[NTLUG:Discuss] What is going on with the new location for the May meeting

[Ralph Green]

Howdy,
  It gets even more interesting, and I think in a good way.  Four
minutes after I sent out the note about a new location for the May
meeting, I got a note about a local company offering us another
meeting location.  Stuart Yarus and I visited them today and I
volunteered to write up what we found and some background.

Background,

  It should be obvious to anyone that we are not getting the amount of
participation that we used to.  There are multiple reasons for this
and a bunch of us have been talking about what we can do about it. The
LBJ construction may have discouraged some members.  I have heard some
comments about the dues we pay to NTPCUG keeping some members away.
It may be that Linux is getting too mainstream and people don't need a
group to keep them going. It is probably other things too, and I'd
like to hear about them to see if we can fix something.  I have been
told I am too strident about using only free software and I have
scared members away.  Is that true?

 After the last DFWUUG group meeting, I was asked if I could get us a
room at Dallas Makerspace to try out.  All the people asking me were
members of NYLUG.  This is not a cabal to take over NTLUG.  You have
seen that DMS was happy to host us  We want to see how many people
show up and what NTLUG members think about the location.  DMS will not
charge us anything to use a room and we could probably permanently
move there.  About the only negative thing I'll say about DMS is that
parking in not great at the present location.  Sometime this summer,
DMS is moving near Valwood and I35 and parking will get better.

Future plans

  XOP Networks is the local, Linux using company that contacted us
about meeting in their facility.  I'd like us to consider meeting
there for our June 21, 2014 meeting.    Unlike the request to try DMS,
only Stuart and I have talked about it and we did not feel that we
should decide for the group.  The company has the 3rd floor of the
building at 17290 Preston Road, which is just north of Campbell Rd.
The facilities are nice and sufficient for our needs.  I did not take
pictures because it was still under construction.  XOP will not charge
us anything.  There is plenty of free parking in 2 basement lots.  We
would need to change the schedule a bit.  We would have the main
meeting from 11 AM to 1 PM(same as now) and the LIP would now run
during and after that.  Another group meets there until 10:30 AM on
Saturdays.  What do you think of that location?  Would you come to a
meeting there?  Should we schedule it for June?  Ask questions about
the facility, if you have them.  I thought this note was getting a bit
long and I cut out all but the basics.

  We may keep meeting at King of Glory.  We may move.  That decision
will be up to the membership.  Get on the Discuss list and tell others
what you think.  Is it a good idea to move?  What else do we need to
do?  No personal attacks on the list, please.   If we stay at KOG for
June, the meeting will be on June 28.  At XOP, it will be June 21.

 If you reply to this email, and I hope you will, please be kind and
trim.  We don't need a bunch of copies of this long email with just a
single line of response.  That makes the discussion hard to follow.
Have a good day,
Ralph Green
VP, NTLUG