Re: LUCI: 7/23/2002 meeting *cancelled*

[Joe Newbie <eibwen_xunil@yahoo.com>]

--- Erich Schroeder <erich@museum.state.il.us> wrote:
> Hi,
>   The meeting was canceled because I found that not
> only was I going to be out of town, but so were the 
> other Museum people who could handle the 
> logistics of the meeting room.

<blush> ok... wish that Steve would've said something
to this effect rather than "due to a scheduling
problem". 

Sorry Erich and Steve... I know I used you both to
start this. I do feel that after all this time of
flying by the pants, it was necessary to do a little 
"constructive" (I hoped) prodding on the status quo.

I like Mike's post - which says a few things I was
trying to imply (yes Mike, I did and do take - or at
least try REAL HARD - to take constructive critique,
and I accept that yours was meant as you said; no
more, no less. If only the rest of the world could do
the same...). 

<YA_Joe_Opinion>
If we're a "Group", then WE should work together for
each other - let's see some volunteers. The point I
wanted to get across, and I did it poorly: It's not
fair to Steve that he's the lone wolf. I'm surprised
he's not burned out from all the traveling he's having
to do to keep not only this group alive, but a number
of others too! And - he's got a baby, too - something
that takes a lot more commitment, priority and
dedication on his and Kara's part than any mere User
Group. Don Parth, you started a newbie group and are
keeping it going - what's your take and experience on
others jumping in and doing a demo or talking about an
issue they've tackled and done something with? Where
are the rest of the group members - let's work out a
schedule among ourselves - including Steve AND Kara
(and you too, Mike808 - how coming to Springfield for
an evening and doing a Perl topic? especially since
the SpfldPerlMongers never really got off the ground
running - also for the same reasons). I'm sure there
are at least twelve topics (one a month - do a year at
a time??? Modify schedules as things come up, perhaps
having a couple of alternates for those unforseen
Murphyisms...) we could arrange amongst ourselves that
we could share experiences with.

Perhaps it's not due to a lack of interest, just a
lack of commitment. Perhaps it's a bit deeper than
that. Standing up and talking to a group implies that
the person willing to do such a thing has the balls
(pardon my bluntness) to do this. There aren't a lot
of folks in my experience that are willing to admit
that this is the reason; but, I feel LOB (Lack Of
Balls) is what it's all about. And a frustrating fact
of reality. 

Standing up and talking also implies that the talker
is an expert in the topic. I can tell you that I have
attended some expensive national seminars and gone to
trade shows in San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta,
Chicago, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and Washington
DC where there are tons of 'experts' giving a talk
that know less than the average member of any user
group (even M$ groups). Perhaps, I don't stand up and
volunteer because I'm afraid you'll find out I'm not
quite as smart as I think I am in my own little
world... Or, perhaps you don't stand up and volunteer
because you're afraid something will go wrong or
someone will laugh at you...

It's all psychological... If only we can get over it,
just do it, volunteer. If we can only accept the fact
that there always will be SNAFUs, things happen, and
not internalize a shortcoming in ourselves. We're all
the same, more or less - everyone has experiences we
can share - everyone likes to help. 

Very few like to LEAD!

Having a USER GROUP is a powerful thing, a wonderful
thing. There are a lot more people out there that
would attend the meetings if we'd only get it
together. But, having a ton of cabbage heads in an
audience is not a USER GROUP. (I use the cabbage heads
analogy as this is something I learned long ago to
visualize an audience as when I had to stand up and
talk about something. I admit, it's not easy to do -
either of the two - standing up talking in front of a
group and visualizing an audience as a bunch of
cabbage heads... :)

We need PARTICIPANTS - those who participate, are "a
part of" - not apart from -  the business of BEING a
USER GROUP.
</YA_Joe_Opinion>

 -- another 10 cents from Joe


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