Installfest thoughts

[Colin McGregor]

Eddie, 

The attached does not answer my central concern. At
the Install Fest there were two release forms present,
one of which was checked by a local lawyer then
offered to this list for inspection by anyone who was
interested. The other release form was NOT checked by
a local lawyer, was NOT offered to the volunteers so
those that were interested to review the form. The
second form was just dropped on us and was used to
cover up the checked release form.

Now, let us consider a "nightmare" scenario. Several
people come in, they sign the not checked form, then
something goes wrong with their computers. We then
find out the not checked form has a flaw in the
wording (something that does not apply in Ontario), so
the people can and then do sue. Ok, so as volunteers
and GTAlug is looking at tens of thousands of dollars
in compensation and/or legal fees.

In other words what happened on Saturday was insane on
several levels as:
- It potentially exposes us (volunteers and GTAlug) to
  unnecessary legal liability.
- If Centennial noticed (and I hope they didn't) it
  makes us look like we don't have our act together
  with 2 release forms.
- It make me feel like the executive views me with
  contempt as I am not trusted to do things right.

Now, if the executive wants to tell volunteers up
front we would like you to put in a lot of hours work
performing task X and along the way we will:
- Expose you to $10,000+ dollars worth of liability
  and we will not let you take steps to limit that
  liability.
- Try to make you look like an ass in front of people
  who you would like to respect you.
- Treat you with contempt.

Then fine, volunteers might consider the above
(granted I would not consider it for long or
seriously, but there are others who may be more
charitable).

Colin McGregor

--- echin <edward.chin-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> Colin McGregor wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Other concerns, who speaks for GTALUG? 
> 
> Excellent question!
> 
> The simple answer is the Board of Directors, their
> designated representatives, 
> and/or responsible employees. (No, we don't have
> employees - we are still a 
> volunteer driven group!)
> 
> However, this question does lead us to the important
> issue of how our voices may 
> be heard. As most of us now know, GTAlug is an
> incorporated non-profit 
> organization chartered in the province of Ontario
> and bound by the laws 
> gouverning that province. Well, Good News!
> 
> This September, at the regular meeting, we will be
> holding our first Annual 
> General Meeting (AGM) to elect the Board of
> Directors. Details from the Election 
> Committee should be forthcoming to the voting
> members, soon.
> 
> Now is the time, for everyone interested, to become
> a voting member and to run 
> for office.(You aren't really required to run for
> office.) Parties interested 
> will be able to join up until the call for
> elections.
> The annual Membership fee is: $20 Voting;  $10
> Student
> A special Membership Offering this year will enable
> those joining now to be 
> eligible to vote/run in two elections as all
> memberships expire in September.
> 
> We encourage everyone to come, be heard, to run, to
> participate and contribute 
> to making our group an example for the Linux
> community. We would especially like 
> to have those with some accounting or legal
> experience to join us.
> 
> Thanks for the question, Colin!

--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml