NFLUG MISSION STATEMENT

[jsimmons at acsu.buffalo.edu]

> > In the past it was the group that decided what was presented. This is a
> > good way to handle things.
> 
> I partially agree. A lot of newbies will just go along with anything. And 
> often people come up with half baked ideas (or no ideas).
> I would say the membership ALWAYS has the final say on what will be
> presented, but it is naive to expect anything to GET DONE.

The biggest fires come from the smallest sparks :) A few people come up
with ideas and we add some kerosene. Well the people working on the
project better get things done. They have to present it.

> I think it left a lot of folks in the dust.

If this is true I hope the crowd speaks up and ask questions. 99% precent
of the time the guy next to you have the same question. In fact if no one
ask question I think I'm going to ask someone in the crowd a question :->
He he evil. 

> I liked your suggestion about an entirely separate meeting focusing on
> the needs of newbies (the "install fest") on an entirely separate day.
> It should not be a substitute for a regular meeting. 

It just makes sense. This way the crowd is totally focused on the
presentation. On install fest we can the one on one situation people 
want. In fact I can tell you from expereince that still in a classroom
have a teacher blab doesn't really do much for me. Its when I take on the
problems myself that I truly learn. 

Confusious // spelled wrong :(

  I hear I forget, I see I remember, I do I undertand.

> Also, I think
> Bob suggested we have more "unstructured" time at the regularly
> scheduled meeting for one-on-one assistance, installs, basic
> instruction, X Windows gotchas, etc.

No installs but answering the basic questions. 

> But if you need some handouts, you know where to come. Seriously. A picture
> helps.

Yes this would be great. Also can get a hold of a transperancy machine?
That would be cool.

> > Yes we only have a few memebers who are gurus
> 
> Are those the guys in the turbans?

We are kernel gods. We find you not worthy to worship us. 

> I suggested this at some point on the list but got no response. At least, I
> think I posted something about it to the list. 

Not that I recall. Still its a good idea that we get a idea of what people
know. The reality to is even for the gurus they don't know every aspect of
linux. Its a vast OS. I pretty much twiddled my thumbs for awhile when I
firsted played with the LPR machine. 

> I would love to do a form with check boxes and radio
> buttons that members could just click. I think we'd get a lot more
> useful information that way with the result that members would
> be better served.

I like that idea as well.

> But remember one thing. We don't have a complete list. In addition to the
> eleven names (and that was after culling) that aren't on Darin's list,
> I just found four more that I just put on my list, but aren't on Darin's.
> Let me be clear about this. Darin is right about insisting that people
> ask to be put on the list by putting
> 
> subscribe nflug
> 
> in the body of an e-mail with the "Subject:" left blank and the address
> majordomo at nflug.org. But I found the instructions for subscribing
> poorly worded and therefore confusing when I tried to sign up and I
> have been doing stuff like this since I was twelve. It took me a while
> to discover that I had to post to nflug at nflug.org to post to the list.

We really need a web interface for the majordomo list. BTW I noticed you
send the data for the join section to yourself instead of majordomo. On
the web site we should post where you can send email to the group. Also I
noticed for several site on the internet our LUG has as the contact your
email address. What happens if you get hit by a bus? I really think
nflug at nflug.org should be the contact address. The next point is we should
also have a web interface for removal from the list. I can speak from
personal experience of users being mad because they coudln't remove
themsleves from a list.