[TriLUG] Starting a LUG

[Jon Carnes]

Starting a LUG is tougher than it looks.  TriLUG had a HUGE turnout at
the first called organizational meeting - so large we couldn't all fit
in the building... yet it was still tough to start it up.

You need a core group to start the LUG, and they have to have access to
resources, and lots of spare time and organizational skills.

The real keys are:
 - to get the word out to local folks.  TriLUG started with a local
mailing list that grew and grew.
 - to get a nice place to meet.  A great deal of TriLUG's success is due
to its access to a regular and very nice place to meet (Thanks RTI!).
 - to find champions (among the regular folks at the meetings). To
really grow, the LUG needs to setup community based resources, like a
website, mailing list, ftp server, training classes, etc. All of that
requires organizational man-power or in TriLUG's case: Woman-power.
 - to find sponsors. The LUG will need money - either through dues or
sponsorship.  I think that TriLUG is strong enough now that it could
charge dues, but there is no way it would have thrived and survived if
it had started out by making folks pay to join.  The pizza and drinks
cost money, and I know that is part of the allure that keeps the geeks
coming month after month.

Also, there needs to be a structure in place (written down) for passing
on the power and control of the LUG to future guardians.  The first
steering committee members of TriLUG burned through their cache of
patience and goodwill after only a year or two. Starting a LUG is not
easy.  The next generation of TriLUG's guardians burned out after about
two to three years (but didn't crash as hard as the first generation).
The third generation is just starting to feel the burn now :-)... 

Jon Carnes (a second Generation SC member)

On Tue, 2004-02-17 at 00:53, Errol Casey wrote:
> There are some folks in Fayetteville interested in starting a LUG.
>  
> Can Trilug members provide any insight; I could share to these folks?
>  
> Unfortunately, due to work commitments -- I cannot commit to starting or 
> sitting on the board; but am interested in helping them get a good 
> start; so if I could collect notes; or links to good information and provide it 
> to a few local folks down here, and to a possible advisor at FTCC I 
> figure  maybe I can get them started.
> 
> There is a lot of interested in a beginning linux class the am class had 
> about 20+ students in it before, I placed out of it this term.
> 
> I know a lot of the original founders of Trilug have moved on ... but 
> there are a lot of folks that were here when it all started, and remember 
> things, and have did it with other LUGs, etc.
> 
> Fill free to discuss things on or off lists with me as you feel best. 
> Thanks for advice you feel you can share.
> 
> Errol
>