I agree with practically everything you've stated below. -jmz On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 10:27 AM, Lisa Kachold wrote: > I have been active in the PLUG, attending at least 1 monthly meeting > and putting on one security Lab for at least a year.  Before that I > was attending one meeting every other month for a year, and I HAVE > NEVER HEARD OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE? > > On 8/5/09, Alan Dayley wrote: >> Another thread about the sonoran penguin and making a theme for the >> website surfaced some discussion about the governance of PLUG.  I'd >> like to enlighten that a little bit. >> >> The Steering Committee >> --------------------------- >> PLUG has a Steering Committee, members in no particular order: >> >> - Hans, a.k.a. der.hans (plug@lufthans.com) is Committee Chair because >> we decided that he was. >> >> - Brian Cluff (brian@snaptek.com) still baby sits the server from time >> to time and was host of the East Side Meeting for many years. >> >> - Alexander Henry (alexanderhenry@cox.net) who, years ago, decided we >> needed Install Fest on a monthly basis, found a location and makes >> sure it happens. >> >> - Joseph Sinclair (plug-discussion@stcaz.net) a very smart developer >> and good guy who fills in the gaps and provides great programming >> knowledge along with organizational skill. >> >> - Me, who has historically mastered the web site and hosted the >> Developer Meeting for 6 or so years. >> >> There was one other who moved from Arizona some time back.  There have >> been others in the past who we thank. >> >> Other Volunteers >> --------------------------- >> There are others who help and do things, like Lisa, because they want >> to.  Nothing in PLUG could happen without people like them. >> >> Authority >> --------------------------- >> The authority of the committee is perhaps derived, as Joshua pointed >> out, by owning the domain name and having root password on the server. > > I have the root password on the server; I must be an "Authority" and > Steering Committee member (or at least a "mascot")? > >>  There is no other authority structure.  No bylaws or written rules. >> The group depends on the Steering Committee and defers to them to run >> the relatively small day-to-day issues and make meetings happen.  If >> the group or a large part of the group were to want to take over or >> fork, what's to stop them?  Nothing. > > Gee, where is this documented? > > How does someone submit requests, beyond email, to You, Alexander, > Alan and Hans? > >> Money >> --------------------------- >> PLUG has no legal entity to handle money.  There isn't any. > > Wait? > > It takes money to do everything right, beit create flyers, to stickers > to tee shirts. > Someone submits everything to the plug, yet members suffer because tee > shirts aren't available and all events that take real assets must be > supported by individuals? > No really cool things get done for the plug without extreme human cost > (like Hans who gives 110% himself). > >> Events and Work >> --------------------------- >> PLUG has events and does any work because someone paid for it, worked >> it, promoted it.  Or, nothing happens. > > Right! > >> My Comments >> --------------------------- >> Over the years I have researched and email or IRC interviewed >> participants of other LUGs.  I made a special point to seek out LUGs >> that had problems resulting in dissolution or splits.  The root cause >> of every LUG that experienced significant problems was power or money. >>  No surprise, I suppose.  This is big reason why PLUG has not gone the >> direction of formal structure and donations.  It mostly avoids such >> problems. > > That is simplistic thinking in the extreme.  The problems you > discovered were due to lack of growth and organization, not money, or > non-profit status. > > I am 53, been working in Linux my whole life, and seen a great number > of UGs in 3 states, so while you might use the "money is the root of > all evil" argument this to rationalize your decision not to grow, it's > patently false. > > Growth and organization, including structure for submitting volunteer > program outlines, website upgrades, promotional flyers, tee shirts > (coolness sells - without being able to expand creatively, people > devolve to petty bickering and shadow agendas) is the glue for group > geek fun. > >> It also blocks some good things. > > Lack of a cohesive organization creates burnout; lack of growth > creates the same crisis over and over with regards to the associated > lack of organizational and personal success, etc. > > People like to make contributions; few even know who to make > presentation submissions to. > I.E. do we have to show up and ask Hans?   Wait lurking on the PLUG > list until Hans calls for presentations for an event in two weeks? > Not all members can do that! > > At the very least, the structure needs to be defined on the website > (including discussion of the "Steering Committee").  Optimally, each > of the groups, East Side, West Side, HackFest, InstallFest needs an > organizational forum or CMS in the Drupal site.  Alternately a one > button submission process for bursting PLUG promotional materials to > sister email listservers is needed for the group administrators. > > How can PLUG grow unless people painstakingly promote everything > singularly (from their own websites) without even the ability to use > the "linux" FOSS tools available for PLUG, because of lack of > administrative decision making, duty and project role assignment > required to build a web maintenance & upgrade team? > > Also, without a real structure, non-profit status, tee shirts, a real > volunteer group to maintain the website, big event sponsorship, > contests for new tee shirt designs, it just looks like everyone is > active in the PLUG to sell their own classes or promote their own > contracting. > >> Where there is passion, things happen.  Where there is passion, >> disagreements happen.  Any organization that wants to make things >> happen needs passion but must survive the conflicts that arise.  How >> does one create such an organization without the down sides?   You >> can't.  The down sides will happen so many people turn to rules and >> by-laws, i.e. contracts, to minimize the down sides.  I suppose it >> works for the most part or people would come up with new structures >> with which to do it.  There are new ways to do these things but PLUG >> may not be able to handle it. >> >> I am beginning to accept that PLUG will not grow and thrive without a >> more formal structure and maybe even money.  Scary thought to me, >> knowing the history of other LUGs and volunteer groups.  At the same >> time, the risk may be worth it for the gains that could be made. > > Right now, everyone has even less time and attention to devote, not to > mention money. > >> The Points >> --------------------------- >> My point is that PLUG is what the members make of it.  The Steering >> Committee has no legal means of controlling the group beyond >> persuasion and respect, if given.  So, if anyone want to suggest a >> change, create something, push an agenda, please do.  In an open and >> transparent manner. > > Members try to do things, email goes to black holes.  One person (like > you) agrees - others on the list simply are not active. > > Members get tired of there being no voice, no solutions and no follow > through.  A prime example is the political discussions - can we not > implement a listserver email group for PLUG politics?  Enough people > want it - other PLUGS have it? > > Do I just go set this up?  Email to Hans over 2 years has historically > gone to /dev/null? > >> If anyone thinks the Steering Committee is out of line, doing wrong, >> whatever, please speak up. >> >> Right now PLUG is in a low passion mood, has been for a long time. >> (Except maybe politics!)  If you have a passion for something >> Linux/FS/OSS related, speak up.  Rather that then we just plod along, >> enjoying our Freedom only amongst ourselves. > > Passion wans without satisfaction. > >> Alan >> --------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > http://linuxgazette.net/165/kachold.html > (623)239-3392 > (503)754-4452 www.obnosis.com > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss