introducing metalug

[Scott Elcomb]

On 10/29/06, John Van Ostrand <john-Da48MpWaEp0CzWx7n4ubxQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> On Sun, 2006-10-29 at 16:10 -0500, Scott Elcomb wrote:
> > I won't describe what I see in detail at this point, it's too early,
> > but I think that metalug.* could provide several new things -
> > including YACF, Yet Another Canadian Flag.  Despite the "Yet Another"
> > component of the acronym, a new international/national/local
> > initiative should only increase Canada's profile (for better or worse)
> > in the FOSS world.  The closer it is tied to similar/related
> > initiatives the better because of the resulting concept-reinforcement
> > feedback loop.
>
> Actually I think now is the time to go into more detail. There are
> several aspects to deal with here. Perhaps we're talking about different
> details. Here is the detail I think need to address:
>
> The technical aspect should be easy to many of us and doesn't need to be
> addressed right away. Being programmers, sysadmins, web designers, and
> etc. we (i.e. the lugs in general) are abundant with technology skills
> and often jump in to it too early.

I am with you 100% on this argument; in fact, it's the reason I said
it was too early for me to lay out my vision.

The problem is that it's not my vision.  Mr. Patrick's had it too.
And as he himself points out, he's probably (and as of this thread,
now certainly) not the only one.

I think as the starter of the topic, DJP should speak first about details.

> Even though this isn't necessary a business venture it helps to look at
> is as such and use the tools that businesses use to be successful.
>
> Currently a vision statement is being developed in this thread. The plan
> to achieve that vision will require funding, marketing and sales,
> management, etc.

Agreed.  But still, organization first...

> > "Beyond the scope," should be communicated to other intiatives - to
> > the projects/organizations better equipped to deal with the issue(s)
> > at hand.  Communication is the biggest barrier here, and I think
> > that's what metalug would be trying to resolve.
>
> That communication should begin now. The LUGS would be the customers and
> members. We can use them to help determine their needs. Their buy-in is
> the key here. We need both the larger LUGs and the smaller lugs to buy
> in and their needs will be different. They need to be part of the
> process.
>
> We can start in this thread to speculate what those needs might be based
> on the GTALUG and KW LUG and whatever other LUGS are reading. Then take
> those to a larger forum of LUG reps.

...

> > I'd suggest that local/national SMB's (Small-Medium sized Business)
> > that make use of Linux/FOSS could help metalug out by sponsoring such
> > an undertaking.
>
> Those donations wouldn't taint the goals. I hadn't though of them, only
> the Linux hardware and software vendors.
>
> > Of course, some serious organization would have to occur first.
>
> I agree, and I have some ideas on that.

...

Organization, organization, organization.

I still have to compile the results of the FOSS in Education meeting
notes from last month, but if folks in the GTA want to come together
on this, I'd recommend a round-table meeting at linuxcaffe sometime in
November.

-- 
Scott Elcomb
http://atomos.sourceforge.net/
http://search.cpan.org/~selcomb/SAL-3.03/
http://psema4.googlepages.com/

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

  - Benjamin Franklin
--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists