This I think I have to disagree with, the true newbies can often be helped by someone who is not that far from complete newbie status themselves. (Why are you all looking at me?) Sometimes, a full blown guru is not what they need because he/she can't get their head around the fact that said newbie doesn't understand point A,B or C first. Having said that, there are quite a few in this group who are capable of explaining things at a very basic level as well and I thank you all for your patience. Anyway, my point was that a wide spread of skill levels is a good thing and not all of us want to, or are able to attain true Guru status. Not tot say we shouldn't keep trying. :)
I can identify with that Graham. Being the latest newbie on the block you just don't know what you don't know. Hopefully in another year, I will know what I don't know.
Reading through the comments last night, I would like to offer to a response to Neil's comment about disorganization. This is really funny because I am really dis-organized. CLUG could use a bit more organization and follow through. Not to take away from all the effort and contribution that everyone is already providing. For example, the presentations are really great and informative and it already takes considerable effort to prepare for one. This would be considerable more valuable if there was a single page handout that we could follow along. Sometimes what we write on the whiteboard is not legible either due to eccentric handwriting, poor choice of markers, marker malfunction, etc. A good percentage of the intelligent and creative population are dyslexic, but unfortunately they also write that way as well. I guess my point is we could capture the benefit of a presentation that could be reference by others (people that could not make the session, people that need to refer to the topic later because at the time it was not pertinent, new people joining the group and looking for information, etc.). This does not necessary need to be a role the presenter fulfills, but something one of the member would happily do.
Coming back to Graham's point on newbie's frame of reference. I remember quite sometime ago when I explained to one of our administrators on the steps required on the computer for a meeting process that was created. To me it was a simple 3 step process. Well, she insisted that we spend the afternoon going through the steps and she would document them for me. I didn't think it would take the whole afternoon but maybe 15 minutes. I was both right and wrong -- it did not take all afternoon, but it did take almost 3 hours. There were 9 pages of written text. My point is not that we need to document things to this level for newbies, but newbies see things differently and have specific needs (Graham's point). My solution would be to have newbies help themselves -- they need to document it to the extent that will be helpful for them and the latest newbie joining the group. All that is needed is a little more organization and someone to look at the resulting documentation to proof for accuracy and fill in some blanks. I see this as critical element for the organization to free ourselves, grow and offer something to a wider range of expertise.
As a newbie myself, I believe this is a role that other newbies would support.
Sorry, this a wee bit off topic.
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