CLUG Website

[Mark Wyatt]

Sorry to send what is largely a 'me too' e-mail, but

> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:03:49 +0100
> From: "simon andrews (BI)" <simon.andrews at bbsrc.ac.uk>
...
> 
> At the software freedom day event today it was pointed out that out 
> website (http://www.cambridge-lug.org/) is still really out of date 
> and hasn't been updated in ages.
> 

That has been pointed out over and over again, and what usually happens
is that someone has an over-ambitious idea of what should be done, tries
to force that through on their own and either fails directly, or does
something that no one is happy with and is never used....

> Since pretty much all the activity for the group happens on the 
> mailing list the consensus amongst those present was that a small 
> static page giving some basic details about the LUG and how to get 
> to the mailing list would be a more appropriate page to have up 
> than what we now have.

At one time, when the web page didn't seem so obviously out of date
(and that _is_ a few years ago) there was probably more activity in
the Sunday meetings, than on the mailing list. I wouldn't say that
the website is the only cause of the collapse of the face-to-face 
meetings, but it may be a factor.
> 
> I've therefore had a go at putting together such a page.  As you 
> can see it's pretty minimal, but is hopefully welcoming enough to 
> attract new people onto the list.  I've temporarily put my attempt 
> up at:
> 
> www.proteo.me.uk/clug/
> 
> ...comments are welcome.

In spite of the fact this is a brilliant effort, I would still quibble with 
the following:

-previously there was a clearer acknowledgement that although the group 
was called a Linux group all of FLOSS, whether it was Firefox or a BSD, 
was within our ambit.

-" from around Cambridge" that still doesn't cope with the point that
many people who are resident in this area aren't _from_ Cambridge or 
even the surrounding area. All you really need to point out is that the 
meeting occurs in Cambridge (the UK bit is a vital point, though).

-"Most of the activity of this groups happens on our mailing list."
Well, it does now, but I don't think that you should pre-suppose that 
it always will. I'd prefer 'much' to 'most', as you probably wouldn't have
to edit the website if things do change around, but you could just point 
out the mailing list.

-"we regularly arrange informal..." This should be correct, but right now
it would be closer to say "we irregularly arrange..." except for the 
"arrange" part, which, at the very least, is an unfulfilled ambition. I'm 
not sure that you should write "we irregularly don't arrange meetings..." 
though. It's unclear who that would help. :-)

"Meetings are announced on the mailing list," 
"People use the mailing list to check out meetings" or something or 
"newcomers often use the mailing list to check out the next meeting".

"the touble with Linux users" How dare you suggests that there is any touble 
with Linux users at all? They are clearly the most advanced form of sentient 
being and will be until the next kernel is released, when they will need 
upgrading!

> Maybe some animated gifs and a flash welcome screen?

Please, no. Well, not the flash bit, anyway.

> 
> It will be nice to have install part week after Freedom Software Day.
> To say people. Do you have any problem, we are here and here next
> Saturday.
> 

Now that's a very good idea for next year, but that's a long time off.
Is there anything else that we should 'theme' an install day around? Like
posters up around Cambridge colleges with an install day once every is 
back at colleges?

>From: Tom Ellis <tom-lists-clug2 at jaguarpaw.co.uk>
>...
>> I've therefore had a go at putting together such a page.  As you can see
>> it's pretty minimal, but is hopefully welcoming enough to attract new
>> people onto the list.  I've temporarily put my attempt up at:
>
>Great idea, but don't forget we've already got several of those, including
>my favorite:
>
>http://clug.joeczucha.co.uk/
>
>I suppose whoever can convince Thomas Horsten to give them access to the
>webserver wins.  (I do believe I have access, but not write access to the
>web directory)
>
>Tom

I don't think that a wiki is in any way a bad thing, but my impression is
that it would take more hassle to get everyone to agree to a the principle
of a wiki than just to change the existing static web page. But, as I've 
pointed about before, as the existing page breaks Bruce Perens' rules for
Linux Users Groups, I'd settle for anything that gets the info on the 
meetings correct. 

It would probably be best to have the minimal static front page, as is 
suggested, and link off to a wiki that could be more dynamic, but whether 
that will actually happen...

The big thing, however, is that we need to put it in place. Without that
it is just another attempt at updating the site which never happened. What
has to happen now so that it can happen? And who will be responsible for 
updates once it has happened?

Mark

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