Thanks very much for the insight, Anand. It answers (and affirms for those that I've anticipated) a couple of questions I've always wanted to ask but which somehow ended up escaping my mind due to ignorance.
Speaking of the $10 entrance fee, I vaguely recall a discussion in one of the local hardware forums (HwZ?) some two or three years ago. At that time I was only a passive enthusiast, as far as local OSS matters were concerned (and unfortunately still remain to be until I attend a meetup/meeting/event and contribute something useful). The general tone of the discussion leaned towards disfavour, so I understand that part. However, how is that any different from the current membership fee (which is 6 times more)? Isn't it actually a necessecity for any kind of organisation, however big or small, to charge membership/entrance fees in order to be able to at least subsist? If LUGS did "close down", wouldn't that contribute to a failing image of Linux/OSS advocacy in the country? It may be a baseless point of view, but from what I see and hear, LUGs around the world play active roles to a certain extent. SLMG, like you said, is just an informal meetup group. It provides an avenue for keen enthusiasts to interact and participate without being bound by the formalities of being a "registered member". As such, I believe it shouldn't be called a "sister organisation", but shown as a participating group that supplements the LUG with an informal platform for interaction. With that said, however, I note that it wouldn't be a problem if SLMG were to become the local LUG instead. We are, after all, the same people interested in the same subject. Yet, the lack of a dedicated committee (being the result of a free-beer-and-curry-puffs-organisation) poses certain deficiencies. There has to be a set of official terms (like membership dues) for the organisation to maintain its significant role. Ideas like http://ubuntu.sg/node/110 can then be implemented with a higher success rate. From that, we end up coming back to the idea of a LUG - so square one again =/
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