[NTLUG:Discuss] Do LUGs Still Matter?

[Leroy Tennison]

Stan Gatchel wrote:

> Leroy,
>
> I didn't realize Dennis has beginners classes. How is attendance?
>
> Leroy Tennison wrote:
>
>> Stan Gatchel wrote:
>>
>>> Leroy,
>>>
>>> Thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering if we could have some 
>>> regular program for newbies and if we did that, would anybody show up?
>>>
>>> Long ago (yikes! 3 years ago this April) we held a 1 day seminar at 
>>> the Grand Prairie High School called "Linux in Education, Spring 
>>> Conference." It was all organized by a wonderful teacher there named 
>>> Marilyn Hagle, who, on her own, put Knoppix on all the workstations 
>>> in her class. She became a Linux enthusiast and decided to hold this 
>>> conference in 2002. She obtained approval from the school posted for 
>>> help on some sites. That's where I learned of the conference and 
>>> wrote to her. Several of the LUG members helped (Dennis? Tom?). We 
>>> only had about 20 people attend, but some came as far away as Austin 
>>> and some were from Dallas. It was completely focused on elementary 
>>> education. Some students even gave demos. The people who attended 
>>> really appreciated it.
>>> Marilyn still has the link up:  http://www.hagle.com/index.html 
>>> (click on the speakers and links to see the agenda)
>>>
>>> The conference assumed no previous knowledge of Linux (or even 
>>> computers for that matter). Through a series of presentations, we 
>>> stepped people through the basic ideas in simple terms.  All the 
>>> presentations were developed in OO.o 1.0. The presentations given 
>>> that day have been sent everywhere. In fact, Marilyn still sends 
>>> these presentations to people.
>>>
>>> One of the attendees, Gil Brand, who lead the NTPCUG Linux SIG every 
>>> month at North Lake College, asked me to present some of these 
>>> segments at their meetings, which I did. I don't think many newbies 
>>> were there but they listened (with my luck, they were probably all 
>>> sys admins ;-)
>>>
>>> There seems to be a lot of interest in Linux but most people barely 
>>> understand what they use now. When you throw Linux at them it can be 
>>> overwhelming, so they stay with what they know. Would these people 
>>> show up at the meetings if we held a regular newbie sessions (maybe 
>>> separate from the main session?)
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Stan
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Stan,
>>>>
>>>> A suggestion for you.  If you feel that there isn't enough 
>>>> activities for newbies then do this: During the month, write down a 
>>>> list of questions that come up and bring them to the meeting (my 
>>>> further recommendations are that you do so as they arise so you 
>>>> don't forget and that you print them on paper with enough room 
>>>> between each to write down an answer).  There's usually someone at 
>>>> the 9am Linux Installation Project who can answer them (no, it's 
>>>> not the primary purpose for the time but if someone has answers and 
>>>> you have questions and don't interrupt the installation process 
>>>> then who cares).  You can also use the time between meetings and 
>>>> after the main meeting to ask questions. Finally, tell us what's 
>>>> lacking.  Chris has indicated that he is looking for new ideas and 
>>>> I believe that most of us are willing to help.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> https://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>> Hmmm, now I'm asking "Who is the newbie?"  Sounds like you have been 
>> at it for a while.  Dennis goes through a beginners class before the 
>> main meeting on a regular basis.  We have an installation meeting at 
>> 9am every month.  Who is our audience and what are we missing?
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> https://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
Pretty good.  I try to catch them when I can because I usually pick up 
something I didn't know and hadn't thought about asking.