This is not a bad idea, but there are a couple of problems with implementing something like this. First of all, I think the last thing we want to do is fragment CLUG. We may have 100 teir 2 members, and 70 people coming to meetings, but we are still a relitively small users group. People come to CLUG for local support and networking, if you want to be involved in a community that is more specific, these are available on the internet. If we fragmented CLUG, we just would not have enough people in these subsections. I think even large users groups would have a hard time with more than two subsections. The only time I have heard of a group doing something like this is in the case of the Toronto Linux Users Groups. They have seperate meetings for newbies, and for advanced users. In there case it is probably necessary because of the population, but in a place like Calgary, those groups would be too small. The other problem is that something like this will most likely never get implemented. There are lots of great ideas that come up on the mailing list, but lost of them take lots of time and effort to implement, and no one ever does it. Our executive has worked very hard to get CLUG to where it is today, but I know that their time is precious. What I think we need to do is focus on what kind of small steps we can take to make sure that we keep the interest of all sorts of different Linux users. Making some changes to the website is a good example of this. Personally I know that there are lots of faces that I used to see at the meetings, when I first started going to CLUG, that I have not seen in a long time. I would like to know why some of these people don't come any more, and maybe then we can make some changes like reforming the meeting structure, or balancing the types of presentations that we have.
Jesse Quoting Niels Voll <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Hi Jarrod, > > You are raising extremely good points. And the recent milestone in Level > 2 membership may give good occasion for thinking about the increasing > variety of backgrounds and interests represented amongst the CLUG > membership I think the CLUG future will be determined by its ability to > evolve and therefore maintain relevance for the members as they > personally evolve. > > One potential mechanism, you may want to consider is the concept of > special interest groups (SIGs). These SIGs would be more focused, and > thus be able to get into more depth in their areas if interest, keeping > it interesting. Of course, individuals could participate in as few or as > many SIGs as they are interested in. > > Generally each SIG might have > * its own CLUG mailing list > * potentially its own meetings / or it might sponsor presentations > * potentially some sort of leadership representation at CLUG level - > could be unofficial or official executive position(s) > > A SIG might start with a mailing list and if it develops critical mass > of participation and interest, might evolve into meetings etc. > > Examples of SIGs (and/or subSIGs or sub Topics) might include: > > * Linux/OpenSource on the desktop > * for business / productivity > * for home / gaming / multimedia enthusiasts > > * Linux /OpenSource on the server > * SMB (small and medium business) > * enterprise > * enthusiast applications (e.g. gaming, media streaming, etc.) > > * Linux/OpenSource evangelism/activism > * nubee resources > * installfests > * getting Linux/OpenSource into the Calgary business community > > * Linux/OpenSource development > * coding > * testing > * documentation > > The clug.ca website polling mechanism might be one way to find out > interest levels for these and other SIG topics. And reaction on this > mailing list may be a first indicator, if CLUG is ready for this, yet. > > Kind regards, > > > ...Niels > -------------------------------- > Niels Voll > [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
