[TriLUG] Palmer for another SC term; proposed amendment to the bylaws

[Brian]

Roy has captured my position on this matter to a tee.

*runs off to print up "I Agree with Roy!" t-shirts*

~B

On 4/26/2013 12:24 PM, Roy Vestal wrote:
> So after reading all the emails, and the posts, and the websites, and
> the policies, etc., here are some thoughts from a lurking, "old" member.
>
> Here is my background as pertaining to TriLUG: I am a long time member
> (since 1998), a former SC member and a former room sponsor (RTI). Since
> the move to Red Hat's campus (wow that was a LONG time ago), I haven't
> been able to get to many meetings due to family and community
> responsibilities. I lurk a lot on IRC, and read almost all the posts on
> the mailer. I even still have my "gold" TriLUG membership card. ;)  I
> know most folks in TriLUG don't know me from Adam, and that's ok.
>
> With all that said, I don't see how this proposal will help TriLUG's
> "gender imbalance". I don't necessarily see it hurting either, but I see
> nothing that it will do to help. Over my 23+ years in the IT world, I
> find there just aren't as many women interested in this field as the
> men. Not to say women aren't as good as men. By no means. My wife TAUGHT
> me Unix. I know 2 ladies from TriLUG (oddly enough both named Lisa) that
> can run circles around most men in this field, including me! The women
> in my department are what most of you would deem as experts if you ever
> had the honor of working with them. But that doesn't change the fact
> that the majority of the IT world is men. Personally, I could care less
> if it's a man or woman, just as long as they get the work done, and done
> well.
>
> Now the fact that there are women who don't want to come to a TriLUG
> event because of males of the species being stupid jerks, that's a
> different story. I do know there are guys in any organization that are
> just jerks. I won't call them "men" because they don't respect others,
> and I won't give them respect they don't deserve.
>
> So, here are my recommendation to the SC, and to TriLUG'ers in general:
>
> Before adding yet another requirement/resolution/amendment to the
> bylaws, ask the men, the real ones, to step up and say to the jerks, "We
> won't allow harrassment, period". Folks, just treat each other with
> civility. And hold each other to a high, professional standard. If you
> do this, the jerks will go away.
>
> And if I remember correctly, the SC already has the right to revoke
> memberships (trying to recall from memory because I can only find the
> Articles of Incorporation are online). I don't remember on what basis
> though, sorry.
>
> As for the specific wording of the proposal, it is very limiting and I
> believe will, in the end, cause folks that you want to keep in the
> group, actually leave TriLUG.
>
> As a silly example, I wouldn't be able to pick on Tanner about servers
> (ahh the days of old), or Tarus about his hats, or Kevin about his going
> to the "dark" side, because that could be construed by someone as
> "offensive verbal comments related to [their]... physical appearance...
> or technical background".  Now I know this example is way out there, but
> I purposely chose this to show that these types of policies only open up
> the door for complaining, and clics to form to get someone removed,
> power stuggles, etc. I've seen this happen with other volunteer groups
> that have enacted similar policies to the point the group just folded.
>
> Note: (I chose these guys for my example because I know them, they know
> I'm full of it anyway, and they would know this was an example and not a
> flame.)
>
> I appreciate, and applaud the work that Christobol put into this. I
> think his point of civility, respect, and encouragement to follow this
> common sense approach is right on the mark, AND I believe each TriLUG
> member should use it as a standard and guide, and should hold
> themselves, and their fellow members to it, when at a TriLUG event.
> However, I believe adding this as a bylaw will cause unintentional
> consequences down the road. More tension, and less relaxed times with
> fellow linux enthusiasts, and geeks (yes I are one!).
>
> I'll put it this way, you can't legislate morality, nor common sense,
> the members of the culture has to demand these from each other. As Ron
> White would put it, "You can't fix stupid".
>
> What I'm suggesting is that all TriLUG'ers follow this policy on the
> honor system, but don't vote it into the bylaws.
>
> Just my $0.02. Please, keep the change,
> -Roy
>
>