[ale] group merger ALE + GA400-Linux

[Steve Litt]

I'm not from Atlanta, so I don't have standing in this. I'll just give
my opinion, and then step aside.

>From my viewpoint, Meetup.Com has insinuated itself into community
activities very much better handled by communities themselves. You join
to find Python meetups and Linux meetups, and the next thing you know
you're getting emails about yoga meetups and venture capitalist
meetups. Read the indemnification in the terms of service: If the wrong
person takes offense to what you say or are alleged to have said, they
sue Meetup, and you're on the hook for everything. It doesn't happen
often, but you could lose your house that way. The only benefit I can
see from Meetup.Com is it's a way one guy, who knows little about
publicity or group governance, can start a group (which usually peters
out). ALE is not in that category.

ALE has a vibrant mailing list already. ALE produced Atlanta Linux
Showcase from, I believe, 1996-2000. I went to the 2000 one, and it was
fantastic. I can't imagine anything Meetup.Com could do for ALE that a
little talking it up by all the members and maybe a little publicity in
the local newspapers couldn't do twice as well. ALE's famous throughout
the country. What Meetup.Com can do for you is beyond me.

But like I said, I live in Orlando, so I really don't have a dog in
this fight, so I'll step aside.


SteveT

Steve Litt 
July 2015 featured book: Rapid Learning for the 21st Century
http://www.troubleshooters.com/rl21


On Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:38:01 -0400
Jim Kinney <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Chuck!
> wanna sign up on the meetup.com ALE sight and become an official Co
> -Organizer? Since you are the defacto head penguin for ALE-NW...
> Look for Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts ALE on meetup.com. You may to widen
> the distance in your search.
> Anyone else want to start a local meetup off the ALE name let me know
> when you sign into Meetup.com and I'll add you to the co-organizers
> list. That will allow you to post meeting notices. 
> Note: Let's discuss more of this on Thursday as part of the
> ALE-Central meeting.
> On Sat, 2015-07-04 at 13:02 -0400, Chuck Payne wrote:
> > +1 I am in Dacula
> > On Jul 3, 2015 10:07 AM, "DJ-Pfulio" <djpfulio at jdpfu.com> wrote:
> > > One of the big things this will help is being able to support a
> > > local, monthly,
> > > hands-on meeting in different parts of the metro Atlanta. I know
> > > about 5 people
> > > in Lawrenceville ... that sounds like a core group for a sub
> > > -meetup. Just need 1
> > > person to step up.
> > > 
> > > I've heard there is another small group in Newnan. Just need a
> > > small core group
> > > there - I bet it already exists.  Make these small groups whatever
> > > you like -
> > > linux related of course.
> > > 
> > > If this interests you at all, come out to a Sunday meeting at
> > > Harry's Pizza
> > > (near I-285 and Powers Ferry) to see how easy this stuff is.
> > > Basically, it
> > > becomes just showing up and helping other Linux people.
> > > 
> > > We'll put you on the calendar, announce the meeting (an let meetup
> > > pull
> > > like-minded people in your area), and provide some guidance.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On 07/03/2015 09:51 AM, Raj Wurttemberg wrote:
> > > > Sounds like a great idea.  The more the merrier.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > /Raj
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf
> > > Of Jim
> > > > Kinney Sent: Friday, July 03, 2015 9:41 AM To: Atlanta Linux
> > > Enthusiasts -
> > > > Yes! We run Linux! Subject: [ale] group merger ALE + GA400-Linux
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi all!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The addition of Meetup has brought more people to the ALE
> > > meetings. There is
> > > > a proposal floating around to merge the ALE and GA400-Linux
> > > meetup groups
> > > > under the ALE name.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Short story: the founder of the GA400-Linux group passed away
> > > > and
> > > JD is one
> > > > of the co-organizers.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Those folks meet weekly all around the the top end perimeter and
> > > Smyrna area
> > > > for a "how do I..." session geared towards new Linux users.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The idea JD and I are kicking is to link ALE up as a central
> > > group with
> > > > multiple sub-groups (sysadmin, desktops, language specifics
> > > connections,
> > > > etc).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Ideas? Feedback?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The GA400 group has 600+ members. ALE meetup is up to about 60.
> > > ALE mailing
> > > > list has 462 (as of now - down from our high end of 1600+ about
> > > > 8
> > > years
> > > > ago).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > NOTE: meetup is not free. I put up the start up money ($80? Will
> > > have to
> > > > check for details.) The larger the group, the more the annual
> > > cost for meetup
> > > > services. They have a donation widget I intend to use to help
> > > defray the cost
> > > > for future years. Any extra we can blow on a party.