Dear All,
First, on behalf of the committee I would like to
thank everyone for their participation,
involvement and assistance during 2011 both at
meetings and on the mailing list. It's a bit
clichéd (cliché 1) but without everyone's
assistance we'd not have a LUG. After attending
LCA 2012, I was struck by the struggles some LUGs
experience in maintaining their presence and while
there's always room to improve (cliché 2) we're
doing not too badly.
Naturally the hardest part is people finding time
(cliché 3) to participate in face-to-face events.
The committee is hoping that we're able to expand
the LUGs activities to create a greater range of
events to encourage this to happen (cliché 4) and
ensure LUG members to generally feel there's
something for them (clichés 5-10).
While I will be summarising the following at the
February meeting, for those cannot make it I've
provided a quick look forward to a possible 2012
and beyond.
If you have things you'd like to add, then please
e-mail me directly so I can update the list and
then make it available to everyone.
NB. Please remember that this is more of a 'focus
group' e-mail. For those unfamiliar with the
process, it means that any ideas or suggestions
can be made.
It's not an opportunity to criticise or negatively
comment on suggestions made by others which you
don't like.
However, if there is a suggestion on the list and
you believe you know of an easier solution, form
of implementation etc, then please feel free to
provide details.
So, on to 2012.
SECTION ONE
EVENTS FOR THE FUTURE
We are building up a list of events for 2012 (and
beyond) for which we will need volunteers and
other assistance. Please let us know if you have
any ideas along this line.
a. Install-Fest
Speaks for itself really
It has been suggested this could be combined with
b. Software/Application-use day
We'd have people giving hands-on demonstrations of
various applications/software etc on a GNU/Linux
platform. It was suggested that installing has
become so easy that it may not be as 'big an
issue' as in previous years.
Regardless of views on this, it was suggested that
it may be more productive to have a day during
which people can learn to use the OS and
applications rather than just how to install it.
c. Regular SLUG/FOSS presence at the North Rocks
computer market (or similar)
This was suggested as a means by which to promote
the use of GNU/Linux in the general computing
community. By having a regular presence people
will have the ability to approach SLUG members,
discuss FOSS related issues and become familiar
with the subject.
This would be similar to out-reach programs run by
social services agencies (eg. health, youth
services). These programs have been shown to have
a positive effect on encouraging use and interest
and will (I believe) work for SLUG and FOSS.
d. Software Freedom Day.
It has been some times since SLUG was present on SFD.
If we can generate enough interest in working
towards a SLUG presence, this will be used to
develop a larger presence in 2013.
e. There has also been discussion about whether we
should include Android related material in
presentations.
I'll send a query to the list about this asking
for people's views in general.
SECTION TWO
There were some fantastic suggestions and they're
listed below. If you have any ideas or areas of
interest you'd like to hear presentations on, then
please let me and/or the list know.
Naturally we'll also be looking for people who
would be willing to volunteer to speak on some of
these subjects :)
As usual the committee is more than willing to
help you in preparing and organising your
presentation (eg. format suggestions, assistance
with presenting).
If you have an interest in an area, please don't
assume other people have already put up their hand
to speak about it. If we don't have people
volunteering their time and effort then we will
not be able to cover the areas of interest expressed.
If it suits best, we can arrange for you speak
over a period of time (a collection of short talks
about a subject) or even have a regular lightning
talk spot.
Again, if you're interested, please either contact
a committee member directly or catch up with us at
a SLUG meeting.
SLUG MEETING IDEAS
Tim Ansell has suggested a regular monthly
meeting, separate from the SLUG Friday meetings.
These would be on a weekend and would incorporate
activities such as coding, editing (graphic,
video) etc.
A 'fix-it' day has also been suggested. This would
be where people can bring intransigent and
truculent hardware to receive assistance in taming it.
Social meetings. This has been raised previously
and so I'm adding this in again. The idea was that
members would announce a place and time for SLUG
members to get together outside of the group
Friday meetings.
There has been a suggestion for some meetings to
be held in
