Meeting updates...

[Christopher Browne]

On 5/4/05, Anthony de Boer <adb-tlug-AbAJl/g/NLXk1uMJSBkQmQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Colin McGregor wrote:
> > One of the points that was emphasised at the meeting was (for legal reasons
> > (i.e. avoid conflict with the Toledo Linux User Group)) that we away from
> > TLUG to GTALUG (i.e. Greater Toronto Area Linux User Group).
> 
> I can't see that being necessary, when the other group isn't even in the
> same country.  And what about Linux users in Tokyo, Turin, and other
> such cities?  It's inevitable that there be more than a few TLUGs around
> the world.

If you're trying to incorporate, Toledo *IS* relevant because it isn't
far away at all.

Toledo is nearer to Toronto than:
 a) New York City
 b) Boston
 c) Chicago.

It's just south of Detroit, which means it is most definitely close
enough to cause confusion throughout our region.

In any case, when an attempt was made to incorporate as "TLUG", the
NUANS search showed up the Toledo group as reason for the government
to refuse to allow that name to be used.  THAT is the relevant
consideration, not what people individually deem reasonable to their
minds.
 
> Note that a GTALUG already exists, or existed, with Thamer and others
> forming it after Jan cast him out of paradise.

As nothing was ever formalized, that isn't particularly relevant.

> Finally, such a name change does very much change the focus of the group,
> from one centred in the city itself to one centered in a much larger
> area; you may have to deal with calls to move out closer to the 905ers
> (which would have once been nice, but my job is moving to within walking
> distance of the present location).  Granted, the NewTLUG meetings are
> out at IBM already.

In a sense, there has been a substantial ABSENCE of focus since about
2001.  At that time, there may have been some degree of "official
permission" to the presence at U of T; since then, the presence there
represents inertia as opposed to any sort of focus.  TLUG has had no
official permission to meet where it has been meeting.

If there is change, this will presumably involve establishment of a
focus that has been outright missing.

In the discussions on Tuesday, the myopia was quite interesting... 
The assumption seemed to be made that an "Installfest" MUST occur
alongside a TTC subway station, despite the fact that the need for
people to transport PCs makes such locations more or less the WORST
possible.

If there is a change that leads to people that _aren't_ focused on
subway stops being considered a potential part of the local "Linux
goings-on," rather than being shut out, this strikes me as a good
thing.

Linux is NOT merely intended for subway users, and the existing myopia
to that effect needs to be corrected.
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