[GNU/LinuxInIndia] LUGs, FSUGs, GLUGs... vital to the movement

LUGs, FSUGs, GLUGs... vital to the movement
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By Frederick Noronha

Someone once again asked, recently, that ever-so-important
question. How do you start and run an active user-group?
Without exaggeration, the GLUG (GNU/Linux User Group), FSUG
(Free Software User Group) or LUG (Linux User Group) is vital
to the Free Software movement in India.

It's not enough just to have a user-group that is premised on
a what's-in-it-for-me approach. Going to LUG meetings to
learn is fine; but unless we actively and aggressively promote
the values of sharing, we can't really expect much. We need
to share not just software, but also knowledge and
information... and, above all, a helpful attitude.

We seen it happen with some of India's groups. After growing
upto a point, a lot of the members get more caught up with
their own high-pressure work, and their lives. After some
time, a user-group that is built largely on getting the most
value for oneself isn't sustainable. So a user-group with a
lot of tech gurus and little of a spirit to share is doomed.

That, to one's mind, is the difference between the Free BSD,
the Open Source, and the Free Software movements. Free BSD
is technically excellent; but with its limited emphasis on
building community, is it any wonder why it has so few
adhere ants even in a country of one-billion plus? Open Source
tends to focus more on the argument of technical excellence.
So, is it accidental that building a sharing culture -- where
people feel strongly about the "ethics" and politics of
software -- takes a back seat? To one's mind, where we have
reached has depended vastly on seemingly-intractable
attitudes of hard-to-shake individuals like Richard "RMS"
Stallman.

It takes just a handful of determined individuals to build a
successful user-group. But you need specific individuals
playing specific roles. One or more to keep track of events,
call meetings. At least a single-person team to keep records,
minute activities, publicise the activities of the group and
so on. 

Friends in the Philippines have an incorporated user-group.
It has directors and other post-holders looking after very
specific tasks -- much like a not-for-profit corporate. But
one needn't be that ambitious. The goal is to somehow get the
job done. It's not important how. In Goa, our LUG has been
running for the past six years; we still don't have
committees in place, or elections. Our principle is that
whoever shows enthusiasm, gets the job done. And it has
worked.

One's own prescription for forming and running an active
user-group is simple. Make sure you have an active
mailing-list; this is critical. Have 3-4 regular persons who
commit to do regular postings to your mailing list. Keep your
list a good balance between tech info, evangelising, and
general information. Tech excellence is fine; but don't
forget about the principles of sharing -- of software,
knowledge and more.

Make sure you have a bank of sharable Free/Open Source
software. Get an interested journalist on board; give your
group a profile in the local media. Link up with larger, more
established LUGs close by. Avoid ego-clashes and flame wars in
your LUG; these things destroy. Keep things informal.

S/he's who is active leads; this principle works. Don't
undervalue plans to reach out to newbies and potential
new members. Have a profile, if possible, in local
computer-related events. Share information promiscuously. It
really helps... 

Build critical mass (in terms of having an adequate number of
members) or you won't get started. Branch of into having more
regional user-groups and specialist LUGs just in time. You
can have multiple user-groups in one state or city. 

Don't fear friendly forks; two user-groups can often be
better than one! Pay attention to colleges and educational
institutions; they love free seminars, sharable software.
Focus on areas of specialist interest -- Free Software and
education, e-governance, small businesses, hardware vendors
and assemblers, and non-profits, among others. 

Here's looking forward to many more active and useful
user-groups across India. We also have among the largest
number in any country in the world. Let's aim for improving
quality too. 
-- 
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Frederick 'FN' Noronha  | http://del.icio.us/fredericknoronha
Saligao, Goa, India     | fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Independent Journalist  | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436
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