[clug] Declining attendance?

[Adrian]

When I lived closer to Canberra I enjoyed the few CLUG meetings that I attended.

Now back home in Cooma it is just too far. The drive up is ok but the return trip is the killer. Being unemployed the fuel costs 
are significant.

I should take more notice of the topics for each meeting and make an effort from time to time.

Keep up the good work.

Adrian


On 10/10/12 09:46, Martin Schwenke wrote:
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> On Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:54:53 +1000, Paul Wayper <paulway at mabula.net>
> wrote:
>
>> One thing that people have commented to me about, and has also been an issue
>> raised at the monthly inter-LUG discussion meetings online, is the declining
>> attendance at actual CLUG meetings.  [...]
>> [...]
>> However, is there any interest in having regular meet-ups where people bring
>> their computers in and we try to solve problems related to Linux and FOSS?
>> [...]
>> What does everyone else think?
> I think the lack of replies says a lot.  :-(
>
> A few comments...
>
> Local community groups of all types have seen a decline in
> participation, although some new ones have appeared too.  I think a
> large part of this is due to the amount of information available online.
> This doesn't just include mailing lists like this one but also the
> ability to find out the answers to many technical problems by just
> knowing how to phrase a question well when typing it into a search
> engine.  There's a lot of information out there...
>
> That's in stark contrast to the early days of Linux when CLUG was
> founded.  The best way of finding out things was by attending a CLUG
> meeting, where we were fortunate that some of the local experts were
> among the world's best.
>
> That said, I don't think that CLUG should be written off.  It has
> always been an excellent group of FLOSS experts, hobbyists and
> beginners, and this should continue...
>
> I think the idea of people bringing computers and getting help with
> their problems is a good one.  That was certainly a big part of CLUG
> meetings in days gone by.  People will just need to know that
> there's a small chance they might walk away with a machine that works
> less well than when they arrived...  ;-)
>
> If attendance is already down then I wouldn't fragment that into a
> SIG.  I think consolidation is a better answer...
>
> Personally, I'd love to be (more) involved in CLUG.  However, I have
> more responsibilities and other interests than I had 15 years ago,
> when I used to attend quite a few meetings and speak occasionally.
> Also, I find that after sitting in front of a computer all day answering
> emails, debugging and coding, I'd rather do something else than talk
> about computers.  Sad but true!
>
> peace & happiness,
> martin
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-- 
Adrian Blake
101 Mulach St
Cooma, NSW 2630
Australia
mobile 0407 232 978
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/361317