[ubuntu-za] Fwd: [Ubuntu-za-maties] LoCoTeam Election - Maties Ubuntu

[Morgan Collett]

On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:14, Hilton Gibson <hilton.gibson at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Walter Leibbrandt
> <walter at translate.org.za> wrote:
>>
>> Op 27/01/2010 18:02, Hilton Gibson het geskryf:
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 5:08 PM, Jonathan Carter (highvoltage)
>>> <jonathan at ubuntu.com>  wrote:
>>>> On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 4:30 PM, David Rubin<drubin at ubuntu.com>  wrote:
>>>>> I am not sure how many of Ubuntu-za fall into the Stellenbosch and
>>>>> surrounds area but thought I would pass it on any way.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry if you have gotten this before.
>>>>
>>>> So they *have* to register as a complete loco team to get recognition
>>>> as a group at the university? Sounds kind of messed up since our
>>>> current loco team is still so small.
>>>>
>>>> -Jonathan
>>>>
>>> Its political about support.
>>> The campus IT managers want an "official" self-supporting channel to
>>> point linux users to.
>>> Its kinda win-win if you think about it.
>> Hi,
>>
>> Could you maybe explain how this is win-win? This sounds, to me, like
>> something that will, in all likelihood, fragment the existing LoCo
>> rather than support it.
>>
>> Ubuntu LoCo's are not (and are not supposed to be) LUGs: we're not that
>> interested in Linux users, but rather Ubuntu people. Starting a globally
>> registered Ubuntu LoCo to support Maties Linux users seems inappropriate
>> and rather monopolistic (in terms of other distro's). If the IT managers
>> want a Linux support channel, I would suggest reviving the Stellenbosch
>> LUG. Register it as a student organisation (if it isn't already - I hope
>> it's easier than at Tuks) and you have all the officiality you need.
>>
>> I fully agree with Jonathan that splitting this still small LoCo does
>> not sound like a good idea. Whatever an Ubuntu ZA Maties LoCo can
>> achieve is probably more successfully achievable by an official Maties
>> LUG with a strong Ubuntu (ZA) presence.
>>
>> If you have the interest and think you can make it work, then I guess
>> it's up to you guys. However, I urge you to reconsider.
>>
>> What do the rest of you think?
> Hi Walter
>
> Been real busy with 1st yr students.
> But let me explain the win-win comment.
>
> There was a thread talking about supporting primary and high schools.
> But the problem was just that - support !
> How do we create a sustainable support structure for Ubuntu in our regions ?
> My IT manager friend summed it up with this terse statement - "whos
> neck do I wring ?".
> That applies to high schools as well. The linux champion leaves or whatvever.
>
> Now, why create a LoCo at Universities ?
> 1. Students that arrive here are open to new things.
> 2. There is a constant flow of students in and out.
> 3. Because of the flow, the old members can be replaced by new ones.
> 4. An "official" one stop place to get help and support can be
> sustained with the flow thru.


> Once the Loco is up and running then the following can happen.
> 1. Maintain the freedom toaster.
> 2. Maintain the wiki help web site.
> 3. Help support surrounding schools and organisations.
> 4. Organise events and promotion.
> 5. Solicit funds.
> etc....
>
> And all of the above is sustainable over the long term.
>
> Its a win for the University (free expert support) and for the
> community (sustainable).
>
> What do the rest think ?

Hi Hilton

I strongly recommend you work within Ubuntu-ZA as far as the global
Ubuntu LoCoTeam structure goes. In that case you will have our
support, you can participate in our activities by extending them with
local presence on your campus - release parties, Jams, etc. We can
support sub teams within the national team so you can keep your local
identity and activities.

Ubuntu-ZA generally functions by the activities of whoever shows up.
Therefore, to the extent that you participate in Ubuntu-ZA we all win.
If you choose to operate as a separate team (and not a sub team within
Ubuntu-ZA) we run the risk of fragmenting our community.

Since you're interested in creating a new LoCoTeam I'm going to assume
you are familiar with https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamHowto and the
rest of the w.u.c documentation on LoCoTeams referenced from that
page. There are only a few cases of approved LoCoTeams who are not
national. These include the US states, SpanishTeam which a meta-team
based on common language - Spain and Latin America - and possibly a
couple of cases specific to a language - Kurdish and Tamil teams.

Asking about a separate LoCoTeam on this list isn't the appropriate
way to figure this out - please mail the loco-contacts list
(https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/loco-contacts - which you
should already be a part of if you are considering a separate
LoCoTeam) and ask the global community of LoCoTeam
leaders/contacts/interested people what they think. This list includes
the members of the LoCo Council by whom you would need to be approved
as an official LoCoTeam.

If you do this then we can resume this discussion on that list which
is actually going to produce an outcome, as further discussion of this
on this list is not likely to help.

Regards
Morgan