[H-GEN] Support to change Humbug's constitution.

[Raymond Smith]

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Hi Frank,

On Wed, 29 Nov 2000, Frank Brand wrote:
> On days when I have attended Humbug it has not seemed to be very
> organised (almost anarchistic). Often things don't run on time and
> generally there might not be a lot to encourage attendance and
> participation unless you want to download some big files on the UQ
> backbone or play games or get some specific advice.

On the other hand, we had a number of members from the BrisBUG PC User
Group compliment us on this very style of meeting. However, I agree with
you that HUMBUG needs to know what its members want/expect from it.

Clearly we need to keep the main HUMBUG room anarchic but have a
structured meeting as well. With a proper, formal, start that happens on
time.

> If you want people to attend an SGM or AGM things have to run on
> time...no timewasting etc.

The main cause of which is reaching quorum at this time. There were people
early to the AGM who are not regular attendees this year. We had to get
proxies off them because hardly anyone submitted proxies.

> I see, in other parts of Australia and overseas, user group meetings
> that are well organised and have good technical sessions and speakers.

Certainly overseas, but where in Australia? With the exception of SAGE-AU
I am unaware of any IT society (sample = { ACS, APESMA, AUUG, }) in
Queensland (maybe it is the climate?) that is having great success at
getting a decent turn out of members to meetings.

> There are many Humbug talks I have been interested in attending but if
> they don't start till some time after they should it is very difficult.

We can do better here. Talks are actually scheduled for 6-7pm but this may
not have been adequately advertised.

> I believe that there is a crying need for this type of well constructed
> Linux Education series...perhaps it could even be sold....lots of other
> organisations sell these kind of services but this is a separate matter.

Yes. Indeed the new members who have contacted me have all asked for this
sort of thing. The executive has heard but has been busy with other
things. What would be great is if people interested in *giving* Linux
Education talks could contact us.
 
> I believe the answer to the quorum issue (and it is an issue for just
> about all organisations. Humbug is not Robinson Crusoe here) is to have
> a good reason to get people along on these few occasions each year not
> to try to disenfranchise people and try to circumvent laws etc.

While I would like to make AGMs more attractive to members and do welcome
your suggestions I take great exception to your assertion that there is
any attempt whatsoever to disenfranchise people or circumvent any law.

First, what law is being circumvented. As I understand it there is no
quorum requirement for an unincorporated association save that provided
for in the rules (namely 30% at this time).

Second, in order to 'disenfranchise people' it is necessary to exclude
them from the voting process. No such exclusion exists in so far as the
proposed amendments to the rules are concerned. Whether or not a member
attends the AGM rests with that individual member not with the arbitrary
process of the quorum be it 30% or a lesser number. It is trite to say
that if more than the quorum attend then more than the quorum vote on the
issues. If all attend (in person or by proxy) then all have their say.

I do accept your constructive criticisms. We do need to have a structured
meeting with an agenda along side our anarchistic 'main room'. We do need
to run Linux Education talks (who is willing to stand up and make this
happen?). I would love nothing more than to make our meetings attractive
to all of the members some of the time.

But we need to lower quorum to allow AGMs and the like to proceed on time.

Regards,

Raymond Smith
(Speaking for himself and not HUMBUG.)


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