[H-ADMIN] Hi & Humbug AGM 2010

[Andrew Gaydon]

Hi,

I thought that I would introduce myself to those of you that I haven't met.

My name is Andrew Gaydon and I have been using Ubuntu linux for the past 
3 years.
I was a database applications software programmer late last century, 
however have moved on from that part of the industry and now operate my 
own IT support business.
That's enough about me.

Congratulations on running a fine AGM, also congratulations on keeping 
the club running over the past years.  (I know from personal experience 
about how difficult that this can be, having served on a social club 
committee in the past.)

I became a member in your club on Saturday.

I thought that I would offer a few thoughts about your club from an 
outsiders perspective.
As sometimes a fresh set of eyes can give a different perspective. (I 
hope that you agree)

You can take my thoughts & suggestions anyway you wish that is your 
prerogative.


At the AGM several very important issues were talked about.
To me, if you solve the problem of Membership, the Public Liability ($) 
issue will also be resolved.

PUBLIC LIABILITY
At the meeting (& minutes), I got the distinct impression that 'Humbug' 
would resist becoming a 'Sub-committee' of LA.  If this is the case then 
your options are limited, especially given that UQ require public 
liability insurance in-order to use their facilities.  One option of 
course, it to fund the insurance from the bank account.

Question:  If LA will not be providing PL Insurance, then what are the 
other LUGs doing ?

Observation: I have noticed that 'Humbug' is not an incorporated body!
It seems to me that it wouldn't take much to become incorporated!
As your constitution is very close to what the Office of Fair Trading 
requires.
The expenses are not all that much and you wouldn't require annual 
'Accounts Auditing'.
I'm sure that you are all aware of the ramifications of not being 
incorporated.

MEMBERSHIP
In my experience this is the most important aspect of an organisation, 
for without members you don't have a club.  No doubt this is not a 
surprising statement to you all as it is obvious.

The question of how to increase membership ? (a tough one).

1.  Product.
What does Humbug offer ?
-  From your 'About Page' I see that

'HUMBUG is a Brisbane-based computer club, focusing on Unix and 
Unix-like operating systems. The club has several aims:

    * to be a useful source of technical help
    * an opportunity to network with people of similar interests and
      abilities
    * to help spread the word about alternative operating systems and
      software
    * a social outlet.'

Leading to:
How does 'Humbug' deliver the above 'Product'?
-  You have meetings at UQ every 2nd Saturday afternoon, with a 'Meta' 
meeting on a 'Friday' night in the city.
-  You occasionally have talks about open-source software.
-  Some of you go out to dinner after a meeting.

2.  Target customer.
Who are you targeting to become a member?
-  University students from UQ ??
-  University students from other Universities?
-  The Open source community?
-  The general Public?
-  All of the above?

3.  Motivation
What would motivate a person to join and make a contribution?
What motivates members to come along to meetings?



OBSERVATIONS & SUGGESTIONS about the above 3 points.
CUSTOMER
University Student:  If you are a 'Student' computer club then you need 
to target 'Students' directly at the campus.

OS community:  As above for Students, except in the OS community.

General Public:  If you are a 'General' computer club then you need to 
take the club to the public!
By holding most of your meetings at UQ on a Saturday evening, excludes 
lots of people.  Holding the 'Meta' meeting is a good start, however not 
everybody works in the city or has the desire to meet on a Friday evening.

(Possible solution-   Public libraries around Brisbane, free meeting 
rooms, Garden city, Chermside, Toowong etc. Sundays or Weekday nights)

MOTIVATION
NEW PEOPLE
When I came to my first Humbug meeting I was greeted by Matthew, I must 
say that it was a pleasant encounter.  My point, is that you need to 
make new people welcome and to find out why they are at a meeting.  Does 
this happen at every meeting ?   It can be very daunting your first 
meeting?
I see that there is no 'Contact' person for the meeting.
It would also be helpful if this person was easily identifiable for 
visitors,  Maybe a 'HAT' or 'T-SHIRT' or a 'Badge/Name Tag'.

UBUNTU - LINUX
As I am an Ubuntu user, it would also be a great to easily identify who 
else uses Ubuntu within the group.
Maybe this could be done on the wiki?   Maybe people could identify 
themselves at the meetings? (hats t-shirts etc)

Themes: Maybe we could have 'Ubuntu' or 'Fedora' or 'BSD' or a 'Mac'  
theme for meetings, to try and encourage new people to come along.  Thus 
having a meeting 'focussed' on a specific distribution, (not that it 
will exclude other people from attending).  One theme every month ?

MEETING
Providing food:
Would it be possible to charge people $5 and provide food. Platters of 
Sushi, Sandwiches etc.
(Voluntarily of course as not everybody likes Sushi)
This may also provide a benefit of a small profit at every meeting? (To 
pay for PL Insurance)

SOCIAL EVENTS
Release Parties:
Any excuse for a Party/Dinner, yes I know that we could hold a release 
party every month given the numbers of distributions out there, but lets 
motivate people to come along and join.
Variety is the name of the game, make it social without a computer?  (A 
hard concept for some)


I think that I have bored you enough and this email is getting too long.

I hope that you don't think that I am not too presumptive (as a new 
member) as my intention is to help the club.

Yes I understand that for any of the above to be implemented that you 
need volunteers and that they are hard to come-by.  Sometimes you just 
need to ask and hold their hands for a little while.  Momentum can play 
a hand also.

I also understand that you are focussed on LCA at the moment.

Anyway, I look forward to my association with Humbug in the future so 
that it has a bright one.

I hope that some of my thoughts & observations are useful.

Let me know your thoughts.


Cheers,

Andrew.


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