[Cialug] Computer show?

[David Champion]

FYI... we *have* done successful Installfests in the pasts, so it's not 
like we (collectively) have no idea how to do this. The most recent 
event was a flop, mostly due to a lack of planning & promotion.

Some of the past events at the former Computer Learning Center, the one 
at the Urbandale Library, and the one at the Nevln Center were all well 
attended and we did a lot of installs.

The topics Theron mentions are all points that need to be addressed. I 
don't know that we need to devote a lot of the LUG meeting time to this, 
I would like to see a committee with one (or more) persons assigned to 
each of these tasks.

One area I would like to see is a "Tweakfest" where we can have people 
bring in their existing Linux system and have us help them with issues 
they may be having, getting them updated and such. I think there are a 
lot of casual Linux users out there who are past the stage of needing 
help with installation, but aren't fully comfortable with some advanced 
configuration.

For the alternate location, I would suggest the Nevlyn Center in Ankeny 
- as I mentioned we've done events there in the past, and it's a great 
facility.

I'd also like to see us re-implement the web sign-up form. It's a great 
way to collect information from users on what kind of hardware they're 
installing on, what distro they want, and gets them prepped by telling 
them to defrag & have enough free disk space to install.

-dc

Theron Conrey wrote:
> I think that to get this done correctly we need to do a couple of things.
> The first thing that we need to do is focus strickly on the 
> Installfest.  I think that turnout and participation for a great 
> installfest will in turn help generate participation by other groups for 
> a "computer show" in the future.  I believe that this was the initial 
> intent.
> 
> In order to hold and have a great Installfest here are the list of items 
> that need to be divied up and we need to ensure that they are all meshed 
> together tightly.
> 
> 
>    1.  Coordination Team
>          Keep all the teams moving in the right direction and 
> communicating.
> 
>    2.  Location and Setup
>         Possible that we use the Science Center ..... We are still 
> waiting for this to be addressed I believe that if this moves forward in 
> the science center we will be at the mercy of thier schedule for when 
> the Installfest will occur.  Not an issue just something that needs to 
> be addressed.  In case we can't lay on the science center we need to 
> brainstorm alternate locations, and have some people assigned to getting 
> the entiretly of our location and date nailed down.
> 
>    3.  Marketing
>       Prob. the single most important task.  We need to get a team that 
> can get a poster designed, produced and slathered on every window / 
> thumb board in the Greater DSM west DSM Ames Ankeny etc. area.
> 
>    4.  Presentations
>         Who's saying what.
>    5.  Install Team
>          It sounds silly but we'll need to get an idea of how many folks 
> will be there helping install Linux.  Part of this also includes 
> something slightly greater than bring whatever distros you want.  We 
> need to figure out what we intend to be doing there.
> 
> I'm not suggesting that we limit folks to one group.  I hope actually 
> that folks will want to help out in multiple groups we just need to get 
> some organization laid on for this thing.......
> 
> Theron
> 
> 
> This ought to be a topic for the next LUG mtg and probally deserves some 
> coordination time of it's own, even if it's just IRC time some evenings.
> 
> 
> Nathan C. Smith wrote:
> 
>> CIALUG would be a good place to start honing the presentation.
>>
>> -Nate
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: David Champion [mailto:dave at visionary.com] Sent: Monday, June 
>> 06, 2005 11:53 AM
>> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
>> Subject: Re: [Cialug] Computer show?
>>
>>
>>
>> I don't think this is a bad idea per se... but IMHO we should 
>> concentrate on just doing a good Installfest.
>>
>> I have given invites / flyers to other groups like CIACUG in the past, 
>> but haven't seen much response from them (other than the few crossover 
>> members we have). But I think we should keep trying.
>>
>> Maybe I should "practise what I preach" and we could volunteer to do a 
>> Linux presentation at a CIACUG meeting.
>>
>> -dc
>>
>> Kevin C. Smith wrote: