[nflug] Meetings - A Brief History of NFLUG and its Future

[Darin Perusich]

I think Mark makes some valid points and agree with the assertion that
a single, unified user group has the best prospects for success. I also
prefer the WNYLUG name as well and feel it best describes the area we're
promoting Linux too. I recall trying to get that domain name but it
wasn't available and NFLUG seemed like the next best choice ;-).

I'm strongly in favor of merging the mailing lists and moving forward
under the WNYLUG moniker. Having said that I tend to feel that having a
separate mailing list for "enterprise" topics is unnecessary given the
likely low volume and discussing such topics in the general forum
exposes everyone to advanced topics which is always beneficial. I agree
with Brian that having multiple sessions going on at meetings, one which
covers advanced topics and one which covers desktop usage or whatever
would be advantageous and may draw larger audiences. We all know you
can't have a successful meeting if you're not putting bodies in the chairs.

If the consensus is the we merge the various groups I'll coordinate with
Brian the export of the NFLUG addresses to be incorporated into WNYLUG
mailing list.

Mark Musone wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> Sorry for not responding sooner ( I guess 3 months is enough time to
> keep silent)..
> 
> This email is going to be long, but just bear with me and try to read it
> to the end, because I have an important reason for finally responding now.
> 
> (and please forgive me if some of my memory is fuzzy..)
> 
> PAST:
> 
> Back in 1994, when I was a grad student at UB, I created the Buffalo
> Linux Users Group. This primarily consisted of UB students (gotta love
> UB being an island to itself), and we held monthly meetings in UB
> classrooms. Fast forward to 1998, I was working downtown and simply
> became too busy with work to continue leading the user group. I handed
> the reins to James Simmons who headed it up until he decided to move out
> of the area. Right about that time, we received an email from Bob Meyer
> who was running the Niagara Linux Users Group. Bob proposed that both
> user groups join together in order to create a more active and larger
> group. This made sense at the time not only to allow for a larger
> usergroup base, but to satisfy James’ need to leave. So at that time,
> the two user groups merged together to become the Niagara Frontier Linux
> Users Group (NFLUG). Bob courageously headed up the NFLUG for a number
> years and did a wonderful job. I then pretty much hid in my corner until
> 2004, when around the same time Bob’s personal responsibilities needed
> him to take a more passive role in NFLUG. Peter from Cybersource
> volunteered to host and organize the meetings. This lasted about a year,
> and then around 2005, Richard Hubbard volunteered ITT tech to host the
> meetings, and himself to help organize them. In 2005, I also saw the
> need for a more advanced Linux Users Group. The NFLUG to date seemed to
> primarily focus on new linux users and helping them out. In 2005, I
> started the Buffalo Professional Linux Users Group (BPLUG) which focused
> on using Linux in an Enterprise environment, basically having
> presentations about more advanced topics.  At around 2006, Richard had
> to leave ITT Tech and subsequently also needed to take a more passive
> role in the user group. Since then, the user group has pretty much been
> free-wheeling with little leadership.To my knowledge, there are no
> organizing documents for NFLUG or BPLUG.
> 
> PRESENT:
> 
> In my experience being involved in a number of user groups, community
> organizations, volunteer efforts, etc.. There is one central component
> that members of any group needs. This core requirement is LEADERSHIP;
> without it, any group will be guaranteed to fail.
> 
> I believe the present NFLUG situation exemplifies this. There has not
> been an NFLUG or BPLUG meeting in many many months (years?). To my
> knowledge, there is no leader of the user group and there is no
> “Official” leadership position. There are no organizing documents.
>  Currently, the primary use of the usergroup is this mailing list.
> Whenever I bump into  a member of NFLUG, one of the first things they
> ask me is “When is there going to be a NFLUG meeting”. I get requests
> from people almost begging for there to be a meeting. This is really a
> shame because so many people want to have a meeting and want to gain
> knowledge and experience, and it does not happen due to lack of leadership.
> 
> Please understand that I am not saying this to berate or chastise anyone
> or their efforts. I fully understand and am an example myself of how
> busy people can get and how other responsibilities must supersede these
> type of activities.  I wish that even I could give more time for this
> organization, but the reality is that I (and others) cannot. I am also
> very thankful for the people that in the past have stepped up and did
> what they could. Leading a usergroup like this really is a decent amount
> of work.
> 
> So the present situation of NFLUG and BPLUG is glum at best and is
> destined to be more of the same; providing little value to most and a
> lot of frustration to some.
> 
> FUTURE:
> 
> I was lucky to have recently been present for the first meeting of a new
> Linux user group..WNYLUG (www.wnylug.org), started by Brian Powell. I
> must honestly say that I have not been this excited about such a group
> for years. The meeting was truly inspiring. Brian has a significant
