Re: LUG: Server, funds, purpose - Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:37:05 -0500

Subject : Re: LUG: Server, funds, purpose

From : Edward Anderson <nilbus@nilbus.[redacted]>

Date : Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:37:05 -0500

whoops, I sent that in a very half-completed state. Let me try that
again in a few

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 11:34 PM, Edward Anderson <nilbus@nilbus.[redacted]> wrote:
> Tonight at dinner, we had a great discussion regarding our plans for a
> server and LUG funds that are being recovered. Discussing where our
> funds should be spent led to a discussion of what our purpose as a LUG
> is. My goal in this email is to summarize what was said tonight and
> suggest a course of action to follow.
>
> We have over $1000 in escheated funds that are currently being
> recovered from the NC Dept State Treasury. These funds were untouched
> for over 5 years, under the philosophy that we shouldn't spend when we
> have no source of income. However, after having our funds escheated
> due to account inactivity, we realized that saving the money was doing
> the club no good. We want to use the funds we have to benefit the
> group.
>
> Spending money to benefit the group begs the question of what our
> group's purpose is. Our money should go toward whatever our purposes
> are. It has been suggested that the LUG exists for these purposes:
> 1. Serve as a social group for those with similar interests
> 2. Serve as a resource for existing Linux users at NC State
> 3. Introduce Linux to users of other operating systems and make converts of them
>
> I would argue that it is all of the above, with the first being most important.
>
> (1) When I've asked the core people why they come and have continued
> to come to the LUG (myself included), they'll talk about the social
> aspect of the LUG. The LUG is primarily a group of friends with common
> interests. Anyone who comes for other reasons [help with a problem,
> interesting meeting topics, installfest] does not stick around unless
> they make friends with us become part of that core social group.
>
> (2) The NCSU LUG serves as a resource for NCSU Linux users in that we
> help answer questions and resolve issues that people have while
> working with Linux. We also sometimes share job opportunities for
> people in our various fields. This goal is largely satisfied through
> our mailing list and IRC channel, though
>
> (3)
>

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