[ale] group merger ALE + GA400-Linux

[Phil Turmel]

On 07/15/2015 07:53 AM, DJ-Pfulio wrote:
> Taken off list.

Heh.

> We don't have any plans to change the existing ALE email lists.

Yes, the main email lists are crucial.  I may be a curmudgeon, but the
chorus of 1-click "glad to meet you" emails from meetup just annoys the
crap outa me.

> This is a win-win for ALE and GA-400.

Absolutely.  And a win for linux fans throughout the metro area.

> a) I dislike meetup, but it works. ALE membership dropped from over 2K people to
> about 500 in the last 2 yrs. Very few people were coming to the physical
> meetings. A group like this without physical meetings is dead, dead, dead.

I have been astonished at how well meetup "gets the word out" for niche
groups like ours.  Hopefully to convert us from niche to mainstream, but
still.  The prompt to rsvp to the ale meetings via meetup spurred me to
jump into a couple other tech groups, too.  Works all different ways.

> In summary - I think we need both techniques,  by merging the groups and
> offering to help other groups start, we are only trying make it easier for more
> people to find Linux and get a little help to get started.  The more advanced
> topics will always be part of ALE-Central.

I like this plan.

> Also, we are merging 2 meetup groups into 1 - mainly to prevent confusion, but
> also because we don't want to pay them 1 penny more than necessary.  Also, we
> want to incubate other groups in the metro ATL area, so they don't have to pay
> meetup 1 penny - every.  Wouldn't a single group calendar with all the F/LOSS
> activities in metro ATL be nice?

I will certainly be forming an agenda-less mostly weekly meeting in
Fairburn modelled after the GA400 meeting I attended on Sunday.  Hosted
at my office there to get started, until I can survey the local
restaurants for interest.  There are multiple spots I think could
support 15+ people.  I'm thinking every Thursday evening other than the
monthly Central meeting.  Tentative start on August 13th.  (I'm swamped
through my son's wedding on Aug 8.)

I'll play with the meetup coordinator controls soon to schedule it
(thanks Jim, JD).

Phil