[ug-glug] Re: Reminder: Next meeting now Feb 7

[Chip Bennett]

David H. Braun wrote:

>Respectfully, it's hard to take this group seriously, as you can't get your act together on even the most elementary matters.  I would not be at all surprised if one or more people show up tonight for the meeting-that-isn't.  If any do, do you really expect them to return for the "real" meeting next week?  Perhaps you should change the location the night before, "just in case" they do show up.
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Actually, we took an informal poll last Friday on the merits of changing 
the date, and all of the responses were positive.  It's possible that 
some may show up tonight, especially those that get word through someone 
else and are not on the mailing list.  So I just sent an E-mail to the 
secretary to post notices on the doors, as I am out sick today.  I hope 
you're wrong, but you're probably not.

>I've been checking your web page linked via UniForum Chicago regularly and today is the first day it mentions the date change.  [b]Chip Bennett's posting dated Jan 31 at 4:26 PM is the first message with the title "Next meeting now Feb 7".[/b]  If there is any earlier reference to the date change it is buried in some unrelated thread.
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We actually decided last week to change the meeting date, but the 
message was a reply message to another message and as a result, is not 
visible from the web site without digging into the thread.  I guess we 
didn't think of that.  If you want to make sure you get current 
information, you should subscribe to mailing list.

>In view of the pervasive lack of planning, direction, communication and follow-through, organizers seem to be aiming for mediocrity for this group.  You're dropping the ball on stuff that isn't even strategically difficult or content-related.  My expectations are dropping precipitously, even as I remain delighted with the OpenSolaris project itself.
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You say that as if the content stuff is hard and the organization is 
easy.  I think it's just the opposite.  But then I'm just a geek.  I 
think everyone here is enthusiastic.  Unfortunately, what we lack is 
time and experience.  None of us are getting paid to do this, and it'll 
get better with time.  We need the volunteer efforts of people like you 
to help make this go.  I guess I'm saying that if you see a hole, 
volunteer to fill it.

>I missed the inaugural meeting because I only found out about it -- accidentally -- the morning after it was over. How discouraging.  I wasn't even notified -- even though I joined OpenSolaris the day the project was launched.  I should have been an obvious target -- because of my involvement and [b]known [/b]suburban location -- for promotion of the nascent local user's group.  Apparently not.  Either organizers didn't have access to the general mailing list for OpenSolaris news (doubtful) or they didn't bother to utilize it (likely).  It would be bizarre indeed if Sun refused them access to contact information.
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Back at the first meeting, I was just a bystander, like you, so I can't 
account for the procedure used to contact prospective members.  
Personally, since I work for a Sun partner, my company was contacted by 
a Sun partner rep.   I don't know how everyone else first got the word.  
However, this is now a community sponsored organization.  Sun put the 
ball in motion, but they're leaving it up to us to run with it.  Let's 
do that.

>Here it is a full three months later, with meeting number [b]two[/b] still future, and a potential hand grenade is thrown into the midst of the group -- by its own planners.  [b]No one should have to investigate the very day of a definitely scheduled meeting to see if it is still on.[/b]  The moment the adjective "tentative" is removed from the day, time, location and topic, these should be set in stone.  Everyone should be able to mark their calendars, consult MapQuest [b]once[/b], and show up for the meeting without any further communication.  That's only basic logistics.
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As far as the notification this time:  1) it should have been earlier, 
2) if you're attending meetings, you should be on the mailing list, and 
3) we should have thought about the way the web site posts the threads.

Part of being new is figuring out how to get speakers.  Since we are in 
the Midwest and not silicon valley, we can't just call up a couple of 
our Sun engineer buddies and ask them drive down to do a presentation: 
we have to align with their schedules.  As we get more experienced users 
in the Chicago area, we won't be so dependent, but even then, if a Sun 
engineer on the Solaris development team is going to be in town, and I'm 
going to miss it just because it's the wrong day, I vote we change the 
day. 

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Respectfully,
Chip Bennett