[klug] Active ????

[Scott Redmon]

Is this LUG active? No one was at the meeting

Sent from my iPhone
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KLUG mailing list
KL...@eecs.utk.edu
http://www.KnoxLUG.org

[Ryan Kerr]

As far as I've seen, the Mailing list is fairly active. Unfortunately, I have previous engagements during the meeting time, so I've never been able to make it.

---

From: Scott Redmon <wscott...@gmail.com>
To: "kl...@eecs.utk.edu" <kl...@eecs.utk.edu>
Sent: Mon, August 2, 2010 8:10:55 PM
Subject: [klug] Active ????

[Bret McHone]

same. Never made it to a meeting, but lurk on the list a lot.

Ryan Kerr wrote:

[John Andrews]

I am still working on the Linux for CHIPS program.  I keep missing the meetings.  I guess I need a reminder e-mail to prompt me to go.

---  John Andrews

[Zach Gibbens]

transit has kept me from going, plus now I'm not as local as I was,
the list is active, but I don't think I've gotten to a lug meeting yet

[Theo]

I'm a lurker as well.

Theo Aukerman

[Markus Iturriaga Woelfel]

This group has gone through the same cycle several times. Someone will get all exited about having meetings. We will have a few meetings. Then we realize that we don't really know what we want to do at the meetings. Someone else will say "let's have an install fest". Sometimes the install fest happens, sometimes it doesn't. After about 3-4 months, nobody shows up to the meetings anymore.

I think there is officially a "president" and everything (Grant?). But things ALWAYS fizzle. The big problem is that nobody knows what to do at meetings. We just sit around and after about 10 minutes it degenerates into small groups chatting amongst themselves. The next meeting will have a couple fewer people and so on.

Then, someone will invariably bring up that we should have "presentations" to make the meetings more interesting. But presentations about what? Nobody wants to actually *do* the work, so that never happens and, you guessed it, things fizzle again.

I've gone through this boom and bust cycle half a dozen times now as I'm a founding member of this group. Undoubtedly, someone will call a meeting before too long and we'll have one, or two, or even five, and then we'll go back to not having them.
---
Markus A. Iturriaga Woelfel, IT Administrator
Min H. Kao Department of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science
University of Tennessee
203 Claxton Complex / 1122 Volunteer Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37996-3450
mitu...@eecs.utk.edu / (865) 974-3837
http://twitter.com/UTKEECSIT

[John Avery]

I have been a lurker here as well... always want to get to a meeting, yet never seem to. I used to lead ETCS (East Tennessee Computer Society) some years back and saw the same type of apathy amongst members AND the "leadership"(dont take apathy as a slight, its a human nature). There are always those who want to see things happen, yet often no one is committed enough to take the lead on any idea due to a variety of reasons, mainly a lack of: time, confidence, enthusiasm on a given subject. When a group of people with similar interests, IE Linux in this case, don't have a clear cut person willing to devote all the effort needed to head up face to face meetings that will attract people, entertain and educate, the group will stagnate when it comes to meetings. This happened to ETCS when vendor support dropped out back around 2002 and we no longer had guest speakers (who often brought free goodies). Sadly I could offer presentations to this group about a myriad of software for Microsoft Windows (don't throw rotten veggies at me for that :P) including just about every Adobe Product, but I'm a completely lost newby when it comes to Linux. I am currently building my first Linux server to house a gaming project, and have been beating my head on a wall due to my woeful linux skills.
 
My suggestion to alleviate the current activity level, or generate interest in Knoxville's Linux users, is to form an online community via a website. I see some fairly knowledgeable folks in these emails that I'm sure could build a community site with features that would attract newcomers, offer a place for virtual "How To's", a forum of question an answers and even the possibility of Online meetings with voice chat and or video. I know for a FACT there are plenty of Linux sites a KLUG site could link to.
 
On that topic, I see that the domain KLUG.com was taken and the registrar is TuCows:
 
Domain Name: KLUG.COM
Registrar: TUCOWS INC.
Whois Server: whois.tucows.com
Referral URL: http://domainhelp.opensrs.net
Name Server: NS1.MAILBANK.COM
Name Server: NS2.MAILBANK.COM
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 05-may-2010
Creation Date: 04-jun-1996
Expiration Date: 03-jun-2011

I am willing to guess this domain was originally taken out by a Knoxville Linux group (I don't know of any other cities starting with a "K"...lol). The domain is for sale, yet I would wonder if the domain is actually this groups property.
 
I see Markus works at UTK, and I wonder if the University itself has any programs that would allow KLUG to use some server space for a website. I myself have space and some bandwidth available on my business accounts hosting from GoDaddy, yet I hesitate at opening it up for others to tinker in there.
 
Another idea is what could Linux users do for the Knoxville community at large? Is there anything we could build as a group for the community that would get people involved with minimal time requirement for any individual involved? IE setting up old computers gathered up, with linux installed delivered to local libraries in poor communities or centers for community use? I'm sure there is a myriad of possibilities out there.... Also with a community effort, local news can be involved to widen KLUGs community presence
 
Last thought here is a newsletter, preferably an all digital version, maybe something eye-catching and interesting. Doesn't have to be huge and content could be user generated (people sending in neat clips of hey look at what I found or links to useful info).  Maybe even the idea of a published item that people could invest a minimum of time yet see physical results would be enough to get people fired up and grow the community.
 
Sincerely,
John Avery
Avery Publishing and Graphics
www.averypublishing.com
(business is currently down while life sorts itself out...)

[Ernie Fulton]

In regards to the domain and website, klug.com was owned by a domain
squatter when we where looking for domains 6+ years ago. Klug.org was
owned by Kalamazoo Linux User Group, doesn't seem to be the case now.

I think knoxlug.org and utklug.org serve the group well. Additionally
I host the website and will continue to host the website for free as
long as the group wishes. The site is a wiki now, so John and all
other lurkers please register and contribute.

There are 183 members on the list, that's a lot of lurkers that don't
show. The phrase "80 percent of success is just showing up" applies
here. Granted many members (like me) don't live near Knoxville
anymore, but if 10% of that group showed to a meeting that would be a
success.

The strongest attribute a regional Linux user group is the ability to
bring users together in person. The current members need to show for
support and to socialize. Even if there is no topic that month.

Ernie Fulton - ernie....@gmail.com

[Bret McHone]

Anyone want to meet over lunch some day? I work right off the strip so
if we wanted to do lunches or something like that I could probably make
that.

I'm not willing to give up my family time just for a social gathering in
the evenings without something to really gain for it, but for lunches I
could swing since I'm already in Knoxville anyway.

Anyone have any specific interests for a topic? I can personally speak
to wireless/wired networking & Virtualization

-Bret