Thanks for the info Alan, maybe we could create a web page on the server with the history of PLUG Az with some of this info. > -----Original Message----- > From: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On > Behalf Of Alan Dayley > Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 11:35 PM > To: Main PLUG discussion list > Subject: PLUG governance, etc. > > 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 > --------------------------------------------------- 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