[plug] Re: Installation discussion list, Jan 2005

[bob]

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:57 pm, James Devenish wrote:
> In message <200501300136.04767.bob at fots.org.au>
>
> on Sun, Jan 30, 2005 at 01:36:04AM +0800, bob wrote:
> > > There was recently a discussion on another local lists where people
> > > expressed feelings of personal offence that their questions had gone
> > > unanswered.
> >
> > What about having someone being given the task of at least
> > acknowledging the post.
>
> Ideas, ideas. What I don't get is: if you already have your eye out for
> "newbies" and think you have a solution that will work for everyone, why
> haven't you been doing it already?

I already do, generally off list. 

> Why will everyone else be able to 
> sustain what you haven't? (This is not a personal complaint: I just tend
> to be sceptical about some ideas being sustained in the future when they
> haven't kept in fruition in the past.)

I don't expect everyone on the list to feel they have to respond. I asked 
for "someone being given the task of at least acknowledging the post." and 
had hoped that it would be read as "some committee person", after all the 
committee is, in the end, responsible for the conduct of the list. I don't 
see that as being a big ask either as at the moment there would be quite a 
lot less than one "acknowledgement" needed a week. I would hope it would be 
sustained because whoever is tasked with this would care enough about PLUG 
to ensure the best possible outcome for potential new members asking 
questions.

> A similar point to yours was made at the AGM: could there be someone
> going around introducing themselves to newcomers at workshops? I'm
> suspecting that some sort of compromise will have to be made: most
> people keep themselves occupied with computers and conversations. Short
> of hiring someone to keep their hands away from the computers and out of
> the conversations, you may have to settle for name badges, signs, or a
> "start here" area to which people will glance periodically. (But I
> wouldn't really know: I don't go to the workshops.)

I hope that what you are implying - The committee does not care enough about 
new members to make them feel welcome - is in no way true. This sort of 
meet and greet should be an automatic reaction by any committee person if 
PLUG is to grow. I know that it can be hard for some to be socially 
outgoing so hopefully it can be arranged that some of the more extroverted 
committee members be present to get the ball rolling but with a small 
effort on each individual committee members part everyone can join in, feel 
welcome and still have time for the machines and conversations.

-- 
You're using a keyboard!  How quaint!