September 17 2005 Proposal

From Taclug

Table of contents

Preface

In response to a last moment meeting announcement by Charles Mauch, the following individuals met and formed an ad hoc group. The topic of discussion was "where does Taclug go from here?" The following individuals where in attendance.

Burt Caley
Joel Carlson
Jessica Clark
Kurt Forsberg
Wes Jennings
Charles Mauch
Stu Tracy

The group initially met at the latest Taclug meeting location, Xavier Hall at Pacific Lutheran University. Having no access to a meeting room, we moved to the Northern Pacific Coffee Company at C and Garfield Streets, Parkland. This meeting was held on September 17, 2005 between 1:30 and 3:30 PM.

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Forward

The ad hoc group was in general agreement that there was good reason to be concerned with the direction, or lack thereof, that Taclug has taken in the last few months. Instead of assigning blame, the focus was upon what it would take to have a functioning Linux user group again. Here are some important points from our group discussion that we feel need urgent action from the existing Taclug leadership or the general membership in a duly called meeting.

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Items of Interest

PROBLEM - Monthly meetings are not being held, or the announcement is so late that individuals miss the notice and therefore miss the meeting. This is a very important point, the neglect thereof discourages the promotion of Taclug activities. To initiate a temporary solution for this situation, Charles Mauch has agreed to step forward to be the meeting facilitator for the October 15, 2005 General Taclug Meeting. Two technical discussion topics lead by Charles Mauch and Kurt Forsberg will highlight the meeting. A technical work session may follow. It is requested that the President and Board of Taclug take advantage of this offer to make sure that the next Taclug meeting is promoted with sufficient notice to attract attendance.
PROBLEM - The leadership of Taclug is currently not conducting business activities. In aeffect, Taclug has a leadership void. It seems obvious to this group that the Taclug Board should hold a meeting to address and correct this problem. We would request that each individual elected into leadership positions be questioned if they can perform their duties as outlined in corporate documents. If they cannot commit to performing their duties, it is requested that these individuals resign their positions so that Taclug may reorganize into a functioning organization.
PROBLEM - The ad hoc group is concerned that efforts to duly elect leadership positions may be short circuited simply due to no action being taken by the Taclug Board. Since new elections could be a partial solution to other problems discussed, it is critically important that elections be conducted in a proper and timely manner. The election should be held during Nov-Dec, 2005 as has customarily been done by Taclug. It is now time for the Taclug Board to meet, form an election committee, and take the steps to hold an election toward the end of this year. In conjunction with election considerations, it is recommended that the Board simplify the concept of how Taclug operates by reducing the number of board members and possibly eliminating the Presidency and Secretary positions for the next year. In effect, the conduct of both business and activities meetings would be the Board's responsibility. Taclug has functioned in this mode before and can do so again.
POINT OF CONSENSUS - The ad hoc group is in general agreement that Taclug should center back upon the basics of serving the needs of the Taclug general membership and promoting the Linux OS to the general public. This position is expressed in the purpose statement of the Taclug Bylaws. The bylaws do express a form of organization that is representative to the interests of the general membership. Centering our actions upon the will of the membership majority, and appealing to the general public to promote the Linux OS should be honored as the basic intent of Taclug organization.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES - Two activities that have been requested over and over again to help novice and intermediate Linux users. That would be to have install fests and technical help sessions. Associated with these sessions may well be a system of individual recognition for achieving competence levels and areas of Linux software expertise. It is recommended, as a minimum, and in the near future, that Taclug promote install fests and technical help sessions and recognize that these activities are critically important to the success of Taclug.
OPENNESS - The above listed individuals form a nucleus of Taclug members who desire to see that a Tacoma area LUG continues to exist. However, we know that there are other individuals who share our desires to continue as a functioning LUG. Other individuals are welcome to join us and step forward to organize and do what seems appropriate to the majority of individuals. As such we open our arms to all Taclug members who simply desire, as we do, to find traction in a positive direction for the Taclug vision.

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Summary

Action by the Taclug Board on the above items is requested and judged to be urgent. The above group of individuals are serious about stepping forward to take the necessary steps to insure that Taclug continues to exist. Other individuals are welcome to join us. Still other folks may well express alternative opinions. However, it is judged by this group that no action is the wrong course of action, and to be avoided. Posted for the interest of Taclug and its membership.