formulate WLUG's definitive position on this subject. We look
> > forward
> > to working with other members of the New Zealand Linux community in
> > trying to
> > create a national Linux organisation.
> > 
> > Please direct all submissions on this matter to secretary@wlug.org.nz
> > before midday on the 29th of July.
> >