Meeting reminder

[Tony Hammitt]

Thanks for the information.  It is possible that others were like
myself and had no idea that you ever met in KC.  To me, the 'things
of interest' are the meetings, where I get to talk to similarly-
minded techies.  Yes, of course the mailing list should be used for
answering questions.  But people don't talk to each other on a
personal basis on the mailing list.  For one thing, every letter I
type is being recorded for posterity in the archives.  This keeps
me from 'talking' to any one person.  If I didn't think that the
group would care, I wouldn't send this message.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that there should be friction between
the groups.  I just don't see any reason to combine the groups in any
formal way.  Does anyone remember when Apple came out with the 'performa'
line?  They did it because doubling the number of models meant doubling
the shelf space at the computer store.  Similarly, it is a good idea,
to the general public, to have many LUGs.  More LUGs looks like more
interest and makes Linux look more viable.

Re: the bi-montly meetings possibly in KC;  We have a dedicated reservation
at the downtown public library for twice a month.  If you want to meet
along with us, with us, or beside us, you are welcome to attend.  We can
push the formal start of the meeting a little later than 6:30 if that
would help.  At this point, I hate to spout off about the group because
I've only been involved for 3 months.  We don't really have centralized
administration.

KULUA, please accept my invitation, for what it's worth, to come to any
KCLUG meeting that you want to attend.

Sincerely,

Tony Hammitt

Jeffrey Watts wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 15 Feb 2000, Tony Hammitt wrote:
> 
> > C'mon guys.  There's a _very_ good reason that I joined KCLUG and not
> > KULUA:  I don't want to drive to Lawrence.  I don't have time in my
> > schedule to add two hours to my travel time.  Think of the people who
> > live in Independence or further east, they'd have 3 hours of driving
> > for each meeting.
> 
> Uh, approximately a third of KULUA's meetings are in KC.  Also, most
> things of interest take place on a mailing list, since most people who
> need help need it relatively quickly.
> 
> > The Kansas City area Linux people _need_ KCLUG, which meets _in_ KC.
> > If we disbanded KCLUG and told everyone that they had to go to
> > Lawrence, no one would go.
> 
> Why not one group, multiple meetings?  For some reason people think that
> there has to be one meeting, in one place...
> 
> I'm also curious as to why people still think KULUA == Lawrence.  For the
> last year and a half or so we've been having meetings/socials in other
> areas.  KULUA hasn't been affiliated with KU for almost three years now.
> 
> > Silicon valley has at least 5 LUGs because they need to split them up.
> > The number of people in each one is large and travel times there are
> > ridiculously long.  Kansas City isn't so bad for travel time, but that
> > which we are not used to wasting becomes more precious to us.
> 
> Silicon Valley has only two big LUGs, IIRC -- SVLUG and BALUG.  BALUG is
> primarily SF and Oakland (again IIRC) and SVLUG is the valley.  Remember,
> one ego and five members doesn't a real LUG make.
> 
> > Enough.  Anyone is of course free to go to either or both groups. But
> > there is no way we should merge.  There is no reason to merge.
> 
> I respectfully disagree.  There are very good reasons why we should merge,
> and several reasons why we shouldn't.
> 
> Remember, one LUG doesn't necessarily mean one agenda and one meeting.
> 
> I would never propose eliminating KCLUG's meetings.  If there was a
> merger, it would simply be to increase critical mass.
> 
> KULUA right now has a main social, and one offshoot meeting (RHCE study
> sessions), which I don't coordinate.
> 
> My proposal would be to have two main meetings, and as many offshoots
> (read SIGs) as needed.  I would suggest a biweekly meeting in Lawrence
> (sometimes Topeka) and either a weekly or biweekly meeting in KC.  We'd
> try to put them on different days, of course.
> 
> To be honest, either way people want to go is fine with me.  I just want
> to let people know that I'm willing to compromise and accomodate.
> 
> I've been content to let KULUA grow on its own in the past (KULUA's been
> doubling every year), but I feel that KULUA is big enough now that more
> infrastructure is needed, and Kansas City is one area I'm planning on
> targetting for expansion.  I would rather be neighbourly about it and
> avoid any possible friction between us.
> 
> J.
> 
> o-----------------------------------o
> | Jeffrey Watts                     |
> | watts at jayhawks.net         o-------------------------------------------o
> | Systems Programmer         | "I think the reason American cars aren't  |
> | Network Systems Management |  as good as Japanese cars is due to the   |
> | Sprint Communications      |  difference in dinosaurs.  Any clunker    |
> o----------------------------|  with a motor can outrun Barney, but it   |
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>                              |  Godzilla."                               |
>                              |  -- Dave James                            |
>                              o-------------------------------------------o
>