My perspective about this is: 1. Rik bought his projector before coming to an arrangement to be paid $15 per session for its use, so although he might have found the $15 useful, he didn't buy the projector in expectation of it. Likewise he has no legitimate expectation of that arrangement continuing - and nor does CLUG..
2. At the same time Rik made a substantial personal investment in a sharply depreciating asset and it has been a boon for CLUG (and no doubt for other projects Rik has been involved in.) 3. All we need to alleviate the lighting situation is a reading lamp pointed at the keyboard that the presenter is using. People with laptops shouldn't be tapping while presentations are ongoing, its plain rude (although I admit to having done it myself, mea culpa.) 4. What it ultimately comes down to is this: Is the offer of a free projector and substandard screen better than the offer of a known working projector and excellent screen at $15.00 per month? This is against the perspective that we are only getting about 20-30 people per month, ie $40-$60. In other words $15.00 is a big part of the budget. And not everyone pays I've noticed. This is also against the perspective that no matter what your personal relationship with the guy is, Rik is probably the staunchest Free/Libre software advocate in Canterbury, and puts in hours of his own time. I am in two minds, but not dismissive of either view. 5. The very fact that these issues are raised at all lead me to the view that I probably won't be attending many meetings in the future. > PLEASE GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BEFORE CLICKING REPLAY > > 1. Rik has purchased this equipment for use by his community efforts. > As I understand it, I suspect he's still paying for the equipment. > > It is unclear to me if Rik has used up some of his good will on this > list and as a result some people are trying to push him side ways and > make other arrangements. This is how it is appearing to me. > > It is a well known fact that Rik has used up my good will, and I suspect > me, his. > > This aside, the equipment Rik has purchased is extreamly expensive and > does represent a huge investment in our community. There has been an > arrangement in place to pay him for this. > > I think that we need to respect this arrangement despite what our > personal feelings towards Rik might be this week. > > 2. The issue of lighting has been raised for presenters. > > I've seen a great deal of meeting time wasted while setting up for > presentations and also seen people have trouble presenting. > > I think we should address this issue by getting some side lights for the > presenter. CLUG has more than enough funds to do this and I'm sure > there are also more than enough people on this list that would cobble up > enough bits to make these up from stuff they have at home - myself > included. > > I also think we should have an area of each meeting set up with side > lighting for people who want to use their laptops while watching the > presentation. I know I like to follow the meeting this way and so do > others. > > > RIK - despite our public animosity, this is actually me putting up a > vote in your favour, don't take me the wrong way. I suggest NOT > responding at all and in fact just leaving the community to give it some > thought. > > Cheers Don > > > > -- > Don Gould > www.thinkdesignprint.co.nz - www.tcn.bowenvale.co.nz - > www.bowenvale.co.nz - www.hearingbooks.co.nz - www.buxtonsquare.co.nz - > skype:ThinkDesignPrint?add - Good ideas: www.solarking.co.nz > >
