Fwd: [Fsf-friends] REcipe for a Successful [GNU]Linux User Group

Sat Mar 12 15:28:58 IST 2005

Dear Friends,

Its hightime that we look at how we are gonna run this
group.Someone should take the little test on this
page.

Thanks FN ;o)

happy hacking ...
--arky
--- "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred at bytesforall.org>
wrote:

> Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2005 23:50:43 +0530 (IST)
> From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)"
> <fred at bytesforall.org>
> To: fsf-friends at gnu.org.in
> Subject: [Fsf-friends] REcipe for a Successful
> [GNU]Linux User Group
> 
> The most recent version of this essay can be found
> at 
> http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Linux_PR/newlug.html.
> 
> Recipe for a Successful Linux User Group
> by Rick Moen
> 
> See the full essay online ****** Really good. -FN
> 
> 1. You need a Web page.
> 2. Your Web page needs a reasonable URL.
> 3. You need a regular meeting location.
> 4. You need a regular meeting time.
> 5. You need to avoid meeting-time conflicts.
> 6. You need to make sure that meetings happen as
> advertised, without fail.
> 7. You need a core of several Linux enthusiasts.
> 8. Your core volunteers need out-of-band methods of
> communication.
> 9. You need to get on the main lists of LUGs, and
> keep your entries accurate.
>      *  http://www.ssc.com/glue/
>      * http://lugww.counter.li.org/
>      * http://nlug.org/webring/
>      * http://www.redhat.com/apps/community/LUG/
>      * http://www.linux.org/groups/
>      *
>
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/User_Groups/
>      *
>
http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/
> 
> Operating_Systems/Unix/Linux/User_Groups/
> 
> 10. You must have login access to maintain your Web
> pages, as needed.
> 11. Design your Web page to be forgiving of deferred
> maintenance.
> 12. Always include the day of the week, when you
> cite event dates. Always check 
> that day of the week, first, using gcal [2]  (or
> cal). gcal is your friend.
> 13. Place time-sensitive and key information
> prominently near the top of your 
> main Web page.
> 14. Include maps and directions to your events.
> 15. Emphasise on your main page that your meeting
> will be free of charge and 
> open to the public (if it is).
> 16. You'll want to include an RSVP "mailto"
> hyperlink, on some events.
> 17. Use referral pages.
> 18. Make sure every page has a revision date and
> maintainer link.
> 19. Check all links, at intervals.
> 20. You may want to consider establishing a LUG
> mailing list.
> 21. You don't need to be in the Internet Service
> Provider business.
> 22. Don't go into any other business, either.
> 23. Walk the walk.
> 
> LUG checklist.
> 
> The following checklist may be useful for your
> group, once established.
> 
> 1. Web page:
> 
> a. Meetings:
> [ ] Current meeting info? Is it prominent?
> [ ] Day of the week? Beginning time? Ending time?
> [ ] Double-checked day/date matches against a
> calendar?
> (E.g., is the "Friday, March 28" you listed an
> error, because the 28th is a 
> Thursday?)
> [ ] Location?
> [ ] Map?
> [ ] Directions (car, public transit)? Parking tips?
> [ ] Information on the next several meetings?
> [ ] RSVP mailto link on meetings where this is
> needed?
> [ ] Note that meetings are free and open to the
> public (if they are)?
> [ ] If there's a special fee, is it disclosed next
> to the event listing?
> [ ] If location / time / date formula has changed
> recently, is this noted 
> prominently?
> [ ] Have you checked for event conflicts with other
> nearby groups, or with 
> holidays?
> 
> b. General:
> [ ] Includes event date-formulas (e.g., 4th
> Tuesdays)? Prominently?
> [ ] Maintainer mailto link?
> [ ] Last-revised date?
> 
> c. Periodically (maybe every quarter):
> [ ] Checked all links on your site for dead links?
> [ ] Checked your Web server's logs for pages
> requested but not found? (You'll 
> want to put a referral page at that URL.)
> [ ] Read all your Web content attentively for
> outdated content?
> 
> 2. Other, periodical:
> [ ] Reviewed/updated all LUG lists that have entries
> concerning your group?
> [ ] Reviewed all sites that link to yours? Advised
> their webmasters of needed 
> corrections?
> 
> Last revised: 2003-08-04
> 
> Having seen (and run) quite a few Linux user groups
> (LUGs), and observed some 
> thrive and others die, I can hazard some firm
> recommendations. If you're 
> thinking of starting a LUG, or are running one now,
> please ponder these 
> lessons, drawn from other LUGs' experience. In fact,
> please consider reviewing 
> this list from time to time, as a kind of checklist.
> 
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> d88888b d8b   db   Frederick Noronha * Freelance
> Journalist * Goa India
> 88'     888o  88   f r e d @ b y t e s f o r a l l .
> o r g
> 88ooo   88V8o 88   http://www.bytesforall.org *
> http://fn.swiki.net
> 88~~~   88 V8o88   Phone 0091.832.2409490 Mobile
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> 
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> 

____________________________________
/\                                   \
\_|       Rakesh 'arky' Ambati       |
  |        Bangalore (INDIA)         |
  | Homepage: http://arky.port5.com/ |
  |   _______________________________|_
   \_/_________________________________/

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