TLUG's value to community ???

[Rick Tomaschuk]

I'm involved in a number of 'volunteer' groups. The common thread is
that a small number of people, usually persons who you would think are
the least likely candidates to run things...they do all the work while
all the 'important' peacocks strut around and complain but will never
lift a finger to do anything. I'm often approached by companies wanting
to give presentations or use our resources. When I ask for a measly
$35.00 check as an annual donation I generally never hear from them
again. I have expenses to pay but I happily pay them to ensure the
organization follows the direction I want.
RickT
http://www.TorontoNUI.ca

On Sun, 2005-07-10 at 17:24 -0400, John Macdonald wrote:
> On Sun, Jul 10, 2005 at 04:55:34PM -0400, Christopher Browne wrote:
> > On 7/10/05, John Macdonald <john-Z7w/En0MP3xWk0Htik3J/w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > > But this whole discussion is about the fact that TLUG has
> > > not issued a charter to GTALUG to manage this group and is
> > > asking to be conviced that there is value in your so doing.
> > > TLUG has been getting along just fine without being managed.
> > 
> > Sure, it has.
> > 
> > TLUG *is* Drew Sullivan, more than anything else that you can formally look at.
> > 
> > Who owns the web server?  Drew.
> > Who owns the mail server?  Drew.
> > Who controls the (rather complex) configuration of the mail server?  Drew.
> > 
> > I can't see convincing arguments that point at any other nexus.
> 
> OK, let me see if I understand what you are syaing here.
> 
>     One person has provided all of the useful services for
>     a valuable and thriving group.  Since this is just one
>     person, he is an autocrat.  So it is imperative to create
>     a different organization under the control of a few of the
>     members of the original group to take over control of the
>     entire group.
> 
> I don't agree.  A volunteer group is always run on the backs of
> a very small number of people, often one person.  The issue is
> not whether one person as the power to carry out autocratic
> actions, but whether the actions they carry out generally
> provide useful value for the member with none of the actions
> being unacceptable.  I haven't heard of any complaints about the
> actions taken by Drew.  The only objectionable action I heard of
> is the idea of shutting down the tlug mailing list and requiring
> people to acknowledge the new cabal to join a replacement.
> 

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