SummerSummit2005Notes < Org

---+ GNHLUG Summer Summit 2005

---+++ Attendees:
   * Main.RobertAnderson
   * Main.HeatherBrodeur
   * Main.MattBrodeur
   * Main.BruceDawson
   * Main.MadDog
   * Main.BillMcGonigle
   * Main.MattOquist
   * Main.GuyPardoe
   * Main.TedRoche
   * Main.BillSconce
   * Main.BenScott
   * Main.CaroleSoule

   * Notes from Main.MadDog.

%TOC%

These are the minutes I took at the organizational meeting yesterday.  (19 August 2005)
...
Finally, I think we need to figure out how this meeting is going to be a
"Quantum Leap", bringing the groups further along then they have been before,
"righting what once went wrong", instead of just going being another small blip
along the way.

md
===============================================================================

---++ Round of Introductions: Who are you, and what do you want to get out of this meeting?
 
Who are We?
   * "only a user"
      * likes to use it
      * needs "household support"
      * "come for dinner anyway"
      * "something to gather every month"
      * good at organizing
      * only found out by meeting thursday night
   * group and user base has changed
   * "No time anymore, but keep running meetings"
   *  typical meeting chair complaint

   * No joint meetings
      * bouncing meetings between locations bad
      * late notices bad
      * not a lot of students coming to UNH meetings
      * core group of six or seven people, mostly older
      * not aligned on topic
      * always meet - consistency huge..core group "just comes"
   * How to advertise to tech people
      * almost impossible

Different Groups
   * What should an ideal user group should be?
      * end users, developers, sysadmins, all?
   * Dartmouth group
      * What was successful, what has not been
   * Software Freedom Day
      * Software Freedom International - Matt
      * September 10th - 200 registered teams
      * 80-90 teams to receive CDs
      * Windows apps plus Ubuntu Live!

More Intros
   * Attributions  for who does what in group are needed...connection information
   * GNHLUG produce its own license plate?
   * "Cash in Gate's environment"
      * Rather pay money than downloads
      *   *  Wants to see Linux grow
      *   *  Wants cross-platform software
   * Ring or star topology to groups?
   * Too much on organizer's plates

More Summits
   * Frustration of leadership
      * "volunteers will always let us down" [Ed. Note: perception rather than fact]
   * Paul Lussier - wanted to come
   * Paul's thoughts
      * Can you define "working better"?
      * Many people feel it is fine
      * Those who have grand schemes
         *  Most others have no time or desire for visions
      * Work with them for years
      * "Leisure computer users"

Different ones
   * Various attendees:
      * Desire but no technical skills
      * Skills, but want to drink beer
   * Memphis - Djs
   * Address and directions for meeting on wiki pages

---++ What Are We When We Grow Up

   * Sysadmins meeting after work and having beer
      * "Do you have the answer to this?"
   * Fraternal organization?
      * Where do we go for beer?
   * Support group
      * Answers in email
      * RTFM or "Have you ever heard of Google"?
   * World Domination is great...
      * but I am busy this week

What Are We?
   * Changing
   * GNHLUG - was all of NH and....
      * Norther Mass
      * Vermont
      * Maine
      * Littleton
   * Geographical and SIG pieces of puzzle

Geographical vs Interest
   * Python meeting
      * reach out to windows users?
      * need publicity coordinator
      * 22 people show up
   * Other SIGs?
   * Should we be a "complete schitzophrenic"?
   * Less kernel stuff, less installation now
   * Troubleshooting fest

Installation - Fringe Elements
   * General Installation becoming "ho-hum", but:
      * Raid/LVM
      * Beowulf systems
         *  What happens when it is done
         *  Could be done in a computer lab

We Are A Free Software Group
   * Essentially based around Linux
      * BSD?
   * Bring them down from Dartmouth
      * Really good speakers
   * Video or audio - Publish slides and audio as part of web site
      * Podcast
      * Slides
      * Searchable
   * Open course plan

Past Events Page
   * Presentations
      * Tell speakers ahead of time it is going to happen
      * Get copies of slides at end of talk
      * Get microphone to record their talk
   * Always "GNHLUG should" - not "We"
      * "Yup, we agree, so when are you going to do it?"
      * "Let's think about what works"
   * Mailing lists
      * Awaiting moderator approval - announce list

GNHLUG Site
   * Updated twiki to find mailing lists easier
   * Should we update Wiki
   * Ben should head up Wiki
   * Approach MV for 1u Cabinet

Identity- GNHLUG
   * Manadnoc - Am I GNHLUG?
   * Need Chapter identity?
      * Automating input into Wiki site - email based?
      * Afterward putting meeting stuff into Wiki site
   * Australian site that says:  "Is answer here, if not come back and put it in"
   * Ben and Bruce to look into co-locating own box

---++ What Do We Want to Be?

