[NBLUG/talk] State of the LUG (Talk post for discussion)

Mon Mar 3 15:07:15 PST 2014

I don't remember NBLUG trying to participate in events in Sonoma County.
Like setting up booths or whatnot. That would be pretty rad. I would attend
an event that NBLUG had a booth at.

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 4:52 PM, Matt Hardwick <matthew.hardwick at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I live in the East Bay nowadays, but I do know of a few resources you may
> be able to pull from. Mr. Poole mentioned both the local HAM groups, and
> Hacker/Maker spaces.
>
> I am a member of SRCA (one of the local active HAM groups) (
> http://sonomacountyradioamateurs.com ), and know the founders of Chimera
> Art & Maker Space ( http://chimeraarts.org/ ) which is located in
> Sebastopol. Worth talking to both groups founders/boards.
>
> You may also want to reach out to the SSU Computer Science Club (I was VP
> last year). Also, reach out to SRJC. I am not sure the state of the club at
> SRJC since Zack Gold is no longer there, but I can get you in contact with
> a teacher or two.
>
> It may be worth reaching out to Josh Simmons at O'Reilly. He is a new
> Programming Community Organizer. He has lots of contacts with other local
> groups which may be worth reaching out too, such as the WIMPS (
> http://beawimp.org/ )
>
> I agree though, outreach is key on both the speaker circuit and member
> circuit.
>
> Matt
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 1:15 PM, M Poole <urgyen at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> In honor of the decidedly dead "no top-posting" tradition I wish to post
>> in-line. Please excuse trimming to cut out the chase.
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 1, 2014 at 11:05 PM, Allan Cecil <allan at nblug.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Greetings,
>>>
>>> As President of the North Bay Linux User's Group
>>> ...
>>> State of the LUG
>>> ...
>>> and to encourage further discussion
>>> ...
>>> 2014:
>>>
>>> 460 E-Mail addresses are subscribed to the NBLUG Announce list
>>> 273 E-Mail addresses are subscribed to the NBLUG Talk list
>>>
>>
>> I don't remember which I am subscribed to, I'd expect it to be the talk
>> list and I would expect that if that were so I am not also subscribed to
>> the announce list though I am not sure about that as I can't recall what
>> the parameters were regarding this dynamic. I would love to continue to
>> receive emails. If this post bounces I will send to the other.
>>
>> 436 Talk list E-Mails were sent in 2013 (down from 897 in 2008)
>>>
>>
>> Hmn, communication resource development? I don't usually contribute but
>> "that's another story."
>>
>>  ~12 members attend each meeting as of 2014 (down from ~30 in 2008)
>>>
>>
>> I totally wish I could attend. Life has dialed me a new set of obstacles
>> so I'm working on it. HOWEVER... this would be the topic of how I'd like to
>> see things go with the group:
>>
>> outreach
>> outreach
>> outreach
>>
>>
>> Cross-breeding with amateur radio groups sounds super logical as a means
>> to this end as well as the whole "Maker" / Hackerspace momements (
>> https://www.noisebridge.net/ ?).
>>
>>
>>> 6 of 6 board seats are filled now with 1 seat likely opening in July
>>>
>>
>> My impression is that the board would be people actually attending
>> meetings. If the group were to be able to become more decentralized maybe
>> positions could be more easily filled. The name is "North Bay" after all..
>> that's a big area.
>>
>>
>>> 3,466 hits were registered at http://nblug.org in the last 3 days
>>>
>>
>> I don't usually chase down the web page. It doesn't seem to be developed
>> to accumulate activity generating information.
>>
>> ~10 people are in the #nblug Freenode IRC channel at any given time
>>>
>>
>> I use to be a stalwart IRC-ist -- haven't had the time these days --
>> would like to though. Kudos to the other stalwarts. I do have some
>> interesting IRC related development ideas.
>>
>>
>>> $145.73 is in the NBLUG cashbox secured by our treasurer
>>>
>>
>> Outreach will generate overhead.
>>
>> 3 years have passed since a non-member not named Alison presented
>>> Important information: Please contact us at speakers at nblug.org
>>>
>>
>> Speakers are currently locked into one location, I can not attend,
>> contributing to topics in this way is more difficult. Having roving
>> speakers and roving meeting location options or auxiliary of either might
>> be more workable and breath a new life into the club.
>>
>> Mailing lists: Our mailing lists have remained fairly static
>>>
>>
>> The economy sucks. Circumstances are reflected in club activity.
>>
>> General meetings: Attendance at the monthly general meetings has declined
>>>
>>
>> See above. I still vote for decentralization.
>>
>> NBLUG Board: The current board as elected during the November 2013
>>>
>>
>> It is nice to see people able to contribute with the current model.
>>
>> NBLUG website: The official NBLUG website at http://nblug.org
>>>
>>
>> A website seems like a likely candidate to host a decentralized model.
>>
>>
>>> IRC channel: NBLUG has an IRC channel at #nblug on the Freenode network (
>>> chat.freenode.net).
>>>
>>
>> We have major app / resource development potential here.
>>
>> Cash balance: The NBLUG cashbox contains exactly $145.73
>>> ...
>>>  not currently seeking donations.
>>>
>>
>> I am not sure I can afford contributions or dues but would be interested
>> in trying should development of the club become a priority.
>>
>>  Speakers: The last time a talk was given by a non-member
>>
>> The member / non-member split is interesting. If the topics and
>> presentation locations were to be more flexible than strict linux etal.
>> more local resources may begin to show up.
>>
>> Opinion and analysis:  I, Allan, feel
>>> ...
>>>  no means dead user group
>>> ...
>>> natural rhythm of Linux
>>> ...
>>> several "Hackfest" meetings
>>> ...
>>> decrease in attendance has likely been directly tied to the lack of
>>> fresh speakers.
>>> ...
>>> seek out speakers
>>> ...
>>>  best resource
>>> ...
>>> potential speakers
>>> ...
>>> members themselves.
>>>
>>
>> Not dead.. YEAH!!! Ok, so to keep it that way and maybe even grow. A
>> goal? Haven't heard that motion seconded yet.
>>
>> Natural rhythm (of development) is nice but I think "new and innovative
>> use" should be considered too. Look at what is happening in the ham radio
>> world. Whole brand new horizons are opening up to this "ancient" "open"
>> hobby.
>>
>> I encourage everyone to share their thoughts about this State of the LUG
>>> update on the talk list and I look forward to a lively discussion.  Thanks,
>>>
>>> Allan Cecil
>>> President, North Bay Linux User's Group
>>>
>>> A.C.
>>> ******
>>>
>>
>> Hurrah Hurray Hurrooh !!!
>>
>>
>> M Poole
>> Member On The Rocks
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
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>

-- 
Zack Gold
Former NBLUG Scribe
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