Re: [activities] Notice of AGM: 25th March 2011

On 25/02/2011 12:26 PM, James Polley wrote:
> Dear Sydney Linux Users Group members,
> 
> This message is to give notice that the Sydney Linux Users Group will
> hold its Annual General Meeting of Members on Friday March 25th 2011 at
> the Google office, 48 Pirrama Rd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
> 
> Please note that the building’s front doors close at 6:30pm and access
> after this time is not guaranteed. The AGM will be commencing at
> approximately 7pm. Only current financial members will be eligible to
> vote, but all are welcome to attend the AGM.
> 
> Please also note that your 2010 membership expires immediately before
> the AGM commences - only a 2011 membership is valid. Our Treasurer
> will be selling memberships before the AGM (and memberships be at the
> February meeting if you’d like to get yours early).
> 
> For a user-friendly guide to the AGM, see [0].
> 
> Members unable to attend the meeting may raise issues for the committee
> to respond to either publicly, by mailing the SLUG Activities mailing
> list[1], or privately by mailing the Committee directly at
> [email protected].
> 
> The draft agenda for the meeting is available online at [2].
> 
> The minutes from the 2010 AGM are at [3] for you to review prior to the
> 2011 AGM.
> 
> Members interested in serving on the Committee are highly encouraged to
> nominate themselves for one or more positions. Most of the existing
> committee members have indicated that they will not be running for
> re-election.
> 
> SLUG membership is $15 for students, and $25 for everyone else.
> 
> Voting will occur at the meeting by show of hands by financial members
> (identified by possession of a membership card). Members unable to
> attend in person may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf, in
> accordance with Section 4.11, and Appendix 2, of the SLUG
> constitution[4].
> 
> Parties should notify the secretary of their appointment of a proxy via
> digitally signed e-mail to [email protected], using the form
> mentioned in Appendix 2.
> 
> The committee will ask that the members ratify its activities as
> detailed in the office bearers' reports were in accordance with the
> organisation's aims. These reports will be presented at the AGM.
> 
> On behalf of the committee I would like to thank you for your continued
> interest in SLUG and involvement with the community to date, and
> encourage you to pass on any questions or ideas you may have about the
> organisation's future to the SLUG Activities mailing list or the
> committee directly.
> 

 Allow me to say that although I enjoyed my time working on the
committee, and felt a great affection for the group when I first joined,
I am afraid that the current state of the group does not surprise me.

 When the Slug group moved into premises that were virtually impossible
to access easily and a requirement that members actually pre-arrange
their attendance at what is, let's face it, a club, it became obvious to
me that it had lost it's way entirely.

 Social inadequacy and an intolerance of light-hearted humour turning
into accusations of abuse and even threats of referral to legal avenues
were to me an alarming and distressing, but sadly all too common set of
warning signs that resulted in my not returning and hence lapsing
membership.

 It seems quite clear to me that the current "leadership" has lost it's
way, in allowing such a pathetic attendance and lack of support for the
community result in the situation as you now find it. It is truly
saddening to know that a group that once based itself on a sense of
comraderie and a desire to share in the ideals of open source has become
the pale shadow of itself only 14 years later.

 IT is no longer of any concern of mine, of course, but I felt I had to
give my personal viewpoint because I actually did tell you so at the
time, I warned you that this was a likely outcome, and when I offered my
help you turned against me and treated me with scorn.

 It is no comfort to me to learn of this latest course of events, but I
feel I should make one extra point. If, as a result of leaving slug and
becoming members of the LA group leads (as I fear it may) to this form
of cancerous infighting and lack of care for the community infecting
that group, it won't surprise me if within a few years there will be no
LA either.

 However, I can only wish you all the best of luck, and perhaps suggest
you pay heed to my warnings this time around. No, I am not going to be
joining again. I've had my experience, and thanks, but I am afraid I
must decline to help out this time.

Michael K.

-- 
SLUG Activities
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