[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Demo Day

[cbbrowne@godel.brownes.org]

On Thu, 09 Sep 1999 22:46:39 CDT, the world broke into rejoicing as
TJ Bell <tjbell at usa.net>  said:
> I wasn't referring to the 2 days notice, I realized that after I sent it
> that it sounded that way...what I was referring to was the trend of the
> entire Linux Demo Day project, and also to the general attitude I
> percieved - "'Someone' should do this, 'someone' should do that", then a
> _few_ people doing something only to have the project ignored again.

As you have said, it happens not because "someone should do this," but
as people specifically volunteer.

It's too bad that this event looks like it won't happen; I really
hope that some useful lessons can be taken out of it, and not just
disappointment.

Note that:
- Several people *did* volunteer to help;
- Possible locations have been located;
- Resources have been found (e.g. - PCs);
- It is made clear that better planning needs to take place to
  *make sure* that such an event can occur.

I don't regard *any* of these factors as "bad things."

It *is* too bad that there's some "egg on face" in terms of the attempt
to reserve space at the mall.  That is something of a "bad thing," and I
hope not desparately so.

In retrospect, there really wasn't enough time to get all the resources
into place in time.  It is probably a mistake that the matter wasn't
brought up at the last meeting; all I can say is that the "to do" lists
surrounding the aftermath of incorporation are still pretty long, and
I'm pretty "booked up" personally through mid-October.

> > But I AM NOT BLAMING the failure of this thing solely on them,
> > but except for the three people that have stepped up in the last two
> > days (and Brian Finley with VA Research who offered to get me
> > one and maybe two systems to use) NO ONE HAS SHOWED
> > ANY INTEREST at all.
> > 
> > I'm sorry you felt I wasn't being fair with the amount of notice given
> > but, after going to bat for Demo Day with the GM of S&C to get
> > clearance and then selling it to the store manager at North Hills Mall,
> > I'm the one left with egg on his face. The bottom line is, no one
> > asked me to do it, I brought this on myself, I'm not mad at anyone
> > I guess I'm just a little disappointed.
> 
> As am I.
> 
> > As a friend of mine would say, I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
> > Maybe next year. Linux is still the greatest OS in the world, and
> > NTLUG is still the best.
> > GOD Bless everyone. We tried.
> 
> That all depends on who you are calling "we"
> 
> I final note and then I'll shut up:  I would like to thank each and
> every person who has attempted to find a location for this to happen.  I
> would also like to thank those who were willing to tear down their
> machines and take it over there as well as those who spoke with companys
> such as VA Reasearch about getting computers from them.  I don't know
> who all tried, but my hat's off to ya if you did!  Linux Demo Day didn't
> happen this year, but maybe we can get our act together for next year. 
> Oh, and the 24hr game can happen at any time...there's no date for that
> one - email Steve Baker (sjbaker1 at airmail.net) if you wanna do it!! 
> PLEASE!!

Both Chrises (Cox and Browne) spoke with the VA Research rep, so while
none of the "official type folk" were prime movers on making the event
happen (and both Chris Cox and I are unavailable this weekend due to 
other forcible committments), there was some support from "the top," such
as "the top" is.

I *strongly* favor having as much widespread involvement with these sorts
of things as possible; what will make these these sorts of events work
is putting together volunteers, resources, and evidently a little bit
more scheduling effort than went into this.
--
Rules of the Evil Overlord #15. "I will make it clear that I do know
the meaning of the word "mercy"; I simply choose not show them any." 
<http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html>
cbbrowne at hex.net- <http://www.ntlug.org/~cbbrowne/lsf.html>