It's been a few days since this thread was last commented on. Here's my
take. Sorry, this turned out to be a little longer than I thought....
As someone who has been part of the group for 5+ years, I've noticed
significant changes in the structure of the group over time. I've
participated in some of those changes, and instigated some.
The very reason for CLUG began to disappear about the same time Ubuntu
came into existence. Linux got easy to install. Ubuntu, Red Hat, SuSE,
Mandriva, etc all contributed to this. As did the countless developers
scratching their "itch". CLUG began to loose focus as there became less
of a need for help in getting things set up.
Forgive me for using myself as an example, but I do feel this applies to
all contributors.... I did my time as president, I took on COSSFEST,
PROGSIG is still going, and I'm still involved as a member. But there
does come a time where I think that someone else needs to step up and
make things happen. I do have a life and a business that demands my
attention elsewhere, often. I hit a wall occasionally where I ask
myself why I bother with the effort if no one else is going to help out.
Usually at these times, I step back and wait to see if the
community/group will fill the gaps.
In recent times, I've begun asking myself why I continue with CLUG. I'm
not a novice user, and I can glean what I need from Google for most of
the topics we cover. From a technical perspective, CLUG offers nothing
for me anymore. There is the social aspects of hanging out with friends
every month. But for a group like CLUG, that is not sufficient. I've
noticed that the social conversations have begun to be "more important"
than the executive member standing up front trying to carry on the
meeting and do planning. These side conversations drown out anything
else for those nearby and are generally very frustrating. Sure, some of
the side conversations are on topic, but some are not and ALL can be
done afterwards. That's my own opinion as a member in the crowd (and
guilty of these infractions as well). Those who are standing at the
front of the room are shown a fair amount of disrespect when this
happens - IMO. So, why bother?
I'm not trying to be condescending here. I'm trying to point out that
the very nature of CLUG has shifted too far to the social side of
things. And if that is the case, why do we even bother meeting at
DeVry? Why not just move the meetings to the bar and drop the idea of
"presentations"? Do we really need an executive at that point?
Anyone visiting us sees this type of interaction and rarely come back.
Something has to change, or CLUG becomes irrelevant.
I don't have the answers for this problem. But do have some ideas.
Drop the idea of catering to newbies. Nobody was there to hold my hand
as I learned how to use OpenOffice, Inkscape, Thunderbird, etc. Instead
I recall attending discussions on topics that were out of my comfort
area, and I was expected to do a little research if the topic was of
interest to me. I was expected to pay attention or get utterly lost.
Instead, focus on topics that are of interest to US. For myself that
would be things like making use of Linux for my business. Configuring
an Apache server for virtual hosts, with support for various tools
(Trac, Subversion, etc). Installing applications from scratch
(compiling them), and how to get around the issues that come up in doing
so under different distro's. Programming theory - using PHP at the
command line, shell scripting with Python, understanding advanced data
structures such as self balancing trees and meshes. etc.
In short, do what is of interest to those of us who are still around,
and drag the newbie kicking and screaming with us. There is time for
the newbies to ask questions and receive mentoring afterwards in the Q&A
portion. Or a workshop can be set up. Drop the presentations on "why I
think distro X is better than distro B" - that doesn't need a
presentation does it? That should be a quick 5 minute conversation -
because ultimately that sort of thing comes down to an opinion.
We should get back to a structured meeting. The people attending the
meeting should be made to understand that they ARE attending the
meeting. Side conversations should be moved outside, or put aside until
after the meeting. The presenter should NOT have to manage the crowd.
We are all adults, and professionals. We should act like it. (This
goes for me too - I know I'm not a shining example here...)
EVERYONE needs to contribute. I think that anyone attending the regular
meetings should expect to be called on to stand up front and give a
brief summary of what they've been working on, how they use Linux, etc.
Right up to giving a full presentation. We can't rely on the usual
group of people to step up to fill the dead air. Sooner or later, those
folks will not be available.
EVERYONE needs to be objectively critical of the whole structure of
CLUG. The executive has to make choices. But making choices in a
vacuum is non-ideal. I don't know how many times I've made choices for
CLUG or PROGSIG with no input, and no idea if I was making the right
choice. I had no option but to assume "no feedback is good". And that
is a crappy approach.
But, the corollary of the above is that we often MUST make a choice and
move on. I've seen many times where we sit around talking about what we
"could do", instead of just doing it. Once we make a choice, stick with
it until there is clear reason to make a change. Changing things based
on what "might" happen in some non-deterministic point in the future is
well, stupid and reacting to fear. We need to have the courage to make
a choice and stick to it.
My apologies for the "rant", but these are things that go through my
head when I think critically of CLUG. I feel CLUG still has a place,
but not the way it is set up at the moment. Things need to change. A
focus needs to be decided. Something more firm that "promote Linux and
Open Source". WHY do that? HOW to do that, etc. That should be part
of the focus. And that focus dictates all other actions.
Either that or we just have a social club for computer geeks.
My thoughts, not yours.
Shawn
[email protected] wrote:
Always good to here from you Jesse and even more enjoyable to hear such
a diverse point of view.
I don't think there is a simple answer to the question otherwise it
would be so simple to resolve, any idiot would have resolve the problem
already. Here is my two cents, i think it is more human nature than
anything else - we don't scratch unless we itch. First we need to
recognize the itch and then decide whether we can tolerate it or need to
stop and scratch it. If we do decide to scratch it, how many of us
actually take further steps to do more than satisfy their own itch.
I remember the first snow fall this year early in the morning, no
sanding trucks in sight. On an off ramp from University Drive to 16th
Avenue was a pile of vehicles trying to ascend the ramp. Don't know if
it was stupidity or a surge of testosterone (not sure if there is a
difference), I thought I could succeed where others failed and got stuck
myself. A couple of SAIT students aided in pushing me up the ramp.
After I got to the top, I pulled over and spent the next couple of hours
working with the guys pushing vehicles up the ramp until my hands froze
from not wearing gloves. Of the people we helped, I am sure most of
them were grateful we were there, some thanked us verbally but I don't
recall any that got out to repay the kindness.
This is just an observation, but the situation is similar to CLUG. The
list has been down for some time now, but look who were the people that
first responded, not people that typically need help but people who
recognized the itch, did something for themselves and more importantly
are continually doing something for others. Much of that comes equally
from passion and wanting to create a community as these individuals
certainly give in magnitude over what they receive.
In the brief history of CLUG that I am aware of, there are individuals
that are not among those that have responded yet but they would have
been the first in their own time. Unfortunately there have been many
leaders (by their action, not their position) from our past that have
done more than scratch their itch, but other obligations eventually take
over.
Solutions are never simple and will be varied but there will be
similarities in the fundamentals. It will take everyone to do a bit
more than just scratch their own itch. It will take more than coming up
with action plans or wish lists as to what we can do - it will take
individuals to step up with vision, personal commitment and energy in
equal measure.
Lastly, my hats off to those leaders (by their action, not their
position) both past and present that have scratched more than their own
itch.
Regards,
Kin
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