[volunteers] Installfest vs. Picnix18 ???

[Andrew Fife]

Hi SVLUG Volunteers:

Ed Cherlin brought up a good point on the web-team list[1] that the 8/15 Installfest clashes with the annual Linux Picnic[2].

I've only attended the "Picnix" once myself, but it is a fun social event that I can imagine most prioritizing over an Installfest that is held much more regularly.

It seems to me that we have 3 choices:

1)Cancel the SVLUG 8/15 Installfest

2)Hold the SVLUG 8/15 Installfest at the Linux Picnic

3)Continue as planned with the Installfest and Picnic running simultaneously in separate locations. 

At first glance, option #2 seems like a great way to bring folks new to Linux in to the community with lots of people to meet and have fun with.  On the other hand, power, connectivity and sunlight glare do pose problems in addition to food and soda not generally mixing with with electronics.

Option #3 won't really work if none of the regular volunteers want to attend the Installfest because then there is no guarantee that there will actually be someone there when a newbie shows up looking for help.  Given that the Picnic only happens once a year, I would not want to ask any SVLUG volunteers to give it up to staff an Installfest that might not have any actual attendees. 

Canceling the Installfest would be a shame, but its looking like the best option to me at the moment.  What do others think?


References:
[1] http://lists.svlug.org/lists/listinfo/web-team
[2] http://www.linuxpicnic.org/twiki/bin/view/Picnix18/WebHome