[wplug-board] Fwd: [wplug-plan] Some comments

Michael Semcheski mhsemcheski at gmail.com
Tue Aug 11 15:25:39 EDT 2009


FYI, I sent this response to Lawrence earlier today.  He's not
subscribed to wplug-plan, so I didn't see much point in replying to
the list.

Mike


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Semcheski <mhsemcheski at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Subject: Re: [wplug-plan] Some comments
To: Lawrence.Weber at ansaldo-sts.us


Hi Lawrence,

I happened to be on vacation during the July meeting, so I can't
comment directly on what you're saying.

I will say this, though:

The board members tend to do almost everything.  There are five of us,
and there's really only two other members that have helped in the
(non-meeting day) planning and preparation for a meeting in the last
year.

What I'm saying is this: we need your help.  The nominations for the
next board are in September - probably less than a month away.  I've
found that by contributing more to WPLUG, I've gotten quite a bit more
out of it.  I seriously think you should take a run at a board seat
(we may not have more candidates than seats.)  Experience isn't an
issue if you've got some common sense.

Otherwise, please come to the next meeting, and see what you can do to
help out people you don't know.  We don't have many spare hands left,
and we'll take everyone we can get.  And that's not to say that WPLUG
is dissolving - just that we are only the collective efforts of our
members.

Mike Semcheski
Chair, Western Pennsylvania Linux User's Group


On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 9:51 AM, Weber, Lawrence
A<Lawrence.Weber at ansaldo-sts.us> wrote:
> Dear WPLUG Board Members:
>
>
>
> I have been a casual Linux user for approximately 15 years.  Over this time
> I have been amazed at the quality of software support that the WPLUG members
> provide.  It is rare to wait over 30 minutes for one or more accurate
> solutions to problems sent to the email list.  Just as important I never see
> people getting flamed; all requests for help are courteously handled.
>
>
>
> I first attended a WPLUG meeting, an installfest, over 10 years ago.  After
> that I would drop into meetings whenever I could.  My Saturday mornings are
> usually very busy and it has been difficult to attend very often.  At that
> time meetings were busy and there were many members to talk to and share
> information.
>
>
>
> Recently the engineering department I work with made the decision to use
> Linux as the operating system for non-vital portions of products.  I now
> have the opportunity to spend most of my time working with embedded Linux.
> With this renewed focus on Linux, I felt I needed to make a better effort to
> attend WPLUG meetings and become a member.  I attended the July 11th
> meeting, please let me share with you my impressions.
>
>
>
> I arrived early to the meeting, hoping to have a chance to meet with a board
> member or two.  Apparently there were not enough chairs set up so I offered
> to help.  I was told, "Thanks but we have it covered."  There were not many
> people there and absolutely no one was willing to greet new people.  Small
> groups had formed to talk about personal subjects so I did not want to
> intrude.  One of the board members was busy setting up chairs.  One was
> setting up a PC to help someone with in installation and the only other
> board member was preparing for the presentation.
>
>
>
> The presentation could have been interesting had it not been for the
> constant interruption by a rude know-it-all attendee.  He had to challenge
> everything that the presenter said.  Not that I am opposed to sharing and
> getting facts correct, but the presenter had obviously spent significant
> time pulling his information and demonstration together.  He had little
> opportunity to make his presentation.  This was enough for me to know that I
> would never want to talk to this group.
>
>
>
> Eventually a board member walked by and I asked him to take my membership
> application.  I was told I should have given it to the secretary (and who
> would that be?), but that was o.k., he would give the secretary the
> form/check.  End of conversation.  The meeting then abruptly ended.  I was
> left with the impression that WPLUG is dissolving.  Hopefully this was just
> an atypically bad meeting.
>
>
>
> As an active member in other organizations and clubs please allow me to
> offer some suggestions.
>
>
>
> Have a board member greet new meeting attendees, giving them a briefing on
> how the meeting will progress and introduce them to at least one other
> member.  Other board members should circulate, making themselves available
> to all.
>
>
>
> Help presenters control the group.  The attendees should have the
> opportunity to listen to what the presenter has prepared.  If they have so
> much to say, ask them to do a follow-up presentation.
>
>
>
> Consider sending new members an email, welcoming them to WPLUG and letting
> them know of activities open to them.  Get them caught up with on-going
> activities.
>
>
>
> And on a different subject:  I noticed that there is going to be an
> Installfest at the WSCC in a couple of weeks.  Are we sure that the power
> there can handle the AC and PCs?  We know it can't handle a coffee maker.
>
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Lawrence A. Weber
>
> _______________________________________________
> wplug-plan mailing list
> wplug-plan at wplug.org
> http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug-plan
>



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