Re: [activities] Nomination: James Polley for President

Seconded.

While potentially controversial, James and I are in agreement that
SLUG needs greater focus. We have tried numerous experiments in recent
years, including more end-user oriented talks and sessions, BoFs and
the like. While not unsuccessful, the side effect has been that we
have attracted a diverse range of participants. We are now in a
position where it is difficult to please everyone.

I have already indicated that I am not standing again for President,
and I can think of no better person to take on this challenge than our
current Vice President.

Sridhar



On 16 March 2010 00:04, James Polley <[email protected]> wrote:
> SLUG just doesn't make sense any more. We don't gather because we're Linux
> users any more; Linux has been wildly successful and using it is no longer
> remarkable. We gather instead for a variety of other reasons. We have people
> who aren't hugely interested in the philosophy behind Open Source, but want
> to know is how to make videos of their children using tools they can afford.
> We have people who don't care about the fiscal cost, but who feel that the
> cost to society if we lose sight of the ideals behind the Open Source
> movement would be too great. We have people who understand what Open Source
> and Open Standards are and why they matter, and who can make informed
> choices about what they lose (and what they gain) by using systems that
> aren't open, while most of the world doesn't have a clear understanding. We
> even have people whose main focus is Open Government - perhaps not directly
> related, but sharing many of the same goals and ideals.
>
> I do believe there's a place for an organisation very much like SLUG, I just
> don't think it makes any sense for that organisation to be called the Sydney
> Linux Users Group; nor do I feel that SLUG, as it currently exists,
> adequately serves the needs of the people I've just talked about. SLUG is
> slowly dying a natural death; I want to be President so I can help ease the
> suffering and pain and ensure that its death is swift, painless, and serves
> a purpose.
>
> Obviously I'm not just going to disband SLUG after the election - even if I
> wanted to, making such a change would require a majority vote at a General
> Meeting, and those require weeks of notice before they can be called.
>
> What I propose is that the newly elected committee should immediately start
> investigating options for reinventing - everything from adopting a new
> trading name to better reflect the goals of the current membership, to
> completely winding up the organisation and handing all assets to LA, on the
> understanding that they'll form a sub-committee charged with continuing to
> hold monthly meetings along the lines of the existing SLUG meetings.
>
> A vital part of this will be finding out what *you*, the current membership,
> want from SLUG. Should we continue to have Linux in the name, or should we
> have Libre or Open Source in their somewhere? Should we continue to be an
> organisation largely focused on user group meetings, or should we try for a
> broader advocacy role? Should we continue having monthly meetings - or
> should we go for more frequent, smaller meetings? Less frequent larger
> meetings? Perhaps we should stop holding meetings directly, and turn into an
> umbrella organisation that assists lots of smaller user groups to hold their
> own regular meetings.
>
> If you're interested in working on this with me, I encourage you to stand
> for election alongside me. Even if you don't want to do that - I need a
> seconder!
>
> If you abhor the idea of even investigating making changes to SLUG, I
> encourage you to stand for election against me. There will be plenty of
> opportunity to prevent me from doing any damage after the election, but if
> the majority of people don't support the idea of making changes to SLUG, it
> will be better for everyone if I get defeated quickly. Remember: if I run
> unopposed, you don't even get to vote against me.
>
> Either way, please be sure to come to the AGM - Friday 27th March, from 6pm.
> Pay your $25 (less for students and other concession holders) - you'll get
> the right to vote AND you're helping to ensure SLUG's future - whatever that
> happens to be - is secure and funded.
>
> --
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>




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