[H-GEN] International solidarity

[David Starkoff]

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I was aimlessly indulging in some mindless Web surfing today while waiting
for the euphoria of finishing exams to wear off, and I came across some
pages relating to meta-Linux user groups.  Groups of LUGs, if you prefer. 

I don't know whether ``affiliation'' with these groups has already been
discussed at the appropriate levels in HUMBUG and/or appropriate action
has already been taken, but it seems interesting.

The first of these groups which I came across is GLUE -- Groups of Linux
Users Everywhere.  Their home page is at <http://www.ssc.com/glue/>,
and they describe themselves as:

``GLUE is a project of SSC, publishers of _Linux Journal_.  GLUE was
implemented to provide a world-wide member group for Linux User Groups.
GLUE member groups receive a subscription, materials for promoting and
developing their group, a way of advertising their group in a global
setting, list-serv and Linux Group location services, and discounts and
samples from SSC and _Linux Journal_.  Other vendors may also offer
special services or discounts to GLUE member groups.''
	-- http://www.ssc.com/glue/bru.html

- From their materials, it seems that upon subscription/membership/selling
your soul, the LUG receives a free copy of Caldera OpenLinux Lite.  The
quote above came from an annoucement that every GLUE user group would
receive a free copy of BRU 2000 (a Y2K-compliant backup and restore
utility) from Enhanced Software Technologies, Inc.

They also allude to group discounts from the Linux Mall, although this
could is also, from what I can tell, a separate thing.  See:
	http://www.linuxmall.com/mallugs.html
	http://www.linuxmall.com/usergrp.program.html
	http://www.wgs.com/ugs.html

Australia does not have a GLUE-affiliated LUG, but they know about HUMBUG. 
Their Australian non-GLUE LUG page, begins with: 

``University of Queensland Home Unix Machine Brisbane User Group (HUMBUG)
Contact e-mail: Address needed!
Brisbane, Australia''

In the comments of users looking for LUGs below, HUMBUG gets a nod from
conner at psynet.net, and someone in Brisbane is looking for a LUG ``to
exchange tips and stuffs like that!''

It was pleasing to note that ``University of Queensland Home Unix
Machine Brisbane User Group'' was present and accounted for in the
LUG list project <http://www.nllgg.nl/lugww/>, and the Linux User Group
Registry <http://www.linux.org/users/index.html>.  WorkGroup Solutions,
Inc, the operators of the Linux Mall, don't seem to know about HUMBUG.

And then there's the embryonic LUG Web page at <http://www.lug.net/>.

Having witnessed the NUS campaign run by the UQ Union this year, it is not
my intention to open a Pandora's box.  For all I know, the goss on GLUE
could be that it's worse than the Young Liberal's propaganda about the
NUS.  I have no idea.  It could be something to consider, although a lot
the GLUE pages seem to concentrate on how to establish a LUG, which is a
hurdle which HUMBUG has already overcome.

FYI.

David.
- --
dbs at humbug.org.au | http://student.uq.edu.au/~s343905/
 ``What sort of person would give up a salary of a jillion dollars a
   year in a big firm to drive a rusted-out Ford Pinto and wear suits
   made of old horse blankets?'' -- James D. Gordon, III.

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