[advocacy-discuss] [Fwd: Re: [ug-discuss] OpenSolaris User Group Growth]

[Joe G (Joseph George)]

A few comments inline.

>>> So, my question: if Sun could produce some technical videos as  
>>> part of
>>> the overall package that we could offer to user groups for
>>> meetings/discussions/education, etc, what would be a good topic  
>>> list to
>>> start from? In other words, we could record some engineers in  
>>> Menlo Park
>>> and other Sun campuses doing talks on x topics. What are the most
>>> pressing issues to explore?
>>>
>> If the (some of the) recordings from SUN Tech Days can be put  
>> together
>> and made available, that in itself should be good content.
>
> Good idea. Hadn't thought of that. :)

I would second it. If opensolaris.org had a few links to video  
streams of the talks at Sun Tech Days ( opensolaris track to start  
with..) and  some videos to download, fledgling OSUGs will find it  
real useful.
>
>>> Also, regarding engineers and presentations: I think it would be  
>>> a great
>>> contribution if Sun could send some engineers to participate at some
>>> user groups and do presentations. This will be a very expensive
>>> suggestion,
>> Am *very* skeptical about this. What are the benefits that are
>> expected to accrue?
>
>
> Well, since we opened, many groups have asked me to send engineers  
> as speakers. Getting a consistent flow of quality speakers is  
> challenging, so if Sun can help it would help some groups as well  
> as getting more of the engineers out on the road for more community  
> activities. It's a balancing act, though. It's expensive, so it  
> will have to be on a limited basis.

I am all for it. Many of the non-Bangalore OSUGs have the same  
complaint. I try consciously to connect our engineers travelling to  
different cities with the local OSUGs.

>
>
>> I might be biased here since I am based in Bangalore where it is easy
>> to get access to people in the know from both within and outside Sun.
>
> Sure, the Silicon Valley group has better access as well.

I think Shiv is a little biased. :-)

>
>
>>> But, we will be making a serious effort this year to collaborate  
>>> with
>>> the Sun Tech Days team to get community speakers for the  
>>> OpenSolaris Day
>>> Tour, to have user group meetings at the tour venues, and to  
>>> start new
>>> user groups along the tour where none exist today.
>> +1.
>> This was indeed done earlier. Some observations based on that -
>> Organizing a BoF should be one of the topics to keep in mind for the
>> event organizers (to ensure a slot, resource, participants being made
>> known).
>> Communicating this clearly to the participants and making it part of
>> the program announcement (atleast at the venue if not in the earlier
>> communication) helps.
>> By the last day, the attendance thins down. Scheduling it a day  
>> before
>> is better.
>> Coordinating with the enthusiastic new volunteers for the UG to help
>> overcome birth pangs is important. Else many of the good tasks  
>> done in
>> the BoF session will not yield any results.
>
> How about give-a-ways? How did they work in India? Did we give away  
> a computer system? Should we do this type of thing in the future?

+1

Give-aways are a big draw. The laptop draws at Sun Tech Days  
Hyderabad were a big hit. We dont have enough. Even Starter Kits.

~Joe