PLUG governance, etc.

Thu Aug 6 10:48:09 MST 2009

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 at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us 
> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at 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 at 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 at lufthans.com) is Committee 
> Chair because 
> > we decided that he was.
> >
> > - Brian Cluff (brian at 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 at 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 at 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
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