> amount of experience being involved in a Linux user group in the past
> and is an official Ambassador of the Fedora project. Brian knows how to
> run a usergroup, and he has the excitement, knowledge, initiative, and
> vision to grow it to where I believe it needs to grow to. In the first
> meeting he already had a mission and charter. I believe this will be an
> invaluable service to the area and everyone on this list and am thankful
> for his tremendous efforts already.
> 
> With all of that said, there are a number of decisions that need to be
> made in which everyone here should have input. Understandably, while
> there is a big initiative for WNYLUG, one must figure out what do to
> with NFLUG, BPLUG, and the corresponding mailing lists.
> 
> In simple terms, we have somebody that is willing to step up and lead
> whatever Linux usergroup is available. As far as what the name is, does
> it really matter if there are consistent, current, and valuable
> meetings? For me, my main concern is that there be a viable and active
> Linux user group.
> 
> My $.02 and suggestion is as follows:
> 
> I personally like the name WNYLUG. I think it best describes the
> geographical membership better than BPLUG or NFLUG. Upon speaking to
> Brian, he also like the idea of having a more “Enterprise” level
> usergroup, and is willing to lead that one also (it might simply be a
> sub-group of WNYLUG). So, if it was up to me, I would merge NFLUG and
> BPLUG into WNYLUG and adopt the WNYLUG charter and mission statement for
> the time being. The next WNYLUG meeting is December 10^th . At that
> time, there will be voting for the leadership and acceptance of the
> mission statement and charter (note, even though Brian is founding this
> and taking on the initial leadership, actual voting for all officers
> will be done). Anybody is welcome to come and not only vote, but put
> themselves up for election.
> 
> Once this is done, the next item that needs to be cleaned up is the
> mailing lists. I would suggest that the only mailing list that remains
> be WNYLUG. People can either manually sign up for wnylug, and at date
> certain, the nflug mailing list be shut down. I strongly discourage
> having multiple Linux mailing lists be active at one time, It only
> encourages division of our local community.
> 
> Thanks for listening and for your input,
> 
> Mark
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> *From:* nflug-bounces at nflug.org [mailto:nflug-bounces at nflug.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Tom Reid
> *Sent:* Monday, August 18, 2008 11:29 AM
> *To:* nflug at nflug.org
> *Subject:* Re: [nflug] Meetings
> 
>  
> 
> Hi Joe and all,
> 
>  
> 
> I am still at ITT Tech and can make space/resources available.  Although
> I couldn't make the meeting(s) there, we apparently also have Trocaire
> available (thanks to whoever set that up).  Our need seems to be less
> about space available and more about commitment--people(volunteers!) to
> keep things moving month to month.  If we have events and subjects
> planned further in advance, we will probably have better turnout and
> more involvement.  For the near future, I am willing to help with
> meetings (with the incentive that ITT "encourages" its instructors to do
> this kind of thing for 'professional development' and 'community
> involvement' !).  However, I won't (can't, don't have that much free
> time) do it by myself.
> 
>  
> 
> But first a request for some background.  Mark (Bob?) and any other of
> the original or past organizers/leaders, can you give us some history,
> specifically whether NFLUG has any organizing documents (charter? 
> founding statement?), whether there were ever formal officers,
> elections, etc?  Or did you just do what you could in your spare time? 
> Having several (committed/Elected!) people share the load is better than
> one or two, and having ongoing recognition for those currently carrying
> the load can help until the next "election" when maybe some
> others volunteer to take the lead for a while...
> 
>  
> 
> Maybe some disagree about the need for structure - comments?
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks, Tom
> 
>  
> 
> On 8/18/08, *Joe* <josephj at main.nc.us <mailto:josephj at main.nc.us>> wrote:
> 
> I haven't been to an nflug meeting in  a long time.
> 
> Are there regular meetings now or just once in a while when someone has
> the gumption to organize one?
> 
> Do we have a meeting location that is generally available - like that
> great space we had at ITT?
> 
> Most of the interest I have seen is for relatively advanced topics.
> 
> Are there any other end-user types (like me) around who would appreciate
> things like presentations on desktop applications or some meeting time
> devoted to ironing out small problems in people's systems - especially
> if they are notebook systems that are easy to bring in and set up?
> There used to be install fests, but I guess the newer distros are
> generally so good at figuring things out for themselves that the fests
> aren't needed any more.
> 
> I know that sometimes I have problems that I can't seem to get resolved
> on the list or find in Google that I'm pretty sure someone more
> technical than I am could resolve in a couple of minutes if they had the
> system in front of them and could see what was happening.
> 
> Joe

-- 
Darin Perusich
Unix Systems Administrator
Cognigen Corporation
395 Youngs Rd.
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone: 716-633-3463
Email: darinper at cognigencorp.com