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5. Local LUG activities

In the previous section I focused exclusively on what LUGs do and what they ought to be doing. In this section the focus shifts to practical strategies for accomplishing these goals.

There are, despite the endless permutations of form, two basic things that local LUGs do: first, they meet together in physical space; second, they communicate with each other in cyberspace. Everything or nearly everything that LUGs do can be seen in terms of meetings and online resources.

5.1 Meetings

As I said above, physical meetings are synonymous with LUGs and with most computer user groups. LUGs have these kinds of meetings:

• social
• technical presentations
• informal discussion groups
• user group business
• Linux installation
• configuration and bug-squashing

What do LUGs do at these meetings?

• Install Linux for newbies and strangers
• Teach members about Linux
• Compare Linux to other operating systems
• Teach members about the software that runs on Linux
• Discuss the ways in which Linux can be advocated
• Discuss the importance of the Free Software Movement
• Discuss the business of the user group
• Eat, drink, and be merry

5.2 Online resources

The commercial rise of the Internet coincided roughly with the rise of Linux, and the latter in large part owes something to the former. The Internet has always been an important asset for Linux development. It is no different for LUGs. Most LUGs have web pages if not whole Web sites. In fact, I am not sure how else to find a local LUG but to check the Web.

It makes sense, then, for a local LUG to make use of whatever Internet technologies they can appropriate: Web sites, mailing lists, gopher, FTP, e-mail, WAIS, finger, news, etc. As the world of commerce is discovering, the Internet can be an effective way to advertise, inform, educate, and even sell. The other reason that LUGs make extensive use of Internet technologies is that it is the very essence of Linux to provide a stable and rich platform for the deployment of these technologies. So not only do LUGs benefit from, say, the establishment of a Web site because it advertizes their existence and helps organize their members, but in deploying these technologies, the members of the LUG are provided an opportunity to learn about this technology and see Linux at work.

Some LUGs that use the Internet effectively:

• Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
• North Texas Linux Users Group
• Boston Linux and Unix
• Colorado Linux Users and Enthusiasts
• BLUG - BHZ Linux Users Group (Brazil)
• Ottawa Carleton Linux Users Group
• Provence Linux Users Group
• Duesseldorf Linux Users Group
• Linux User Group Austria
• Israeli Linux Users Group
• Tokyo Linux Users Group
• Linux in Mexico
• Netherlands Linux Users Group (NLLGG)
• St. Petersburg Linux User Group
• Linux User Group of Singapore
• Victoria Linux User Group
• Essex Linux User Group
• Turkish Linux User Group
• Linux User Group of Rochester
• Korean Linux Users Group

Please let me know if your LUG uses the Internet in an important or interesting way; I'd like this list to include your group.