RE: PLUG governance, etc.

It must be a top secret men's organization, with a secret handshake and all
that. :-)

Spanky and Alfalfa, were the original members. lol


> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On
> Behalf Of Lisa Kachold
> Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 10:28 AM
> To: Main PLUG discussion list
> Subject: Re: PLUG governance, etc.
>
> I have been active in the PLUG, attending at least 1 monthly
> meeting and putting on one security Lab for at least a year.
> Before that I was attending one meeting every other month for
> a year, and I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE?
>
> On 8/5/09, Alan Dayley <alandd@consultpros.com> wrote:
> > 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.
>
> I have the root password on the server; I must be an
> "Authority" and Steering Committee member (or at least a "mascot")?
>
> > 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.
>
> Gee, where is this documented?
>
> How does someone submit requests, beyond email, to You,
> Alexander, Alan and Hans?
>
> > Money
> > ---------------------------
> > PLUG has no legal entity to handle money. There isn't any.
>
> Wait?
>
> It takes money to do everything right, beit create flyers, to
> stickers to tee shirts.
> Someone submits everything to the plug, yet members suffer
> because tee shirts aren't available and all events that take
> real assets must be supported by individuals?
> No really cool things get done for the plug without extreme
> human cost (like Hans who gives 110% himself).
>
> > Events and Work
> > ---------------------------
> > PLUG has events and does any work because someone paid for
> it, worked
> > it, promoted it. Or, nothing happens.
>
> Right!
>
> > 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.
>
> That is simplistic thinking in the extreme. The problems you
> discovered were due to lack of growth and organization, not
> money, or non-profit status.
>
> I am 53, been working in Linux my whole life, and seen a
> great number of UGs in 3 states, so while you might use the
> "money is the root of all evil" argument this to rationalize
> your decision not to grow, it's patently false.
>
> Growth and organization, including structure for submitting
> volunteer program outlines, website upgrades, promotional
> flyers, tee shirts (coolness sells - without being able to
> expand creatively, people devolve to petty bickering and
> shadow agendas) is the glue for group geek fun.
>
> > It also blocks some good things.
>
> Lack of a cohesive organization creates burnout; lack of
> growth creates the same crisis over and over with regards to
> the associated lack of organizational and personal success, etc.
>
> People like to make contributions; few even know who to make
> presentation submissions to.
> I.E. do we have to show up and ask Hans? Wait lurking on the PLUG
> list until Hans calls for presentations for an event in two weeks?
> Not all members can do that!
>
> At the very least, the structure needs to be defined on the
> website (including discussion of the "Steering Committee").
> Optimally, each of the groups, East Side, West Side,
> HackFest, InstallFest needs an organizational forum or CMS in
> the Drupal site. Alternately a one button submission process
> for bursting PLUG promotional materials to sister email
> listservers is needed for the group administrators.
>
> How can PLUG grow unless people painstakingly promote
> everything singularly (from their own websites) without even
> the ability to use the "linux" FOSS tools available for PLUG,
> because of lack of administrative decision making, duty and
> project role assignment required to build a web maintenance &
> upgrade team?
>
> Also, without a real structure, non-profit status, tee
> shirts, a real volunteer group to maintain the website, big
> event sponsorship, contests for new tee shirt designs, it
> just looks like everyone is active in the PLUG to sell their
> own classes or promote their own contracting.
>
> > 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.
>
> Right now, everyone has even less time and attention to
> devote, not to mention money.
>
> > 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.
>
> Members try to do things, email goes to black holes. One person (like
> you) agrees - others on the list simply are not active.
>
> Members get tired of there being no voice, no solutions and
> no follow through. A prime example is the political
> discussions - can we not implement a listserver email group
> for PLUG politics? Enough people want it - other PLUGS have it?
>
> Do I just go set this up? Email to Hans over 2 years has
> historically gone to /dev/null?
>
> > 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.
>
> Passion wans without satisfaction.
>
> > Alan
> > ---------------------------------------------------
>
>
> --
> http://linuxgazette.net/165/kachold.html
> (623)239-3392
> (503)754-4452 www.obnosis.com
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