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

[Shawn Badger]

 I like the idea of the business cards! It would be easy to hand them out
and more likely the person would keep them, or at least I think they would.
It would also be nice to include the email address on there to subscribe to
the e-mail list. I would even cough up the 5 bucks to print them to hand
out.

On 7/24/07, Dennis Kibbe <dennisk at linuxquestions.net> wrote:
>
> 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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> > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> > > 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
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