[LeapBusiness] Re: Considerations When Making Suggestions ...

[Gavin Baker]

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(Apologies for wacky formatting / breaking threading. I wasn't
subscribed to leapbiz when originals were posted, so I'm pasting from
archive.)

| Just some general considerations when making suggestions.  These are
| all my own opinions and should not be considered anything but my own
| views (which may be hypocritical coming from myself ;) ...
|
| 1.  Use LEAPBusiness, Not LEAPList
|
| We established this list to keep the non-technical, meta-discussions
| off the main list.  I can personally tell when these "flair up"
| because I get multiple "digests" per day, instead of one or less.  ;)
|  Technical noise (especially Linux) should be on LEAPList.  This list
| was created for exactly the purpose of discussion such (especially
| since the people involved are a clear and regular minority of the
| membership).
|
| 2.  Volunteer Yourself First and Foremost
|
| Suggestions should be made as a volunteer.  As the sign on the Animal
| Shelter says, "If you don't like what you see here ... volunteer!"
| Patronizing others (even if honest and sincere) to do things is not
| enough.  You don't have to be an officer in LEAP to do so (I
| certainly have never been, on purpose, for various reasons ;).
|
| 3.  Find Two (2) More Volunteers
|
| One person is not reliable.  Two (2) people are fairly reliable.
| Three (3) are, statistically, always reliable.  Standard sigma
| statistics will often apply to probability (i.e., 67%, 96%, >99%,
| respectively).  Find at least one (1), if not two (2), other
| volunteers to share the responsibility of any new suggestion.
|
| 4.  Don't Focus on Attendance or Membership
|
| Too many people have the "I know what will make the group more
| popular" or "I know what will draw more people" attitude.  In all
| honesty, too many people want to do too much, and try to make
| everyone happy.  The group exists out of "different whoms who do some
| whats," and won't and can't artificially cater to "those different
| whoms who do other (all) whats."
|
| Referring back to #2 & #3, suggestions I can make include ...
|
| - If you want to see more first-time Linux users, volunteer to teach
| new user classes (e.g., at InstallFests or as a side meeting at the
| monthly)
| - If you want to see more Windows administrators or other IT
| professionals, volunteer to teach professional or even certificate
| programs (e.g., LPI, etc...)
| - If you want to have free drink, food, etc... provided, find three
| (3) people to share this duty with, and work on the financial
| aspects**
| - Etc...
|
| In all cases, work with the LEAP Executive Committee (elected
| officers).
|
| **NOTE:  Please be conscience that LEAP is a technical group as much
| as a people networking group, but LEAP is _not_ a "vendor outlet"
| group.  I.e., "freebies" can lead to vendor marketing dominance of
| meetings over technical "meat," which plagues more
| "vendor-aligned/provider-aligned" groups.  LEAP will have vendor
| speakers, but the content and focus will always be on the subject
| matter, not the marketing.  Focusing on "freebies" can lead to some
| of the issues that plague other groups, so be conscience of such
| situations that may arise in some suggestions.
|
| 5.  Minimize (i.e., eliminate) Server Change Suggestions
|
| Anything that requires changes to the LEAP server requires
| involvement of its root administrators.  LEAP does not own the server
| it runs on, and all of its charitable admins/owners have full-time
| employment.  Their volunteering is already extensive.  Please avoid
| criticisms of how the server is run, and in all honesty and more
| specifically, people like Phil Barnett especially doesn't deserve it.
|
| 6.  Pay Your Yearly, Voluntary Dues
|
| The more money LEAP has, the more it can do.  Just the yearly dues go
| a long way, and are 100% volunteer-based.  For every member or two
| that pays, we can probably afford those small things at a couple of
| meetings and/or InstallFests.  If you want to give more, buy multiple
| memberships for individuals in your family (if that's how you want to
| justify it).  As a bonus, you'll have more voting power during
| elections.  ;)
|
| ( Speaking of which, I haven't paid since 2006, I think.  Shame! ;)

Many of these are practical suggestions for any volunteer-based
community group.

To offer a brief excuse for myself:

1. I've been paying attention to LEAP for a brief time, and have only
actually gone to one meeting (which was not terribly welcoming). I live
on the other side of town, and there hasn't been a topic particularly
interesting to me, so I haven't been back since.

2. I didn't know there was a "business list". FWIW, I still don't
understand how decisions get made. My touchstone is the Gainesville LUG,
which is a benevolent dictatorship (and, coincidentally, seems to do a
lot more than either Orlando LUGs -- just an observation).

3. Although I haven't been involved, I'm glad to give my time to support
FOSS.

- --
Gavin Baker
http://www.gavinbaker.com/
gavin at gavinbaker.com

You will eat cake.
~    Frank O'Hara
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