Jason Greenwood
Carl Cerecke wrote:
There isn't really any "Canterbury Linux User Group". Sure we use that name, but it doesn't really exist.In the beginning, there was the list. It was created as a university-wide mailing list for people running linux. If a person had a question, they posted it to the list. Someone hopefully would answer. We all helped each other. After all, we all have problems and need some help from time to time. It worked well, and continues to work well. I'm not sure really when the term CLUG got coined (I could check my archives I guess). It was used as a term to describe the people on the list in a collective way. It is somewhat of a misnomer though: It isn't restricted to Canterbury people, and isn't really a group: there is no notion of membership apart from the mailing list. There is no boss. Not even Zane. If somebody wants to get something done (a meeting, say), they generally organise it themselves, with whoever volunteers to help them. If nobody is willing to help, then maybe its a bad idea (or wrong timing... whatever). This process works because: 1. bad ideas die. 2. good ideas get implemented by those who are interested. The fact that nothing much gets done by mailing-list members apart from meetings (and the installfest) has nothing to do with lack of leadership/structure/formality on the mailing list. Remember. There is no CLUG. So don't complain about it. That is how it works. And I like it. Cheers, Carl. P.S. These are my opinions today. They may be subject to change tomorrow.
