I'm glad we got people like Ludwig who ask tough questions, It gives me hope for young people (I'm hoping he is young. If you're not Ludwig, then I edit this to say 'gives me hope for the community' :).
So let me tell you my story: Truth is, I too wondered why we needed to form plug in the first place. I realized this when I had PLUG's SEC papers. I asked myself, 'What is the purpose of PLUG', hence, my asking 'What is our agenda?' in an earlier exchange - an unavoidable question when you need to sign SEC papers.
Then people started talking about setting up an office, getting funds, etc. I will admit that when I read that, I thought to myself "Hell No!". I am waaay too busy to be doing anything like that. I've a business to run, and I have no intention of losing focus. Sure I wanna do what I can, but up to what point?
Then the IT Expo people wrote me asking an ex deal. And like any businessman would, I grabbed what looks like a good deal. It only takes 3 days away from work, and surely I can spare that. I'll ask around PLUG for volunteers, and I'm sure people would help out (and quite a few as expected, have).
So am I upbeat? Am I disappointed? Well here are my thoughts in complete honesty, and in answer to your questions as well:
1) Why do we need an organization? What are its goals and objectives?
PLUG's all - encompassing goal should be to promote F/OSS in the Philippines. Why? Because SOMEONE has to. Is that a good enough reason? I think yes. If you've ever felt frustration at how a proprietary solution gets chosen because the implementors saw no other alternative, by golly, yes.
1.1) What did PLUG "The mailing list" fail to achieve (or cannot achieve) that leads to the idea of forming PLUG the organization?
It's not what the PLUG mailing list fails to achieve. I believe however, that a group of people can do much more than merely discuss issues amongst ourselves. Not a lot of people know of the mailing list per se for example. By merely promoting it, and showing that such an org exists it can change a few people's minds.
2) Supposing we have PLUG the organization, here are more things to consider:
2.1) You probably need an office and infrastructure. How are members suppose to pay their fees,etc if there's no office.
2.2) You need some FULL TIME officers. Keep track of membership, manage funds, plan activities, etc.
I don't think full time is necessary. If we can keep events to a manageable level I'm sure no one has to quit his job (I certainly won't).
2.2.1) How do you make sure these full time officers have a steady flow of income?
2.3) What will you do with funds raised?
I hope 'we'll cross that bridge when we get there' is good enough for you, because really, we can take our time determining this.
2.4) What are the responsibilities of each member (not just the officers)? Responsibilities in an organization means there are privileges in which only members can enjoy. What are the privileges of a PLUG the organization member? Responsibilities / Privilege goes hand-in-hand.
ditto
2.4.1) PLUG the organization must be distinct from the mailing list, as people will confuse the two. Hence, it needs its own mailing list [Probably need to change the name of PLUG the mailing list to LPML-->Linux Philippines Mailing List]
Just details. Again, we can determine this later on.
3) The "P" in PLUG stands for Philippines; how do you plan to manage potential members across places such as Visayas, Mindanao?
Again, lets not put the cart before the horse. We can start with just us, then later a few more, then a few more, then before we know it we're outside Manila, etc. These things tend to grow slowly yet surely. The PLUG website for example, already has almost 200 members. Who knew, right?
One thing I find unique in PLUG as compared to other "area based Linux User's Group (LUG)" is that most area based LUGs are limited to a small specific area (San Francisco, Berkeley, etc). The large geographical area must be taken into consideration too if you want to revive PLUG the organization. This itself is a unique and huge challenge.
It's only huge if you think of it in such a large scope. As far as I see it, we deal with things as they come and we'll be fine.
To reiterate, I just wanna say, easy lang mga bro.
Let's just do the event, and see where we go from there. No one here knows all the answers, but as a group we can find solutions. I personally do not have specifics nor all the skills, and I'm afraid of thinking about things like funds and offices and etc. But our advantages are is that we are a community, and we have time and a lot of highly educated members, so we can work things out. The IT Expo is a good start, and from that we can find other ways.
And I also count another advantage: I am not afraid to fail. If the Expo for example, turns out sucky, then so what? Like I said, 'pawis lang' ang puhunan natin dun. If no one here supports me, e ano ngayon? I keep trying, because I want to do this. I refuse to see it as a big deal. I am sure there are people here who disagree with the Expo, and I expect that. That's absolutely within your rights and it's ok.
I wanna do what I can to push what I think is a good thing. Whatever may come out of it, I will not regret it. The only regret would be if I was not to try :)
gary
On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 3:52 PM, Ludwig Isaac Lim <
ludz_lim-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:40:21 +0800
> From: "Junix Gaspar" <junixophobia-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>
> Subject: Re: [plug] Phil IT Expo Ex Deal
> To: "Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Technical Discussion List"
> <plug-cunTk1MwBs8iFSDQTTA3ONd+tgCGH7ND@public.gmane.org>
> On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM, Michael Tinsay <tinsami1-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote:
>
> > If, and when, PLUG (the organization) gets revived, this should be the
> > first order of business: to get membership and funding. I would imagine the
> > first people who attend the meetups would be the ones up for election.
> >
>
> Why not start with a yearly membership fee. It usually is a basic source of
> fund.
Things to consider:
1) Why do we need an organization? What are its goals and objectives?
1.1) What did PLUG "The mailing list" fail to achieve (or cannot achieve) that leads to the
idea of forming PLUG the organization?
2) Supposing we have PLUG the organization, here are more things to consider:
2.1) You probably need an office and infrastructure. How are members suppose to pay their
fees,etc if there's no office.
2.2) You need some FULL TIME officers. Keep track of membership, manage funds, plan
activities, etc.
2.2.1) How do you make sure these full time officers have a steady flow of income?
2.3) What will you do with funds raised?
2.4) What are the responsibilities of each member (not just the officers)? Responsibilities
in an organization means there are privileges in which only members can enjoy. What are the
privileges of a PLUG the organization member? Responsibilities / Privilege goes hand-in-hand.
2.4.1) PLUG the organization must be distinct from the mailing list, as people will
confuse the two. Hence, it needs its own mailing list [Probably need to change the name of PLUG
the mailing list to LPML-->Linux Philippines Mailing List]
3) The "P" in PLUG stands for Philippines; how do you plan to manage potential members across
places such as Visayas, Mindanao?
I think forming an organization need 2 things : "Commitment" and "Goals" (IIRC, Orly Andico
mentioned about goals in some previous post).
One thing I find unique in PLUG as compared to other "area based Linux User's Group (LUG)" is
that most area based LUGs are limited to a small specific area (San Francisco, Berkeley, etc). The
large geographical area must be taken into consideration too if you want to revive PLUG the
organization. This itself is a unique and huge challenge.
Regards,
Ludwig Lim
_________________________________________________
Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List
http://lists.linux.org.ph/mailman/listinfo/plug
Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph
--
http://kikay.exchange.phhttp://mom.exchange.phhttp://basketball.exchange.phhttp://linux.org.ph=======================
Make life easier for Webmasters!
http://spreadfirefox.com/community/?q=user/register&r=137994