I agree that while it is not the most stimulating of technical exercises for us, it's very appeling for folk that for whatever reason, don't quite have the confidence to thake the plunge! It's also a great way to increase the numbers of linux machines in our area and maybe expand the LUG. I think the "bring a problem machine" idea is a good one. Chris. 2009/1/25 dick_turpin <dick_turpin(a)archlinux.us&gt;

Nice I think I've seen that before, isn't it from revolution os? I had a chuckle at some of the computers in the clip. Especially the guy bringing his computer in on a sack truck. I'd *REALLY* like to get something like this going. I initially thought of a community hall or something like that but what does the group think? On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 8:07 AM, Chris Snow <cr.snow(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:

2009/1/25 Chris Snow <cr.snow(a)gmail.com&gt;: Oh Oh Oh. Stuart struggles to find the message in a sea of top-posting :-) 'net access usually available if in town, plenty signals in most places, plus we have quite a few 3G dongles between us. Stuart

except at the uni... the connection was surprisingly bad!

They do have a small cell on-site, so T-Mobile (at least) is usually fine. Tom Kris Douglas wrote:

The mast is over to the back of the buildings, where the cars drive between car parks.. D/F-block areas. Sitting in the bar you should get a full signal. I'll try and pay a bit more attention to it whilst I'm roaming around, see if there are any black spots. But as far as I know it's mostly fine. Andrew Edwards wrote:

Russ Phillips wrote: Is it? I've never done it, maybe I should give it a go :-) I may have misunderstood, is the Lug planning to do this install fest at some sort of show? Or is it a Lug-meet install fest? Not wanting to be Mr Cynical but its hard enough to get members to turn up let alone Joe Public so I'm wondering who will be "Taking discs away". (Just a thought not deliberately being picky) If its a Lug-meet job just get 3 or 4 boxes with the 3-4 OS's with installs at say 20 mins a pop that's say an hour and a half, if they are pain in the bum machines that might increase to 2.5 maybe 3hrs in the time span of 7.30 to 11.00 an individual might not get to see all 4 :-(

i think the reason there isn't is because nobody wants to take a punt and make one at the risk of stepping on our faithful founder (yes, you dave) 's toes!

Stepping on toes eh.. I’ll have none of that here…. Fear not, I run a democracy, just as long as I have the majority vote :o) To my knowledge, the “structure” has been a bit fluid and the group was formed way back just after the last ice age by Mark and myself, so there’s never really been an agenda as such. formality, is this correct? Again, don’t worry about toes, I’m just getting ready to release the hounds now.......

is there much need to worry bout getting people outside the LUG to an installFest if we can't organise a meet between us all or even an irc meeting?

syed ali wrote: Ooh you cant say things like that ;-) Fair point though (dick_turpin legs it quick)

i don't really mean it as a negative, even though it could be seen as one. i just think that discussions for an installFest should be done at a meeting. it means we can discuss properly whether there are many people we know that would be interested in an installFest and other events like that

2009/1/27 dick_turpin <dick_turpin(a)archlinux.us&gt;: I'm in agreement too actually. We could have a far better brain storming session in person than can be conducted online. For an install fest we need to really think about equipment, venue, planning and advertising and then of course who foots the bill for media that is distributed? We then get into the area of sponsorship etc. All of which is really best done face to face. -- ============================================== Kevan Farmer Linux user #373362 Staffordshire

2009/1/26 Dave <dave(a)staffslug.org.uk&gt; I want more than to be able to e-mail the list that's fore sure. I suppose I want the social side, to be able to exchange ideas about implementing foss at home & work. Sheduled meetings. If all then means more formality then yes so be it. Chris.

When I used to live in castle way back, Dave and me got the initial draft of what became staffslug going. Over 10 years later and many years the wiser I am really pleased that the lug is thriving. I now live in Kent and have to say that the lug down here is thriving with many an event year round. The lug needs to be what the members want it to be. It exists soley and because of its members. The original idea was for like minded enthusiasts to get together and enjoy each others company, swap ideas and look to the future. In answer to Dave's point #2 it is probably now time for a structure to be put in place. The lug needs a constitution or at least a set of ideals. All those out there that can contribute should contribute, regular meetings need to be organised at least one every two months. I would have loved to be involved in the lug upto this day to the level required although it is a bit hard from over 200 miles away. Perhaps what needs to happen is that all of the most active members need to get a meeting together and decide the way forward. There are only two major ways forward, one being to be a loose organisation of shared common ideals. The other formalise the lug and get a constitution. In the event that a meeting can be arranged for a Friday/Saturday night I would be more than happy to attend. My current employment makes life very hard for me to get back to Stoke these days - I work for one of the worlds foremost technology leaders on one of the world biggest ever outsourcing deals where an IT department had to be built from scratch. Perhaps the lug needs some projects to work with to engage the members - maybe for those who are attending the local Uni's some of the work could be tied into the courses you are on. I really advocate Linux/Open Source in the business place. If anyone wants to see a thriving lug take a look atwww.kent.lug.org.uk - better still check out there mailing list. It is nearly always active. Perhaps if people on here like the idea and it is possible for one of the meetings I could come up and present a talk about the areas that I work in (UNIX Systems Admin, Data Protection, Storage and Disaster Recovery) I could talk about Linux in the world of Pharma and how it put to use. Whatever the lug decides I wish that it continues to prosper and grow. Mark.