After attending PyCon 2008 (which was awesome) and chatting up various people there, my view on LUGs and community groups has changed. Please allow me to share my thoughts and questions with you.
What ever happen to the local Linux Users Group (LUG)? As I recall MPLUG (Mid Pacific Linux Users Group) was rolled into HOSEF to create a unified *nix group, or at least join forces, since at the time few people were interested. I know this is no longer the case, I think there are many people in Hawaii interested in *nix. I think the flame-fests and lack of LUG events have turned people off. I see fewer posts with *nix questions and more about infighting and power-plays. However, I think some good has come out of the latest batch of posts with regard to restructuring HOSEF. With that in mind... I'm confused about the membership thing. To be a member of the local LUG (HOSEF), which advocates FOSS which is free, I must pay to be a member? I don't believe most LUGs require a cash donation to become a member. If HOSEF is to continue to be the local LUG, I think it should start doing more LUG stuff or perhaps MPLUG should rise again. Warren still owns the domain and I think he might let us use it. I think LUG membership should be determined by interest and/or attendance to meetings. For example, you can only become a member by attending and signing up at OpenSource Pizza, the monthly LUG meeting, or other LUG events. That way it gets the members and potential members interacting. I enjoyed getting together for Pizza after slugging computers around at PriceBusters. The membership list should be used only to show that there is support in Hawaii. Right now I couldn't tell if there were 5 or 500 people in support of the Oahu LUG. I say Oahu, not Hawaii, LUG because there is a Big Island Linux Users Group [http://bilug.org/]. Not to exclude them, but point out there is a Big Island LUG, where is the Oahu LUG? [1] Why can't the HOSEF website say it's the local LUG? It looks like HOSEF, the foundation, gobbled up HOSEF, the LUG. I think the LUG part of HOSEF needs to be acknowledged more. If HOSEF is the local LUG, why hasn't there been a hosef-announce post about the upcoming Shakacon? What about a calendar or ical feed from google? Maybe HOSEF should pay a director to keep this active? As for money to fund to operations, I would rather attend OpenSource Pizza, chip in $10 for pizza and drinks, and HOSEF keep the change. I would like to see an Unconference [2] at least once, if not twice, a year. It doesn't have to be a 3 day marathon. Just a single weekend day with some interesting talks and lunch. I found the Ruby talk and Funding, Act 221 talk at the 2008 Unconferenz [3] constructive, enlightening and informative. (Just to be clear the Unconferenz was not run by HOSEF) I'd happily fork over $30 for a good lunch, a shirt and the rest going to HOSEF. I'm sure this could somehow be hosted at UH or a Community College. Maybe an Unconference and PFOSSCON could be the 2 main annual conferences. The Unconference being a local community event. PFOSSCON being a bigger deal with out-of-state speakers. I really liked the last PFOSSCON. Perhaps the "extra money" could bring big speakers to the islands. Or perhaps local sponsors could help fund it. Personally I'd love to see Guido or Linus come to the islands. Isn't there a famous guy from SANS that lives on the Big Island? Money received should go to support hardware/hosting for the lists, website and mirror. The LUG should have direct control over the equipment. An individual should not be footing the bill or have supreme control over the operation of such. As for eWaste, I think HOSEF, the foundation, should stop taking in computer trash for money and go back to a standards based approach. Only take in P3+, 19+ CRT, any LCD, servers, server parts and cool tech stuff. I think donations of money should be requested, not required, to cover the pickup costs and to perpetuate HOSEF. For businesses, broken stuff that's easily fixable should possibly require a donation for pickup because HOSEF would be providing a service that would otherwise have to be paid for. We don't want to become the free alternative to proper disposal. Every situation should be handled with care. I wouldn't turn away an 8-way server because the donator wouldn't pay to have it hauled away. As for storage, each lab could have at least a little space for spares and if possible extra storage for HOSEF. Once the cache of spares at each school fills up, either dump the junker stuff or don't take the donation. Perhaps HOSEF can work with one of the local big storage companies to grant HOSEF some space for a set period of time (1 year+). Maybe to have small storage caches at strategic locations throughout the island. For any excess computer equipment, how about a waiting list of people interested in R&D equipment. I recall one student wanting 4 computers to build a cluster. Another went to someone without a spare computer to learn Linux. Though I would rather see a student get a computer first over a hobbyist. More given away (like the cluster) upon approval by the board. I don't mean the list be like a free for all where anyone who wants a computer gets one. It should be based on need and educational purposes. I think HOSEF should continue to setup K12 labs and work toward building a better support system for it. So when the Tech Coordinator is sick, tired, busy, etc. HOSEF can step in and handle it. Perhaps HOSEF could sell maintenance contracts and pay people to execute those contracts? I don't know how well this can align with a non-profit, but I don't see a problem as long as the profits support the foundation and its efforts. Once the board has filled out again, I think HOSEF should create foundational goals. If large amounts of money are needed, apply for Grants from the Hawaii Community Foundation [4]. They not only have grants available, but also help train non-profit boards on governance. To reiterate, personally I would like to see HOSEF do a lot more community outreach as a LUG (if it is a LUG), clean up this membership issue, put more labs in schools, create a better K12 support system, and train tech coordinators and teachers on using/administering *nix. What do you think? Michael [1] http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:GK5VuBZtG8IJ:lists.hosef.org/pipermail/luau/2004-August/015595.html+oahu+lug&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=firefox-a [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference [3] http://www.unconferenz.com/ [4] http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/index.php?id=22 - Hawai‘i Community Foundation distributes charitable funds to Hawai‘i’s nonprofit organizations through a variety of programs. Our internal programs, such as the Organizational Capacity Building <http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/index.php?id=71&categoryID=26> and Mo’ Bettah Together Programs, are strategic investments in the strengthening of our community. We also assist private foundations in Hawai‘i in administering their grantmaking activities. Through government-based initiatives and funder collaborations, we help increase the level of charitable investment into Hawai‘i’s community. We also administer a number of smaller funds focused on supporting specific fields of nonprofit work, such as education or health. _______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list http://lists.hosef.org/listinfo.cgi/luau-hosef.org
