[NTLUG:Discuss] Do LUGs Still Matter?

[Stan Gatchel]

Leroy,

I didn't realize Dennis has beginners classes. How is attendance?

Leroy Tennison wrote:
> Stan Gatchel wrote:
>
>> Leroy,
>>
>> Thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering if we could have some 
>> regular program for newbies and if we did that, would anybody show up?
>>
>> Long ago (yikes! 3 years ago this April) we held a 1 day seminar at 
>> the Grand Prairie High School called "Linux in Education, Spring 
>> Conference." It was all organized by a wonderful teacher there named 
>> Marilyn Hagle, who, on her own, put Knoppix on all the workstations 
>> in her class. She became a Linux enthusiast and decided to hold this 
>> conference in 2002. She obtained approval from the school posted for 
>> help on some sites. That's where I learned of the conference and 
>> wrote to her. Several of the LUG members helped (Dennis? Tom?). We 
>> only had about 20 people attend, but some came as far away as Austin 
>> and some were from Dallas. It was completely focused on elementary 
>> education. Some students even gave demos. The people who attended 
>> really appreciated it.
>> Marilyn still has the link up:  http://www.hagle.com/index.html 
>> (click on the speakers and links to see the agenda)
>>
>> The conference assumed no previous knowledge of Linux (or even 
>> computers for that matter). Through a series of presentations, we 
>> stepped people through the basic ideas in simple terms.  All the 
>> presentations were developed in OO.o 1.0. The presentations given 
>> that day have been sent everywhere. In fact, Marilyn still sends 
>> these presentations to people.
>>
>> One of the attendees, Gil Brand, who lead the NTPCUG Linux SIG every 
>> month at North Lake College, asked me to present some of these 
>> segments at their meetings, which I did. I don't think many newbies 
>> were there but they listened (with my luck, they were probably all 
>> sys admins ;-)
>>
>> There seems to be a lot of interest in Linux but most people barely 
>> understand what they use now. When you throw Linux at them it can be 
>> overwhelming, so they stay with what they know. Would these people 
>> show up at the meetings if we held a regular newbie sessions (maybe 
>> separate from the main session?)
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Stan
>>
>>>
>>> Stan,
>>>
>>> A suggestion for you.  If you feel that there isn't enough 
>>> activities for newbies then do this: During the month, write down a 
>>> list of questions that come up and bring them to the meeting (my 
>>> further recommendations are that you do so as they arise so you 
>>> don't forget and that you print them on paper with enough room 
>>> between each to write down an answer).  There's usually someone at 
>>> the 9am Linux Installation Project who can answer them (no, it's not 
>>> the primary purpose for the time but if someone has answers and you 
>>> have questions and don't interrupt the installation process then who 
>>> cares).  You can also use the time between meetings and after the 
>>> main meeting to ask questions. Finally, tell us what's lacking.  
>>> Chris has indicated that he is looking for new ideas and I believe 
>>> that most of us are willing to help.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> https://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> https://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
> Hmmm, now I'm asking "Who is the newbie?"  Sounds like you have been 
> at it for a while.  Dennis goes through a beginners class before the 
> main meeting on a regular basis.  We have an installation meeting at 
> 9am every month.  Who is our audience and what are we missing?
>
>
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>
>
>