Promoting PLUG [WAS: Re: OT: LUGs dying out]

[Dennis Kibbe]

On Monday 23 July 2007 10:21:47 pm you wrote:
> On 7/23/07, Josef Lowder <joe at actionline.com> wrote:
> > .
> > On Mon, 23 Jul 2007, Alan Dayley wrote
> >
> > > PLUG is as viable and useful as we PLUGgers make it.
> > >
> > > PLUG meeting attendance, in my view, has been at a plateau for
> > > several years now.  There is a core group that "mostly always"
> > > attends a given meeting with a few new people each month that
> > > usually don't come again. I wish there was a way to make the
> > > meetings more attended.
> >
> > While I am more sporadic than regular in attending the East
> > side meeting, I am usually glad that I attended whenever I have.
> > There is something comforting about just knowing that the meetings
> > are there and available, and seeing familiar faces there.  I must
> > admit that I kind of like the small group "feel," though I agree
> > that it would be great if the attendance could be increased. I'm
> > kind of on both sides of that consideration. ;))
> >
> > There are several things that I believe might be helpful to
> > encourage more attendance and repeat attendance by newcomers.
> >
> > #1. Whatever happened to the idea of printing some PLUG brochures?
> > I recently saw an ad for www.CopyWorldInc.com offering 5,000
> > flyers printed in full color on both sides for $99.  Seems like
> > that should be do-able.  I'd be willing to chip in something to
> > get something like that, and I'm sure others would as well.
> > I'm sure we could find some good places to distribute them and
> > we could all have some available to give away.
> >
> > #2. I wish that everybody would wear a name tag at the meetings.
> > Perhaps with name and favorite distros on the tags.  I am still
> > unable to connect a name with a face on many of the group, both
> > regulars and visitors.
> >
> > #3. As well as the "presentations" (which are always great to
> > have), why not create a little spontaneous "show and tell" segment
> > in each meeting to invite and encourage two or three plug members
> > at each meeting to share a little something that they have learned or
> > found helpful recently (strictly voluntary, of course - no pressure!)
> >
> > #4. Then how about starting a little "directory" of short plug
> > member "bios" (with photos) on the plug website?  That way every
> > new person could get better acquainted with regulars and in that
> > way feel more a part of the group and would thus be more inclined
> > to keep coming back.
> >
> > #5. How about having a little questions/comments/feedback form
> > available at the meetings so everyone could have an opportunity
> > to express whatever might be on their mind, and one of the meeting
> > hosts/coordinators/moderators could look through those during the
> > meeting and perhaps respond.
> >
> > > I always find them valuable and even occasionally "seminar" quality
> > > in their content and presentation.  Others obviously don't feel that
> >
> > way.
> >
> > I think most people would agree that the meetings usually do have
> > some worthwhile value and sometimes are even of near-seminar quality.
> >
> > > Think about it.  Here we have a metro-area of millions with easily tens
> > > of thousands working with or using Linux/FS/OSS every day.  And total
> > > monthly attendance to all PLUG meetings (just add up the number of
> > > people at each meeting) is about 60-70?  Does anyone else think that
> > > is low?
> >
> > This is an excellent point.  I'll bet there are hundreds of Linux
> > enthusiasts and potential Linux users who would be very interested
> > in attending the meetings and becoming part of PLUG if they only
> > knew about it.  Just getting some distribution on a PLUG brochure
> > should be a good way to get the word out.
> >
> > Has the steering committee ever considered putting a sandwich board
> > out on the street whenever and wherever a PLUG meeting is in progress?
> > Who knows, we might even get some drop-in visitors.  The sign could
> > just say "LINUX meeting -- 7-9 pm tonight -- stop in anytime."
> >
> > > But, then, many are not "meeting people" so, we do what the group wants
> > > to do.  And we will continue to have meetings, if I have any say in the
> > > matter.  If for no other reason than my own selfish enjoyment of them.
> >
> > I think the meetings will continue to be valuable forever ...
> >
> > > Our email lists are the very best!
> >
> > I totally agree and am very thankful for them.
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------
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> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
> >
> >
> > [...] ad for www.CopyWorldInc.com offering 5,000
> > flyers printed in full color on both sides for $99.  Seems like
> > that should be do-able.  I'd be willing to chip in something to
> > get something like that, [...]
>
> Here is the URL for that:
>
> http://www.copyworldinc.com/printing_product_catalog/flyer_printing.asp?gkw
>=1 I think you only get that price ( $99) if the flyers are very small. The
> web page (see above link) says 3 by 4, and I think that means inches. For 4
> by 6 it is more like $169.00 ...  and I am not sure about 8.5 by 11. OTOH,
> we might be able to get by with one-sided,
> (vs. "printed in full color on both sides")
>
> > I'd be willing to chip in something to [...]
>
> It is also possible that some funding might be forthcoming
> (either for SW Freedom Day, or for some other worthy PLUG causes)
> from a source like the Phoenix Chapter ACM.
> It has a bank account, but almost no members (except for me),
> and very few activities.  (lately).
> Talk about "dying out"...  LUGs are alive and well,
> compared to the Phoenix Chapter ACM.
> [well, some LUGs at least... like PLUG].

Brochures: Before you commit 5,000 check the prices at VistaPrint. I'm always 
getting emails from them with prices that are lower that published on line. 
Create the artwork in Inkscape or Scribus and output to a HiRes TIFF or PDF.

PLUG business cards: I've thought about doing a simple PLUG business card with 
the logo on one side and the URL and maybe meeting times plus a place for the 
name of the person inviting the recipient. VistaPrint regularly has sales 
where the card can be purchased for under $5.00USD or free even.

Nametag: I've dropped the ball on that one since I was bringing name tag 
labels to meetings at one time. I do have a supply of lanyards from HP that 
I'll donate.

Dennisk