[H-GEN] Re: [Linux-aus] Linux Australia AGM Held
Russell Stuart
russell-humbug at stuart.id.au
Mon Feb 3 06:03:34 EST 2003
[ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and ]
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Yes, no-one from Queensland is on the Linux Australia committee. That
is not great news, but I am comfortable that the people on the current
LA committee will do their best to represent us (the various user
group's around Australia) as best they can, so I don't think it matters
much in the long run. I am sure we will get our turn.
What I don't like how Linux Australia is organised politically. As far
as I could tell, everybody views Linux Australia as an umbrella group
for the various 'nix user groups - a national body to represent us. At
least that was how it was presented in the various discussions we had as
we chomped on pizza and drank beer at the LCA, and that is what they
seem to be doing in general when they help host conferences such as LCA.
But that is not what Linux Australia's constitution enforces. As far as
I can tell there are *no* organisational constraints that ensure Linux
Australia reflects the wishes user groups it represents. Anybody can
join LA as a member, and anybody can be on the committee. This is not
an issue now of course, but it could be in the future.
To paint an apocalyptic scenario, imagine that due to general apathy
membership of LA was reduced to its committee. Imagine that some other
organisation decided it might be worth a few brownie points to "take
over" LA, and do some nasty things in the name of the user groups it
represented. All they would have to do is get 10 or so people to join
LA, appoint themselves to the committee at the AGM. Presto! Microsoft
suddenly is making pronouncements on behalf of the 'nix user groups of
Australia.
That may sound faintly ridiculous, but in fact LA _did_ consist of just
the committee members at the last AGM (or so they told us). To rescue
Linux Australia from sea of indifference last years LA president, Anand
Kumria, used an inspired bit of trickery. The LCA 2003 registration
form said in registering for LCA you also agreed to become a member of
Linux Australia. Not many people noticed the paragraph at the time, but
Anand and the current president Pia made sure everybody knew about it by
the time the AGM came around. To make doubly sure the AGM was held
immediately after a Q&A session that starred Linus. In the end they
managed to orchestrate what was probably a record turnout at a LA AGM.
Its just as well they are on our side.
I don't know what the best way to fix this is - I am no expert in this
area. Two ideas that spring to mind are:
1. Say that only paid up members of affiliated user groups
can vote at committee elections, or
2. The committee is elected from a pool of candidates put up by
the affiliated users groups, say 6 candidates per groups.
There are almost certainly other, better solutions. I think any
solution would require a change to Linux Australia's constitution. From
what I say at the conference, it needed changing for other reasons
anyway.
On Sat, 2003-02-01 at 12:37, Tony Nugent wrote:
> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and ]
> [ Unix-related topics. Posts from non-subscribed addresses will vanish. ]
>
> For a long time now I've been subscribed to the linux-aus mailing
> list. Generally (unfortunately?) it is rather quiet. (For a while
> it was attracting some annoying spam emails, but that now seems to
> have stopped).
>
> I have no idea who else on the humbug lists is also subscribed to
> linux-aus (or even involved with L-A), but I'd thought I'd forward
> this on for general information, and because it has some relevance
> to humbug...
>
> The message is a reply to a response generated from an announcement
> that outlined the new composition of the Linux Australia committee -
> the concern was that it was generally unrepresentative of Australia
> as a whole (on a per-state basis).
>
> IMHO he had a good point to make. However, I can also understand
> the rationale behind the response to his concerns.
>
> An important thing to note is that there is currently noone from
> Queensland "officially" involved with the L-A committee.
>
> This is what came to my attention, and what I'd like to highlight by
> reposting it here.
>
> Cheers
> Tony
>
> -- Forwarded Message
>
> Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2003 02:55:10 +1100
> From: Robert Thomson <rmt at linux.org.au>
> To: Bret Busby <bret at busby.net>
> Cc: Linux Australia List <linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au>
> Subject: Re: [Linux-aus] Linux Australia AGM Held
>
> We actually considered this Bret, but came to the conclusion that
> arbitrary constraints on committee membership might actually harm
> Linux Australia. The best man for the job, as they say.
>
> It is, however, important to have input from all states and
> territories within Australia. Which is why LA aims to work closely
> with the LUGs, to take input and give support as the national
> representative body. This is a role that must be earnt, and I know
> that Linux Australia will do its utmost to earn the respect of LUGs
> and members alike - basically to be the best man for the job.
>
> Cheers,
> Robert Thomson
>
> On Fri, Jan 31, 2003 at 05:22:56PM +0800, Bret Busby uttered:
> > On Thu, 23 Jan 2003, Robert Thomson wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Linux Australia's AGM was held tonight at Linux.conf.au in Perth.
> > >
> > > A new committee was elected in, and is as follows.
> > >
> > > President
> > > Pia Smith of NSW
> > > Vice President
> > > Stewart Smith of VIC
> > > Secretary
> > > Andrew Cowie of NSW
> > > Treasurer
> > > Anand Kumria of NSW (former Treasurer & President)
> > > Ordinary Members
> > > Hugh Blemmings of ACT
> > > Leon Brooks of WA
> > > Andrew Tridgell of ACT
> > >
> > > We've plenty of fresh blood, and I'm sure great things will be achieved
> > > for Linux in Australia with this new bunch. Welcome to all.
> > >
> > > Keep an eye on the website (http://www.linux.org.au/) for news.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Robert
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Without knowing exactly the purpose, membership, or constitution of
> > Linux Australia, from the makeup of the committee, if NSW/ACT
> > representation is removed, there are only two members left (of the
> > seven); Victoria and WA, in terms of states/territories.
> >
> > Perhaps, the new committee could review the constitution, in terms
> > of themakeup of the committee, in terms of one representative position
> > for each state/territory, so as to balance the representation.
> >
> > It is not that I have anything against any of the committee members - I
> > hardly know them - but to me, my suggestion makes it more
> > representative of the Australian federation, and therefore, it would
> > make Linux Australia a more representative body, and therefore, its
> > actions would be more likely to involve the interests of the whole of
> > the country.
> >
> > --
> > Bret Busby
> > Armadale
> > West Australia
> > ..............
> >
> > "So once you do know what the question actually is,
> > you'll know what the answer means."
> > - Deep Thought,
> > Chapter 28 of
> > "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
> > A Trilogy In Four Parts",
> > written by Douglas Adams,
> > published by Pan Books, 1992
> > ....................................................
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > linux-aus mailing list
> > linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
> > http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/linux-aus
>
> Robert
>
> - --
> I have a friend who's a paranoid dyslexic ... always thinks he's following
> people.
> -- Dwight York
> _______________________________________________
> linux-aus mailing list
> linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
> http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/linux-aus
>
>
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