Chris writes:
> * A mission statement
> * Concrete medium-term goals (1-year plan? 5-year plan?)
> And then, yes, a
> * Plan of action specifically for achieving those goals within the
> specified time-frame(s)
>
> The mission statement as it is, without concrete goals in mind, is too
> open to interpretation, especially for a group with 100+ members, to
> expect consistant action to be taken on it by the group officers.
I think Ralph Zeller (way back in Feb 2001) addressed this (and related issues
we are discussing at this time), so I'm going to quote from his email...
The real question is if you were going to change the MISSION GOAL, what would you
change it to?
I quite like that mission statement we have now (I think Rob Hudson wrote it).
"promote and exchange information about Linux, Unix and Open
Source Software in Eugene, Oregon and surrounding cities. "
Our press kit lists it as "The Eugene Linux Users Group presents a Linux Demo Day as
part of it's ongoing mission of education and
advocacy of the open source Linux Operating System. "
Education, Advocacy, Promote, Exchange.... I don't see how you can get too far from
those....
Concrete goals are hard to define for those... it's more an 'as needed' basis... and
making it all possible.
K12, Business solutions, all of those projects, are really under that same banner...
Seth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ralph Zeller
Subject: [EUG-LUG:179] Re: A call to action (fwd)
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 11:13:56 -0800
That's an interesting question. Are we an organization at all, or a
collection of anarchists? ;)
It depends on our purpose and mission. As stated on the website,
"The Eugene Unix and GNU/Linux User Group (EUGLUG) is a volunteer group
whose goal is to promote and exchange information about Linux, Unix and Open
Source Software in Eugene, Oregon and surrounding cities. "
Based on that expressed mission, I'd say we're closer to a 501(c)(4) type
of group. Not that it matters much, since we're not earning any income,
and not receiving any donations that I know of.
Apologies in advance for spamming the list with-->
Excerpts from Internal Revenue Code SECTION 501.(c)-----
(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation,
organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable,
scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational
purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports
competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the
provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention
of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of
which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual,
no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on
propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except
as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or
distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or
in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
(4) --
(A) Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but
operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, or
local associations of employees, the membership of which is
limited to the employees of a designated person or persons in a
particular municipality, and the net earnings of which are
devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational
purposes.
(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an entity unless no part
of the net earnings of such entity inures to the benefit of any
private shareholder or individual.
(5) Labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations.
(6) Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards
of trade, or professional football leagues (whether or not
administering a pension fund for football players) not organized for
profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit
of any private shareholder or individual.
(7) Clubs organized for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofitable
purposes, substantially all of the activities of which are for such
purposes and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the
benefit of any private shareholder.
