[svlug-announce] Vote next month, March 1st

[J. Paul Reed]

Hey all:

At the February meeting, the issue of whether or not SVLUG should renew its
special interest group (SIG) status with SBAY was raised.

Many of you have seen the... lively discussions on the SVLUG lists.

I know many have tuned much of it out for various reasons.

That's totally understandable, but if so, PLEASE _do_ read this:

It's important for us all to step back, and remember that no matter what,
there will be a meeting in April (and May, *and*...) and future install and
hacking fests.

There's been a lot of heated discussion, some of it causing people to shy
away from the whole issue.  That's bound to happen in a group as large as
ours, with people as passionate about things as our members are.

What's important is that the discussion occurs and when we all make a
decision, we get back finding the best way to do what SVLUG has always
done: talking about cool Linux/open source related-things, working on cool
Linux/open source-related projects and events, teaching each other about
cool Linux/open source-related things, and making a difference in the
open source community, around the Valley and around the world.

What this whole issue *does* speak to, though, are the core values by which
we accomplish those goals and the framework in which we do so.

So even if you're only here "for the Linux," I invite everyone to join all
the people who've voiced their opinion here on the list at the next meeting
and weigh in based upon the presentations at that meeting.

It's important for any organization to examine its direction every... oh...
half-decade or so. :-) 

And that reality check becomes less useful the fewer number of people
involved.


THE DETAILS
===========

After some discussion on the Volunteers list, no opposition was raised to
holding a vote at next month's meeting, March 1st, one week from today.

According to reports on the volunteers list from people that were
originally there, it was a show-of-hands vote at a meeting.

Given that, this month's Nifty time will be split into two seven minute
presentations of both positions. SBAY has agreed to present first.

The motion, as originally suggested by SBAY's Board, is "Is SVLUG to renew
its SIG status with SBAY?"

We'll re-announce this in the meeting announcement, and again right before
the meeting itself.  

Hope to see you all there.

Later,
Paul
--
President
Silicon Valley Linux Users' Group
preed at svlug.org