[wplug-board] wplug phone number

[Pat Barron]

I had assumed the P-G wanted a phone number as an administrative contact 
(in case they had questions about the announcement itself and needed to 
talk to us for clarification), not that they wanted it for publication.

I still don't think we should offer phone as a means of contact for 
WPLUG participants (and potential participants), except perhaps as an 
"I'm lost, please give me directions" hotline on meeting days.  I think 
doing so is just asking for potential pain.  Publishing a phone number 
for public use I think creates an expectation that the phone is going to 
be answered when called, I do think it will attract "help desk" calls, 
and I believe that folks who would use the phone in preference to e-mail 
are not likely to really gain much benefit from any interaction with 
WPLUG.  I think it's good for providing a phone contact number to 
entities that WPLUG may do business with (like the bank, the media, 
etc.).  Previous WPLUG boards have also used the Google Voice number for 
outgoing multi-party calls (though none of these seem to be documented 
anywhere, I only know this from talking to Ted Rodgers).

Of course, I'm only one person on a five person board, and may be more 
cynical than most.  Do any other board members have an opinion (one way 
or the other)?  The only ones taking a position on record so far are 
Michael and me.  Please speak up, whatever your thoughts might be.  If 
nobody else pipes up, Michael, I'd say go ahead and use the number in 
our announcements and such, and we'll see what happens.  We can always 
stop using it and change the number later if it becomes a problem.

--Pat.

On 04/10/2012 11:18 AM, Michael Loomis wrote:
> I know you don't want to have the phone number be abused as a help 
> desk number. On the other hand, what's the point of having a phone 
> number if we never use it?
> It cost Google a little money to provide it for us, and we should give 
> the number back if we are adamant about not using it. I hope we can 
> agree to make it public on the Post-Gazette website and expose here on 
> the mailing list archive. You are aware that the Google phone number 
> can act as simply a mailbox and that no one's phone needs to ring? Our 
> greeting can indicate that calls asking for help about Linux will not 
> be returned and suggest looking on line.
>

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