My apologies if what I said came off as flaming MHCUG. It is a good group and I commend it to anyone who is seeking help with computers. They are familiar with Linux although most of their users use Windows or Apple. They are worth the annual membership and could easily raise their dues and still be a bargain. I guess that they just don't want to lose people over the annual dues.
Mark On Tue, 2010-07-27 at 08:20 -0400, Sean Dague wrote: > Jeff, I am sorry that MHCUG got flamed in the list. I'm a part of a > number of local groups and I well know the economics required. > > I should clarify how we exist, because some of the newer folks don't > always realize it: IBM has been graciously been paying our rent with > the library system this year, as with most years. In 2009 when IBM was > in very tight financials, and I doubted I could get it through, Marist > College graciously stepped in to help. What we do couldn't be done > without them. Over the years of organizations have volunteer spaces for > us, including SUNY New Paltz, Vassar College, and Cervalis, who Dan > Simones (on thread) was gracious enough to arrange. > > Hosting for the electronic assets is on my linode, it comes out of my > pocket, which is something I'm happy to contribute. > > While it's not too bad to find a free space for < 20 people, the moment > you pass 20 they don't exist, at least not with a projector, internet, > and the ability to meet on a regular basis. And, believe it or not, it > is only on the rare summer meeting that we drop below 20 folks. I just > went through this process last year with the Mid-Hudson Astronomical > Association across the river as we were trying to find a space. > > Talk to anyone that runs any of the local user groups, and they have > very similar challenges. No one is trying to fleece their users out of > money, they are just trying to keep the doors open. We are fortunate > that we've had a number of connections and sponsors that let us run more > informally. > > -Sean > -- Robert Mark Wallace 60 Delaware Road Newburgh, NY 12550-3802 Telephone: (845) 566-0586 Visit my Blog, Mark Wallace Following Christ, at > http://markwallacefollowingchrist.blogspot.com/ > _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Aug 4 - Samba Sep 1 - BOINC Oct 6 - Creating Firefox Extensions
