email list topics

[Wayne]

HAMLUG,

There are a few ongoing discussions that I wanted to divert to the mailing list to (1) save time at meetings and (2) give adequate time to sort through the issues. There are now several such topics. They are:

• TCF preparation,
• LAN at meetings
• Our PURPOSE and MISSION as a group
• MEETING content

I wanted to wait till the traffic from the expo died down, which it has, and then try to get these discussions going on the email list. I wanted to try the suggestion of using a keyword in the subject line specific to each discussion, such as:

• TCF
• LAN
• PURPOSE/MISSION
• MEETINGS

That will identify and consolidate the thread and make it easier to pick and choose email of your favorite topic, possibly filtering what you don't feel you need to read.

TCF can be anything having to do with TCF (Trenton Computer Festival) including: Table acquisition, volunteer schedules, speaker volunteers, what to demo, equipment needed, etc.

PURPOSE/MISSION - We could use an ongoing discussion about what our purpose and mission could/should be as an organization.

MEETINGS - suggestions, requests and volunteer presentations for meetings. What to present, who to present, how we felt about what was presented, who wants to present what, what business to handle, etc.

LAN - There are issues that will come up around the LAN that we set up at meetings as we grow that network and add servers and services.  Initially these are: alternate dhcp address pools and addresses to reserve for future servers and network devices. Then we'll get into what to add when, who is responsible for what servers and how to integrate the meeting topics with our LAN's capability for demonstration purposes. Some of us have been discussing this off line to provide the foundation but soon a larger discussion will be necessary.

Two additional topic areas I think of are TECHNICAL for fielding questions and volunteer support on technical issues. Then MISCELLANEOUS/GENERAL for other input.

I know there are political issues that hit the list from time to time, often from Jon Abolins. Jon and others have been discerning about what goes up there and I find I appreciate those bits. Sometimes I wonder if people will think them off the topic of Linux and the technical nature and purpose of the LUG, however, the politics of Open Source is extremely important. There are people and companies who would like to see laws that would threaten the very existence of Open Source so... Although I like to think of a technical hobby as a-political, I don't believe we can be a-political in the real world as it exists these days. But that's a longer discussion in the political subcatagory. Any takers on that thread?

Wayne