<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div>Have you met with the VanLUG people in person and talked about this? Email is absolutely terrible for getting anyone to trust you. <br><br></div>Being an NFP and having a board kind of infects the organization with a bit of procedural officiousness. Some of that is warranted, especially when you start getting into liability issues.<br><br></div>A monthly meetup shouldn't really have liability issues.<br><br></div>A smart NFP can isolate the actual operation of the organization (ie., Doing The Thing It Was Meant To Do) from regulatory requirements like boards and budgets and things.<br><br></div>That said, being on a board is a good experience, I think. But I'd want to get to know them a bit better. You're taking on liability and fiduciary resposibility joining a board. For something like VanLUG, it's probably not a big deal, but you want to know what you're getting yourself into. I wouldn't rule it out.</div><div><br></div><div>But starting up your own meetup without the baggage isn't a bad idea either.<br></div><div><br></div>Good luck!<br></div>Darcy.<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 11:04 PM, Ronald Barnes <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ron@ronaldbarnes.ca" target="_blank">ron@ronaldbarnes.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><span class="">Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc wrote on 2017-11-22 07:03 AM:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
It sounds to me as if VanLUG is in trouble, but not critically so. Do<br>
you have any inclination/energy to help revive it? You could be the<br>
VanLUG that you want to see in the world.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
I've been trying since July - I registered the Twitter account they linked to.<br>
<br>
Reached out to local tech company (one to start) to see if they were interested in presenting. They were eager! Took months for VanLUG to get an email together to pursue it, and they complained the whole time.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I started tweeting generic stuff about the upcoming meetings, etc.<br>
<br>
They don't appreciate that though. The president's thoughts as posted to their mailing list:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
I'm going to ask you to refrain from acting on your own individual<br>
initiative, without VanLUG approval. You are not authorized to speak<br>
on behalf of VanLUG. Only elected board members may do so. This is<br>
the last time. What you are doing is not helpful. Next time you do<br>
this, I'll contact Twitter. But I'd rather not have to.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
VanLUG is fubar, I'm afraid.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Here are some easy wins, based upon looking at the website and what<br>
you have told us:<br>
<br>
- You could work with the website maintainer and make some small<br>
fixes.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
I offered to help with the web site, but they want me to join their board first (which is the source of all the problems in the first place, IMHO) - their reply:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
I'm delighted to hear this. It's something we really need. I've had<br>
another offer as well. Do you have any experience with PayPal,<br>
MySQL/MariaDB, and/or WordPress? The best thing to do is to join the<br>
board at the upcoming AGM, or just the Website Committee.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I can't fathom joining their board - a "Website Committee?!?" explains a lot.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- You have done all kinds of interesting things, and you gave a talk<br>
with Bob Jonkman on some of them. You could revive that talk or<br>
offer to give a different one, the same way you were planning on<br>
speaking with KWLUG.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
That's a possibility, and a good idea.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- There is a watcamp-style listing of tech events for Vancouver at<br>
<a href="http://startupnorth.ca/events/vancouver-events/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://startupnorth.ca/<wbr>events/vancouver-events/</a><br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
Awesome! Thanks for that link, somehow I hadn't come across it before.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
. I see that the<br>
last VanLUG meeting was not on that. It might be possible to get<br>
future VanLUG meetings there (or maybe you can use that calendar to<br>
find a less dysfunctional community).<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
I think the latter is the best option. I'm not "allowed" to act on behalf of VanLUG.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
One of the reasons KWLUG still exists is because we do not take<br>
months off. As soon as you start skipping meetings you are in<br>
trouble.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
Yes, this is critical!<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Dealing with membership fees and the restrictions of a nonprofit<br>
structure is a hassle, which is why I have resisted it (and probably<br>
hurt KWLUG in the process).<br>
</blockquote></span>
No, I'm absolutely certain it has benefited KWLUG by not being a non-profit. Seems the legal requirements, paperwork, etc. is relentless and takes energy best spent on the LUG itself.<br>
<br>
It's exactly the problem with VanLUG.<span class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
What you do have to offer is a set of fresh eyes and (potentially)<br>
some energy. Both of these things are invaluable to keeping user<br>
groups alive.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></span>
They recognize my eagerness, but Every. Single. Suggestion or attempt to help is met with "Join the Board".<br>
<br>
<br>
I've been kicking around the idea to fork VanLUG for months - just as a bit of mental exercise.<br>
<br>
<br>
I suspect I went from one of the best LUGS (KWLUG) to one of the very worst (VanLUG). It's a jarring transition.<br>
<br>
<br>
I really appreciate the ideas and kind comments, from everyone that's responded.<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks, and look forward to next time I see you.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
r b<br>
</font></span><br>
PS I fail at replying to list with correct From: so sorry if this is a repeat.<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>