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. 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. Money --------------------------- PLUG has no legal entity to handle money. There isn't any. Events and Work --------------------------- PLUG has events and does any work because someone paid for it, worked it, promoted it. Or, nothing happens. 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. It also blocks some good things. 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. 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. 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. Alan --------------------------------------------------- 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