[Lopsa-regional-project] tasks

[Adam S. Moskowitz]

[Cc'd to the LOPSA Board]

On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 02:12:21 -0700 (MST) der.hans asked:
> What do the groups who would be receiving the info packets want?

The same thing I've wanted from SAGE for years: A compelling list of
reasons for someone to join LOPSA. This is really a general LOPSA
problem, not specific to the regionals project, but without it I'm
reluctant to waste any of my group's time talking about LOPSA.

For years, SAGE claimed it was going to do all sorts of things, provide
all manner of services, and deliver all kinds of value. Sometimes it
came through (the short topics booklets, when every member received a
printed copy for free), other times they failed miserably (SAGEwire);
other stuff (the sage-members mailing list) was good, but hardly worth
the $40/year cost of membership.

LOPSA needs to give people a reason to join. I think most of the
current members joined "to help a worthy cause"; there's nothing wrong
with that, but it's not going to appeal to the average sysadmin. As a
group leader I would mention SAGE at our meetings, but I could never
stand in front of my group and say "you should join SAGE" because I
could never give a good, solid reason for them to shell out $40. If
LOPSA is going to succeed, this is one of the things it needs (and
soon).

    Note to the LOPSA Board: Please don't think I'm saying
    that LOPSA is failing on this point; it's early days
    yet and I know we don't have much to offer. That's fine.
    No, all I'm saying is I think this is something important
    and I hope the Board will give it high priority.

So there, in something a bit larger than a nutshell, is what I think
must be the single most important thing in the LOPSA information packet
and/or presentation.

AdamM