ubuntu-us-tn Happy New Year

[Ubuntu LoCo Tennessee Team]

Happy New Year everyone.

With a new year always comes new opportunity.  The team has been quiet for
some time now.  This, in my opinion is a shame.

There are - from my view point a few reasons for this.

1.  The weekly meetings were for lack of a better word were useless.  We had
the same people show up every week - basically a core group of 4-5 people.

2.  Tennessee, as I am sure everyone knows is a very large state with two
time zones.

3.  No regional leadership.  It was proposed, and if I recall correctly
approved at a meeting, that we have three primary operating areas - West
Middle and East Tennessee.

4.  I can also honestly say that I have not been available as much as I
could/should be.  I did have a conversation with another member, who wanted
to take leadership. But, there has been no action on that part.

So, I have a few ideas on how we can fix some of these problems and grow
this group and in the end make the Tennessee LoCo great and Ubuntu stronger
in Tennessee.

1.  Have "official" meetings monthly instead of weekly.  Weekly is too much
for the amount of activity/participation we currently have.  If the need
arises in the future we can increase the frequency of these meetings.  This
is not to say the regional groups can not have meetings whenever they feel
the need.

2.  I think we need to take more of the day to day conversation to the
mailing list.  The irc channel is great, but I think we can see more
activity in the mailing list.  I know that some workplaces will not allow
people to use irc and we reach a broader audience with the mailing list -
every member is supposed to be subscribed to it.

3.  Create recognized regional leaders.  At least one per region above -
more than one would be good!  Within this, there should also be centralized
oversight.  I am thinking leaders/admins, recording secretary, and others.
This oversight should be mirrored at the state level too.

4.  I plan on making more of an effort this year.  But I can't do it
myself.  Basically I think/hope we can structure this team in a way that we
rely on each other and build community, but we aren't relying on any one
person specifically to meet our goals.

5.  Create regionally backed group projects.  Along with state wide
activities.  Coordination between the regions to have multiple activities in
multiple regional would be awesome.  This can be anything.  CD distribution,
install-fests, meet-ups etc...  use your imagination - this can be really
fun.

6.  More face to face activity regionally and state wide.

7. 8. 9... add your ideas here.


One last note -  Congratulations to Matthew Craig - desertc - on becoming an
Ubuntu member this past November!


I look forward to hearing back from you all.

Mike (tideline)
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