The CUUGer Cub

September 21st, 1998 (start of Autumn Edition)

Well, gang, it's one day to the next general meeting, and I said I'd get another CUUGer out.

To be frank, however, I've taken on more work than just editing the newsletter; I volunteered for the CUUG board, and it's added a few new tasks.  And my job is extra busy in the fall, and I've been invited to go deliver my "Titanic" paper at a conference in two weeks, and...well, you don't care why, but the CUUGer is just going to be a cub this time.

Anybody who doesn't like it is hugely welcome to come offer some help!

Linux Install Fest This Saturday!

Press release from CLUE

TORONTO -- The Canadian Linux Users' Exchange (CLUE) is giving computer owners an opportunity to try a powerful new operating system during its first-ever National InstallFest, to be held September 26.

Together with user groups in cities across Canada, CLUE invites people to bring in their computers to InstallFest locations. Calgary's InstallFest, hosted by SAIT and made possible through volunteer Linux experts from the Calgary Linux User Group (CLUG), will assist in installing Linux and answering questions on the day of the InstallFest. All of the local event's details can be found on-line at http://clug.calgary.ab.ca or by contacting Duane Johnson (Vice President of CLUG) at 298-5147 during week days.

"During this event, any computer user can have the Linux operating system properly installed and configured on their computer alongside their existing operating system," said Matthew Rice, National InstallFest coordinator. "Simultaneous events have been scheduled for more than ten centres across Canada, and the list is still growing. This makes the InstallFest a truly national effort."

New CUUG Board Begins Job

CUUG has its largest Board in some years, some 16 people strong!  The CUUGer modestly accepts all credit for dragging out people to volunteer by shamelessly predicting utter doom in the last issue, if they didn't.

The Board has now had 3 meetings and settled on an a full set of officers:
 
 
President Chris Aziz
Chairman Doug Morrison
Vice President Alan Dewar
Treasurer Tim Kanuka
Asst. Treasurer Brent Hoerle
Secretary Liam Stitt
Asst. Secretary Vlad Levin
no known function Robert Johnston 
Sam Johnston 
Ken LePage 
Randy Greig 
Soleil Lapierre 
Alan Thomas 
Roy Brander 
Yves Dorfsman 
Ken Tan 
Mike Babulic
 
In addition, we are extraordinarily lucky and relieved to have Arnold Goldberg from the previous board willing to continue to help out the incoming Treasurers with keeping the books.  As we go into a year with big changes slated for the timing of membership renewals, and continuing concerns about keeping a healthy cash flow in an environment of uncertain membership levels and sponsorships, Arnold's eye on the figures is a great comfort.  Many thanks to Arnold!

The minutes from the August 25th meeting will be available on the Web in short order and we hope to have minutes published within a few weeks of their being approved (generally at a following meeting) from now on.

We Need YOU for the Do-Gooder Committee

The news I want to spread from August 25th, however, is that I convinced the Board to let me form a committee to propose new bylaws that will allow us to assist worthy organizations and persons with computer and communications services that are outside the usual services offered to members.

I feel that there are a number of non-profit and charitable organizations around that could really benefit from getting inexpensive, reliable services from Unix boxes, and would be more than worthy of volunteer time and resources from CUUG members and the CUUG CRC.  Scott Guthrie has been doing some terrific work in recent months with the Bethany Care Centre, helping to provide them with a Unix server that will let the residents have E-mail that consumes a minimum of bandwidth and administrative effort.  The hardware needs are minimal, and the software is free; an ideal example of a place where Unix beats other Intel server software that shall remain nameless.

The current by-laws limit the extent that CUUG as an organization can provide CRC services to other organizations.  They pretty much specify that only persons can be CUUG members and receive any services at all.  I think that CUUG should be in the business of promoting Unix by providing Web pages, mail, and other Unix server resources to organizations that are genuinely needy, worthy, and able to be served with the resources we can readily spare.  It's not only good morals, it's good promotion.

I'd like to get some other people to "sit on the committee" -- which is to say, sit around, knock back a few to stimulate creative brain functions, and pound out a few ideas and boil them down to by-law phrasings.  Not exactly coal mining, guys; easy work..  please E-mail me  if you'd like to help.

Renewal Rates "Low";

CRC Login Documentation Needed

Details are not available at press time (translation: I'm not phoning anybody up at this ungodly hour for a few numbers that don't matter) but renewal rates have been described as "low" by CRC staff and outgoing Board members.  Membership renewals are the lifeblood of our income, folks.  We are now sitting on a comfortable savings cushion coming from the drastic economizing of recent months; but we could still run into red ink if the renewals drought continues.

Please renew your own membership on time!  Tell your friends!

There has been comment from a few Board members that some people are dropping CUUG membership - or hesitating to start one - because we have no really helpful documentation of the login process to use PPP or shell from home on a humble Windows machine for those just starting with us.

This, unsurprisingly, caused much discussion in the boardroom.  There was, I think I can safely say (flame mail welcomed; the CUUGer is that desperate to get some kind of mail) consensus from the Board that we really do have to admit that:

  1. Windows exists
  2. A tragic majority of CUUG members are newbies still using it at home, and
  3. They have to start somewhere, we can't help them on the Path to Unix if they don't stick around.
There is a URL for a very nicely done PPP setup instruction page published in the last CUUGer.  I volunteered at a recent Board meeting to start from that to create a printed document that can be handed out to new members that need it.

Alas, I'm going to be tied up for some weeks yet.  I really like to hear from anybody that would like to try a little desktop publishing and help!

I'd also like to get really insane for one paragraph and note that new members would really love us if lots of CUUGers would volunteer to help just one or two new members each with their first steps towards using the CRC.  If a lot of people volunteered, it would make for very light work - and they'd make some very grateful friends.  Please write if you are this crazy as well.


Well, I'm sure I was supposed to write twice as much; but my eyes won't stay open.

Hope to see you all at the meeting tomorrow, the talk from Data General sounds excellent.