[kwlug-disc] communitech?

[Bob Jonkman]

Robert P. J. Day wrote:

> if someone *were* able to wangle a nice location like that, i suggest
> that that would put added pressure on KWLUG to come up with some
> *really* snappy and professional presentations.
>
>   and by "professional," i'm suggesting presentations that start
> (close to) on time, move right along, and take no longer than, say, 75
> minutes.  and possibly involving a speaker who dresses business
> casual, perhaps even with a tie. :-)

Please, no.

KWLUG is a group of people interested in Linux. Not necessarily 
professionals, not professional speakers. Requiring *anything* other 
than enthusiasm is detrimental. I would rather listen to someone 
speaking, rambling, muttering, going overtime if they have someting 
interesting to say. I don't care how they're dressed, or whether it 
takes them a long time to say it.

For some presentations it's a good thing for other members to be able to 
ask questions, and get into debates on some small minutiae. Some of the 
best presentations I've seen are the ones that are derailed completely 
from the original topic, but with great audience participation (not so 
much at KWLUG, but other UGs I've been to)

It's already scary enough for many people to participate. Adding the 
irrelevant burden of a dress code, time limit and punctuality, and KWLUG 
will lose a large pool of talent. I have no qualms about wearing a 
business suit for a client, but KWLUG is a group of friends.

> why not ask communitech what kind of
> talks *its* members want to see.  if you're going to ask for their
> facilities, offer in exchange to let them poll their membership and
> give a presentation on what *they* would like to hear.

Please, no.

That wouldn't be a presentation for KWLUG. We're a user group, not a 
show-for-hire. We do the things we want to do, not things others want to 
do, or things others want us to do.

I'll go to a meeting anywhere, a church, a bar, or a community room, but 
KWLUG shouldn't have to change its makeup, character or focus to make 
use of it. It may be necessary to *define* the makeup, character or 
focus of KWLUG in order to get the use of the church, bar or room, and 
wea're doing some of that right now.

And the choice of venue may change the character of KWLUG slightly 
(losing/attracting people who like/dislike churches, bars or community 
rooms), but that's a natural progress, not one imposed by outsiders.

--Bob.



Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>         http://sobac.com/sobac/
SOBAC Microcomputer Services              Voice: +1-519-669-0388
6 James Street, Elmira ON  Canada  N3B 1L5  Cel: +1-519-635-9413
Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting




Robert P. J. Day wrote:
>   i know it's been mentioned already, but is there anything available
> once a month thru communitech?  that seems like a perfectly reasonable
> location, being off-campus somewhat so that there's easy parking.  but
> if someone *were* able to wangle a nice location like that, i suggest
> that that would put added pressure on KWLUG to come up with some
> *really* snappy and professional presentations.
>
>   and by "professional," i'm suggesting presentations that start
> (close to) on time, move right along, and take no longer than, say, 75
> minutes.  and possibly involving a speaker who dresses business
> casual, perhaps even with a tie. :-)
>
>   this just brings us back to one of my original questions -- what
> does KWLUG *want* to be?  if people are happy with the current setup,
> then there's no pressure to reach a little higher.  on the other hand,
> if one is thinking of getting a nice facility like communitech or
> similar, then it's only reasonable that one be prepared to live up to
> those new surroundings and put on appropriately professional
> presentations.
>
>   and there's the fundamental decision to be made.
>
> rday
> --
>
> ========================================================================
> Robert P. J. Day                               Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
>
>             Linux Consulting, Training and Kernel Pedantry.
>
> Web page:                                          http://crashcourse.ca
> Twitter:                                       http://twitter.com/rpjday
> ========================================================================
>
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