[LUAU] HOSEF ?= LUG

[Michael Bishop]

After attending PyCon 2008 (which was awesome) and chatting up various 
people there, my view on LUGs and community groups has changed. Please 
allow me to share my thoughts and questions with you.

What ever happen to the local Linux Users Group (LUG)?

As I recall MPLUG (Mid Pacific Linux Users Group) was rolled into HOSEF 
to create a unified *nix group, or at least join forces, since at the 
time few people were interested. I know this is no longer the case, I 
think there are many people in Hawaii interested in *nix. I think the 
flame-fests and lack of LUG events have turned people off. I see fewer 
posts with *nix questions and more about infighting and power-plays. 
However, I think some good has come out of the latest batch of posts 
with regard to restructuring HOSEF. With that in mind...

I'm confused about the membership thing. To be a member of the local LUG 
(HOSEF), which advocates FOSS which is free, I must pay to be a member? 
I don't believe most LUGs require a cash donation to become a member.

If HOSEF is to continue to be the local LUG, I think it should start 
doing more LUG stuff or perhaps MPLUG should rise again. Warren still 
owns the domain and I think he might let us use it.

I think LUG membership should be determined by interest and/or 
attendance to meetings. For example, you can only become a member by 
attending and signing up at OpenSource Pizza, the monthly LUG meeting, 
or other LUG events. That way it gets the members and potential members 
interacting. I enjoyed getting together for Pizza after slugging 
computers around at PriceBusters.

The membership list should be used only to show that there is support in 
Hawaii. Right now I couldn't tell if there were 5 or 500 people in 
support of the Oahu LUG. I say Oahu, not Hawaii, LUG because there is a 
Big Island Linux Users Group [http://bilug.org/]. Not to exclude them, 
but point out there is a Big Island LUG, where is the Oahu LUG? [1] Why 
can't the HOSEF website say it's the local LUG? It looks like HOSEF, the 
foundation, gobbled up HOSEF, the LUG. I think the LUG part of HOSEF 
needs to be acknowledged more.

If HOSEF is the local LUG, why hasn't there been a hosef-announce post 
about the upcoming Shakacon? What about a calendar or ical feed from 
google? Maybe HOSEF should pay a director to keep this active?

As for money to fund to operations, I would rather attend OpenSource 
Pizza, chip in $10 for pizza and drinks, and HOSEF keep the change.

I would like to see an Unconference [2] at least once, if not twice, a 
year. It doesn't have to be a 3 day marathon. Just a single weekend day 
with some interesting talks and lunch. I found the Ruby talk and 
Funding, Act 221 talk at the 2008 Unconferenz [3] constructive, 
enlightening and informative. (Just to be clear the Unconferenz was not 
run by HOSEF) I'd happily fork over $30 for a good lunch, a shirt and 
the rest going to HOSEF. I'm sure this could somehow be hosted at UH or 
a Community College.

Maybe an Unconference and PFOSSCON could be the 2 main annual 
conferences. The Unconference being a local community event. PFOSSCON 
being a bigger deal with out-of-state speakers. I really liked the last 
PFOSSCON. Perhaps the "extra money" could bring big speakers to the 
islands. Or perhaps local sponsors could help fund it. Personally I'd 
love to see Guido or Linus come to the islands. Isn't there a famous guy 
from SANS that lives on the Big Island?

Money received should go to support hardware/hosting for the lists, 
website and mirror. The LUG should have direct control over the 
equipment. An individual should not be footing the bill or have supreme 
control over the operation of such.

As for eWaste, I think HOSEF, the foundation, should stop taking in 
computer trash for money and go back to a standards based approach. Only 
take in P3+, 19+ CRT, any LCD, servers, server parts and cool tech 
stuff. I think donations of money should be requested, not required, to 
cover the pickup costs and to perpetuate HOSEF. For businesses, broken 
stuff that's easily fixable should possibly require a donation for 
pickup because HOSEF would be providing a service that would otherwise 
have to be paid for. We don't want to become the free alternative to 
proper disposal. Every situation should be handled with care. I wouldn't 
turn away an 8-way server because the donator wouldn't pay to have it 
hauled away.

As for storage, each lab could have at least a little space for spares 
and if possible extra storage for HOSEF. Once the cache of spares at 
each school fills up, either dump the junker stuff or don't take the 
donation. Perhaps HOSEF can work with one of the local big storage 
companies to grant HOSEF some space for a set period of time (1 year+). 
Maybe to have small storage caches at strategic locations throughout the 
island.

For any excess computer equipment, how about a waiting list of people 
interested in R&D equipment. I recall one student wanting 4 computers to 
build a cluster. Another went to someone without a spare computer to 
learn Linux. Though I would rather see a student get a computer first 
over a hobbyist. More given away (like the cluster) upon approval by the 
board. I don't mean the list be like a free for all where anyone who 
wants a computer gets one. It should be based on need and educational 
purposes.

I think HOSEF should continue to setup K12 labs and work toward building 
a better support system for it. So when the Tech Coordinator is sick, 
tired, busy, etc. HOSEF can step in and handle it. Perhaps HOSEF could 
sell maintenance contracts and pay people to execute those contracts? I 
don't know how well this can align with a non-profit, but I don't see a 
problem as long as the profits support the foundation and its efforts.

Once the board has filled out again, I think HOSEF should create 
foundational goals. If large amounts of money are needed, apply for 
Grants from the Hawaii Community Foundation [4]. They not only have 
grants available, but also help train non-profit boards on governance.

To reiterate, personally I would like to see HOSEF do a lot more 
community outreach as a LUG (if it is a LUG), clean up this membership 
issue, put more labs in schools, create a better K12 support system, and 
train tech coordinators and teachers on using/administering *nix.

What do you think?

Michael


[1] 
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:GK5VuBZtG8IJ:lists.hosef.org/pipermail/luau/2004-August/015595.html+oahu+lug&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=firefox-a
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference
[3] http://www.unconferenz.com/
[4] http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/index.php?id=22 - Hawai‘i 
Community Foundation distributes charitable funds to Hawai‘i’s nonprofit 
organizations through a variety of programs. Our internal programs, such 
as the Organizational Capacity Building 
<http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/index.php?id=71&categoryID=26> 
and Mo’ Bettah Together Programs, are strategic investments in the 
strengthening of our community. We also assist private foundations in 
Hawai‘i in administering their grantmaking activities. Through 
government-based initiatives and funder collaborations, we help increase 
the level of charitable investment into Hawai‘i’s community. We also 
administer a number of smaller funds focused on supporting specific 
fields of nonprofit work, such as education or health.