Sponsorship

[Tim Reid]

Zscoundrel wrote:

> I am not sure I see the need/benefit of this.  Perhaps you could 
> describe what the benefits are to the list and what you would be getting 
> out of this arrangement.
> Hal and Mike would be the people to make this call.  As far as I am 
> concerned, things are fine the way they are.  Unless you can give us a 
> clearer picture of what the list stands to gain, I can't see a crying 
> need to make the change.
> 
> Shayne Patton wrote:
> 
>> I wonder if KCLUG does anything w/ sponsorship.  The contracting 
>> business I and others are starting up would like to sponsor KCLUG.  If 
>> this is a possibility please email me.  Is there someone in particular 
>> I should speak w/ about this?  What do I need to do? etc. etc. etc.
>>
>> Our focus will be networking and security.  My particular focus will 
>> be Linux/Windows integration on networks initially and later "ethical 
>> cracker" if I'm up to it.  :)
>> Anyway, if anyone cares to check us out it's 
>> www.white-tiger-security.com .  Site may experience slight uptime 
>> fluctuations due to initial configurations/tweaks we're doing to it.
>> Universally,
>> Shayne
>>
> 
<disclaimer>
I don't know what Shayne Patton and his "White Tyger" group intend with 
this offer.  Nor do I really intend for this comment to shade their 
intentions.  I have some experiance with several other not-for-profit 
volunter orgs, but I'm still a cub compared to most of the people on the 
list.  Please keep this in mind.   IN SHORT: I probably should just keep 
my @%%*& mouth shut.
</disclaimer>

Something I'm just compelled to say.  I love the anarchistic spirit of 
kclug.  As Johnathan H. said, it works for kclug.  Therefore, I hesitate 
when I see something that might limit, or otherwise effect, that free 
spirit.  I had personal hesitations about kclug meeting in private 
business space.  (This is not an opinion formed against those businesses 
, but one formed against the use of private commerical space in general)

I have had prior experiances with two other not-for-profit orgs in which 
unsolicited sponsorship was accepted.  In one case the sponsorship was 
given to the group, afterwards a certain member of the group was granted 
political influence directly due to the sponsorship.  In the other case, 
the sponsorship seemed to simply be a tax writeoff for the sponsor.

I am not intending to start an intrigue on this subject.  Again, I don't 
have the slightest knowlege of this "White Tiger" group.  I want people 
to know about a worst case senario in this type of situation.  If 
sponsorship is benifitial to the entire lug, I think that I would be for 
sponsorship.  If sponsorship will not radicaly change the lug's 
organization, I think that I would be for sponsorship.  If sponsorship 
only effects the location of the server, I probably have no say anyways. 
  I'm a frequent lurker, and an infrequent poster on the list and in the 
meetings, but I still care enough to ask that we be careful.  That is all.

I will now dig out my flame-retardant jumper, and prepare to say: "Oh 
shit! What have I done?!"

Thanks,

Tim