I agree with practically everything you've stated below. -jmz
On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 10:27 AM, Lisa Kachold<
lisakachold@obnosis.com> wrote:
> 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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