[TriLUG] Sat. Installfest

[James Brigman]

On Mon, 2005-02-28 at 23:07 -0500, Jason Tower wrote:
> true, this event was a bit of a rush job.  not much notice was given, 
> and that doesn't help turnout.  i plead guilty to not doing a better 
> job handling this.
> 
> typically, i'm pretty involved with the installfests, but due to an 
> extremely busy work schedule the last couple of months i simply haven't 
> had time to organize anything more substantial, nor was i able to 
> attend this event myself.  installfests require a substantial amount of 
> effort to put together (location, timing, hardware, servers, power 
> distribution, networking, media, volunteers, publicity, food, ...) 
> which has to be borne by *someone*.  so if you want a better 
> installfest, raise your hand and volunteer!  we can always use folks to 
> help arrange event space, prepare an installation server, burn install 
> media, assist with hardware and cabling setup and teardown, bring LCDs 
> to the event, or just tell other people about it to boost attendance.
> 
> thanks to those folks that did attend and help out.
> 
> jason
> 
> On Monday 28 February 2005 21:46, David McDowell wrote:
> > I couldn't be there that day due to other committments, but I usually
> > show up to Installfests... however... I was there in spirit  :)
> >
> > > LUG at NCSU does this regularly, so we should be better organized for
> > > the > next one.
> >
> > I have to say that overall, I am glad that I didn't show up to this
> > event.  If it weren't for my spare hardware mixed with Kevin's spare
> > hardware and Kevin Otte's hard work to get an install box up at the
> > last minute (like late the night before at my place), I believe
> > someone in this thread said "it would have been sunk".  Kudo's to
> > Kevin's efforts as I understand the machine was highly useful.  :)
> >
> > TriLUG has far greater reaching power than LUG at NCSU (no offense NCSU
> > folks, please take this with a grain of salt).
> >
> > So, that said, let's look at the power TriLUG has.  We are growing at
> > an unbelievable and wonderous rate!  It's quite exciting to see our
> > meeting attendance at, near, and over 100 people each month now.
> > That's awesome!!  Also thanks to Red Hat for the larger facility!
> > However...
> >
> > TriLUG, we can do better.  To me, this past weekend felt like a
> > cop-out from the get-go.  TriLUG rested on the shoulders of NCSU
> > (which also felt like nearly the last minute piggy-back in comparison
> > to previous TriLUG Installfests).  Then small turnout and almost no
> > support from the vast TriLUG resource is saddening.  I'm sure
> > planning had some to do with folks not having enough advance time to
> > plan calendars.
> >
> > Past TriLUG Installfests have had lots of advanced notice, as well as
> > organization for people at the door, burned CDs of tons of distros, a
> > fully functional network (I believe at least the last 2 times at Wake
> > Tech thanks to Jason Tower for running the network, not sure who
> > provided all the hardware, but thanks to all those folks!), and LOTS
> > of PARTICIPATION!!  Not to mention the usual TriLUG event "free"
> > pizza, donations accepted as the financial contribution is just as
> > important as the human/hardware element to a successful Installfest.
> >
> > I hope we take lesson from this and do better, a lot better, b/c I
> > know we can.  I may not have tons of spare hardware and cables, but I
> > sure have the spirit.  I go when at all possible and learn something
> > new as well as teach others what I can.  I hope the next Installfest
> > brings us back to par, maybe even a birdie for good measure.  :)
> >
> > thanks,
> > David McD