Seth and Mike,
Thank you for sharing your views. I feel that most of us are still learning as
much as we can about Linux. Certainly, among my goals is to pick up/improve
skills that look good on the resume.
When there is a Linux - related job opening, I feel that we are encouraging
eachother to put his best foot forward. Certainly, one's resume should list
activity w. Eugene Lug and we should feel confident enough in eachother to
give/receive credible references, as needed.
I know that when the ORCAS job was posted, I thought Mike would be a good match
for it. Does anyone know if they filled the position?
See you at the meeting tonight,
Rodney
Seth Cohn wrote:
> >I have a topic that I would like to address, one that affects us all.
> >
> >It concerns commercial interests in the LUG.
>
> The following is just my views. Not official LUG policy.
>
> >2) There is a marked difference between posting a job from the R-G want-ads
> >and posting a job that you have a personal interest in. For example, you
> >would be the supervisor of the position, or would be the one making the
> >hiring decision.
>
> Well, now, wait a sec.... I don't see that much difference....
>
> >3) I would hate to see us become a bunch of money-hungry savages or
> >mercenaries at the expense of Linux Advocacy or our usual activities.
>
> I don't see that happening, even if someone offered us a pile of money.
>
> (please someone... give me a chance...)
>
> >4) We are the natural point-of-contact for someone who needs to network for
> >jobs. Almost all good jobs are from networking (of the people kind of
> >networking, not the usual kind of networking). I've even done it on
> >occasion.
>
> I think that is totally ok.
>
> >5) If you are looking for local Linux IT professionals, where do you look?
> >At the LUG, naturally. We make a great place for an employer to look for
> >help.
>
> Yes, that's fine.
>
> >6) How does our tech support model fit into the picture? We give out free
> >advice on the mail list, how does everyone feel about giving free advice to
> >someone who gets paid to do Linux stuff? Or another way, how do you feel
> >about giving free information to somebody who's getting paid to get that
> >information?
>
> I get paid to do Linux stuff. I both answer and ask questions (mostly
> answer).
>
> Balance is the key here. Just like Open Source, if you suck and suck
> from others, without contributing, people will see this, and stop
> helping.
>
> >7) What if someone on a Thursday brings in a box from their workplace to
> >get "fixed" when they are a professional?
>
> No. It's a fine line. Stan asks us for help, and that's cool, cause
> he gives the space and the time and even parts and such.
> But I wouldn't bring a box from work in, and I don't expect anyone else
> either.
>
> >8) If we become too fixated on jobs and money, will that turn off potential
> >members or newbies?
>
> Don't see that happening... even as Linux gets hotter and hotter.
>
> >9) Many LUG members are professionals. Some, like Seth for example, spend
> >alot of time doing pro-bono work at the LUG. I know he's very cool about it
> >all and actually learns something (so he claims) at every meeting, but it's
> >not too hard to envision someone refusing to do freebies when their normal
> >rate for contracting is $50/hour.
>
> Then they won't come and help and they won't be a 'member' of the
> LUG. It's really simple to me: He who helps, gets. In our case,
> gets freebies, get response to hard questions (ie we spend more time
> figuring out the problem) etc....
>
> >just hope my life insurance policy covers acts of crazed Linux users. If I
> >have already pissed somebody off by meeting this guy at the meeting, I would
> >like to apologize beforehand.
>
> Mike, if you can land a job cause of Linux, more power to you.
>
> same for anyone else.
>
> jsut my 2 cents,
> Seth "yeah, I get paid to play with Linux, what of it?" Cohn
