Whither KLUG?

["Robert G. Brown" <bob@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Everyone!
   I would like to raise a few issues that have been mentioned in a number
of meetings oner the last couple of months. They're not technical, but
they are important to all of us, since they have to do with the future of
KLUG itself.

   The Linux Community is one of participation and group collaboration. Our 
energy and products come from within. We do not rely on some corporation
to crank out software for our consumption (although recently, more of them
are doing just this). KLUG is a volunteer organization that provides all
of us with a place to cooperate, share information about Linux, solve
problems, and run projects that will promote Linux itself. 

   There are some individuals who have helped keep KLUG running smoothly,
so much so that I am pleased to say that very little "governance" is
needed. As a group, we don't want to spend a lot of time talking about
doing things, and to a great extent that is a good thing. We have little
appetite for "bosses", and this makes my own role as chairman quite
simple.  I'd like to call for a round of thanks for all those active people
who have done so much to make KLUG what it is today. This includes people
listed on out "Officers page" on the website and others who have
contributed so well to on-line discussions, meeting presentation,
and other activities.
   
   All of this has helped bring us to where we are today, but what of the
future? Recently, we have not had the influx of new volunteers needed to 
ensure that KLUG will remain a vital center for activity. Several of our
important positions have been vacant for some time, and some projects have
fallen by the wayside, or fallen into disarray. Without new volunteers,
KLUG faces a grim future... where there is less value, fewer opportu-
nities, and less visibility for Linux in this area....

   Do we want that, as a group? Right now I'm not sure, but I'd like to
invite people to talk about this... or to simply look over the positions
we have available and step forward to fill them. You don't have to be a
kernel hacker or networking genius to contribute some time, talent, and
energy to help KLUG. Can you write? Do you want to learn HTML? Can you
make a few phone calls? Are you interested in looking for quality Linux
websites and making them available to everyone? Do you want to learn more
about graphics, games, network administration, or any of many kinds of
programming? Are you interested in spreading the word about Linux? Or
maybe you simply feel that its time for you to "give back" something to
the Linux Community....
 
   It's like this: if the answers to *** any *** of the above questions is 
"yes", the please write to me and we'll discuss some specifics. At the
same time, I'd be most pleased to see ideas thrown out there about what we
can do, either in addition to what we're doing now, or instead. KLUG has
always been open to new ideas, new activities and new volunteers. 

   Also, we are holding elections soon (formal voting in January), and
nominations are now OPEN. I shall NOT be standing for the position of
Chairman this year, but will serve KLUG in other capacities. It is time
for us to show that our group can thrive with a change in leadership.

   Finally, I would ask that current officers and active volunteers
refrain from responding to this message publicly for a time (say, three
days), so that we can read the replies and thoughts of all of those people
who have not been involved (perhaps until now) in running the group, but
have seen our performance at meetings, online, and elsewhere. 

You can read about these positions in detail (and elections) at:

http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/orgganize :

           Listmaster
           Linkmaster
           Webmaster 
           Webmaster for the Boogies website
           Installmaster

Librarian (Position description not yet posted, please write for details).

People to work on: Finishing the MPN project
                   Completing the work on our Community Outreach Video
                   The Boogies Cybercafe project
                   Publicity


Thank you, I look forward to you replies.
                                                       Regards,
                                                        ---> RGB <---