   * GNHLUG is all groups
      * Quarterly ("GNHLUG") meetings are all together
      * When do we want them
      * A goal
      * "Unified group"
      * "A really good speaker"
   * Too many quarterly meetings?
      * Concord
      * Nashua too far south
   * One announcement list

Needs for Meetings
   * Place
   * Time
   * Projector
   * Speaker
   * Moderated

GNHLUG List
   * Ben volunteering to lead overall group
   * GNHLUG - infrastructure and framework for FOSS
      * Fraternal org - drinking beer
      * Support organization
      * Educational aspect
         *  learn
         *  teach
      * Advocacy
         *  Schools

What Does GNHLUG Add?
   * Intersection of New Hampshire and Linux
   * We supply:
      * communications
      * centralization
      * speakers
   * Allow this to happen
      * create infrastructure to pull stuff together
      * New user nights
      * Don't re-invent the wheel
   * SIGs

What Do We Want To Be?
   * Types
      * Suits
      * Geeks
      * Hobbyists
   * Levels
      * Beginner
      * Experts
   * More on Wiki

Business Cards on Wiki
   * Organizational - BrochureWare
   * glabels FOSS program
   * Carry them everywhere

---++ GNHLUG.org - Organizational Structure

   * No one can steal money because we have no money
   * Register as non-for-profit
      * Neighborhood associations
      * Expenses paid, not salaries
   * Have to have formal structure
   * Have to have officers
   * Have to do auditing

Money Flow
   * Services that we get
      * Out of pocket
      * Process money in some way, shape or form
   * Small group become formal?
   * Running afoul of law
   * Get BLU's bylaws
   * Novell bought Tally systems
   * Tax ID number - Secretary of State
      * Non-interest bearing

Money Flow - Continued
   * Bank Account
   * Moved to form a committee to look into incorporation
      * bylaws
      * articles
   * Mail that we voted to form a committee to look at forming the committee

---++ How To Mess Up A Group - What Can We Do Better?

   * Lots of un-coordinate mailing lists
   * Org, Announce, Discuss, Jobs
   * Updating Twiki is disruptive
   * Audience Targeting of Web Site
      * Newbie
      * Programmer
      * Systems Admin
   * Content oriented editors - Newbie
      * Angels?

How To Work A Group
   * Face Time
      * Angels for other things
   * Contingency Plans
      * Are we prepared to put on things
   * Strive to put things two weeks in advance
      * Heather
   * Publicity out
      * Greg Rundlett
   * Someone from each of chapters to be accountable

How to Make a Group Work
   * Primary and Alternate for each chapter
      * Greet Speaker
      * Have a room
   * Whole group help in finding speakers
   * 268 subscribed members on mailing list
   * One thursday in the month is a floating meeting
   * Chair responsible for getting speakers, room, etc. to Heather

Attracting New Users
   * Business cards, put them out
      * Wear Penguins
   * Places to list:
      * Radio Shack, Best Buys
   * New meeting places:
      * CompUSA. Barns and Noble
   * Framework for advertising
      * Non-Linux users
      * List of user groups
      * Linux Journal
   * Add good respondents to Wiki

Gnhlug
   * O'Reilly
   * Guidelines for mailing lists
      * Don't re-invent the wheel (unless necessary)(TM)
   * Heather needs:
      * Two names from each group and contact information

[[http://www.dotproject.net/][<NOP>DotProject]]
   * MS Project but on Web
   * Calendar - more automated?
   * Other Tools (Video or Audio conferencing)

Goals, Directions and Visions
   * One day Linux events
   * Chapter Chairs get together once per quarter
      * Before or after quarterly meetings
      * Face time important
   * TWiki be updated before October 9th
   * Need abstracts and minutes on front page of web site from speakers
   * Training for new leaders - Once per year
   * Speaker notes

We Will Be Glad to Help
   * "Talk to"
   * "We have done in past..."
   * An enabling
   * A place to hang stuff - history
   * Write stuff down - help other groups
      * "How to run a user group"
   * "I would like this topic to be discussed at the next meeting"

   * Group Photos - see bottom of page for links to attachments.
      * From [[%ATTACHURL%/GNHLUGSS2005.jpg][Ted's Camera]] (1+MB) GNHLUGSS2005.jpg
Attachments
Topic attachments
I	Attachment	History	Action	Size	Date	Who	Comment
jpg	GNHLUGSS2005.jpg	r1	manage	1116.9 K	2005-08-21 - 12:01	BruceDawson	Summer Summit 2005 Group Photo - from Ted's camera
This topic: Org > SummerSummit2005 > SummerSummit2005Notes
Topic revision: r3 - 2005-08-21 - TedRoche
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