Notes - GNHLUG

What is GNHLUG: Evangalism, or just talking?

What topics do you want to hear from? As kon the mailing list, see who knows who, and who can talk. "An expert is just someone who knows more than I do."

Follow what your group wants and what your group does, rather than trying to force what *you* think the group wants. If a group wants to do it, that's great, but if they don't, don't force them to.

People want to have fun and learn about Linux, and that's cool. Don't need to neccesarily be attmepting to convert all of New Hampshire. But there are some people who want to do that, and they can. Schools converting over to Linux, other things like that.

Delegate, delegate, delegate! Finding a room, finding a speaker, whatever, make sure peopel are aware that it's their group. The more that other people do, the more you can concentrate on the rest. Volunteers don't always follow through: they need encourage meent and someone standing on their backs. Or whatever part is appropriate.

Lots of people here tonight: lots of different things.

Lots of really smart people here. Interested in algorithms and people putting Linux on every device known to man James Tried to install Gentoo, failed (of course), switched to Knoppix. Discuss some things that people have things with problems with. The way to pick hardware is to findd who wrote the driver and buy what he buys.

Suggestions for the future

Beer and highly technical discussions! :) There are new users that visit, we want to make this as good as good as possible for the grey-hairs and newbies at the same time. Suggests that B&N, Panera both have wireless, and may have meeting spaces. Bookstore might be distracting for install fests or something like that Colleges might be better for that kind of thing Weekend installs or something like that.

No recent install fests in this area, maybe start doing something every 6 months. Maybe a New User Night, give people a new distribution to try, because they're not that hard to install anymore. Specific questions or something like that could be done. Also consider coordinate with other areas: Boston LUG install fest.

Lots of companies in the area that can help out with talks on things, Linux in government, corporations, good area for this kind of thing. Talk about problem solving

Good and bad ways to evangalize Do we cover all of Open Source? Is this just Linux? Is it about Free Software Maybe case studies of large instituions: comparison of Free Software v. non free software... Opens up avenues for work, proglem solving stuff...

How can you make money off free software? How can you make money off open source support? Service is where the money is.

Talk about which apps are out there? Maintain a list of "Top 10" products or whatever. Cameras: talk about all their software, camera software. Come in, talk about your favorite app Common problems nights.

Use the wiki to do something useful.

Order of importance: Regular meetings. 4th wednesday of the month, a routine, so people can always plan it. PLan a month or two in advance. Get an idea of what people want. Plan something in every meeting for everyone.

Establish an audience for speakers.

Talking about Financial stuff: for speakers, etc.