Hello All

My vision for the Canterbury Linux Users Group was very soundly 
defeated last night.  There was little aspiration among those in 
attendance to make the group into a strong dynamic and effective 
organisation.  It's a "users group" it's for us, the users.  If 
people want to join fine, join the list, become a user.  We don't 
need a structure, a committee, elections or rules.  We're just a list 
and our method is "to volunteer".  If there are volunteers things 
happen and if nobody bothers then nothing happens.  Creative anarchy. 


STOP.  Think.  Remember the first ideas you had about computer 
programming.  You tried to write a big long thing called "programme" 
and you had a few bits that didn't fit so they became "another 
programme 1" and "another programme 2".  

I expect you all know enough to know that this approach to writing 
software is disastrous. STRUCTURE is critical.  In the next year I'd 
like to see us all thing a lot about the best structure for our 
group.  The committee elected last night need to experiment with 
structure a little bit and report back to us about "what works" we 
need leadership.  

Here's what we did last night.  (As a programme) 

Main Programme:

Part 1 Organise the meeting
Part 2 Organise the meeting
Part 3 Organise the meeting
Part 4 Organise the meeting
Part 5 Organise the meeting

End of main Programme

New Programme: Look after the money

New Programme: Publicity for the Install Fest.

New Programme: Supper and meeting setup.

New Programme: The CLUG website and email archives. 

It's untidy guys.  It won't get better if we avoid thinking about it. 
 You know what happens to a programme that's convoluted and confused, 
it becomes useless and  impossible to maintain.  We can do better.  

Regards
John

John S. Veitch
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