For a long time I have usually, if not always, felt that *BSD, Linux or even FLOSS is still giving the general public a wrong impression that these are for geeks but not for the them to use. One example is that all books regarding Linux are titled something like "Building a Linux server system", "Linux systems", "xxx Programming Language Bible" etc whereas undeniably these would scare most general users away. While more general books and online tutorials for general users are coming out nowadays, these are still far less than those technical stuff. Another example is that the term Linux refers not to a OS but to a kernel, whereas general users just don't realise the difference between them nor do they care what they exactly are; all they care is - how to use those common/useful software in their daily lives. This is what the public is interested in as well as in need of the most. Linux? System administrating? Programming? These are definitely useful for techies but sorry most people just don't intend to bother them. As a side note, in NZ there used to be a user group called NZFUG (New Zealand FreeBSD User Group) but apparently they have disbanded years ago, which I believe is due to fail to draw the public's interest mainly for the similar reason. Sadly enough, all official FreeBSD webpage/ftp mirror sites in NZ were also discontinued due to the lack of maintainers for ages. I see WLUG is unfortunately following the same path.
That's where I wanted to steer the LUG. Unfortunately it didn't work out how I wanted. Most of the existing competent users promptly left because they "didn't want to deal with poor and stupid people". We've had very little success getting the word out to ordinary computer users, and even less success getting any interesting presenters..
WLUG has been holding several interesting talks in the meetings as well as valuable activities, I felt WLUG (and probably other FLOSS-related user groups too) needs to focus more on the general user base. An introduction to Inkscape given by Stephen last month is a good start. I think similar tutorials/seminars about other FLOSS e.g. GIMP, Scribus etc would be helpful for both the user group and the public. While technical skills is an important part of WLUG, I think expanding and promoting FLOSS to a wider audience urgently need to be prioritised - if the user group is still to be continued. I also think that the user group had better not claim something like FLOSS/Linux but instead use the term FOSS as this otherwise would give the public an impression that all these was only for Linux, whereas in fact FLOSS exist on *BSD, Windows and other platforms. That said, by using the term "FLOSS" instead of "FLOSS/Linux" it would be less likely to limit ourselves from the otherwise potential yet wide user base.
I was even dreaming that, if I were to lead the WLUG, I would rename the user group to say WFUG (Waikato FLOSS User Group) and merge those FLOSS users at the Waikato or even in NZ from other platforms - regardless of *BSD, Linux, Mac or Windows. Perhaps it is only by combining these sparse forces that could increase the odds to sustain the FLOSS community at Waikato or in NZ in the long run.
I'd rather call it the Waikato Liberated Users of GNU! There's a lot of headaches in changing the name so I think better to keep it as it is. According to the charter we promote and support all Free software, not just BSD and Linux but also Free applications that run on non-Free OSes.
Regarding the finances, I felt some expenses had not been necessary nor worth the outcomes. Software Freedom Day this year was actually not really successful as people really do not want to be disturbed in the middle of their shopping by someone proposing FLOSS. As for the Internet usage/cost, I think Internet is also not necessary in the Saturday workshops as the workshop shouldn't be a free Internet cafe (another reason is that downloading in NZ is by nature not favourable due to the restriction in the monthly Internet usage policy in NZ). To help visitors install FLOSS/ISOs these could have been prepared on disks in advance rather than repeatedly downloaded during the workshop.
Feedback from SFD has been excellent, I've heard back from four people so far that were inspired to give Linux a try after our SFD event, presumably there are others I haven't heard from an I'd hope a good number that have taken a look at some of the Free software on the kiaoraCD even if they're not yet ready to give Linux a go. I therefore consider this the best SFD even we've ever run. Unfortunately the cost ended up being about twice what it should have been due to the insurance. With a bit more foresight we could have avoided this cost and the cost of the event would have been mostly covered through grants and donations.
Another thing I felt WLUG needs to improve is communication within the user group member as well as with the public. Take eDay2010 for example, some people was told by the user group that he would be assigned the time and tasks by email before eDay whereas ultimately he didn't get any contact from the user group. Communication within the user group needs to be organised and improved. As for the communication with the public, this has largely to do with advertisement. Not many people know about WLUG and the activities the user group has been holding. There are actually many low-cost or even free yet more effective ways to advertise WLUG activities... for instance Facebook, Tweet, or "chain-email" through friends of friends etc.
eday was not a WLUG event, and I agree that communication was rather poor. Many of our volunteers didn't get an email and I got a lot of phone calls on Friday asking what was going on. In the end I just reposted the details to the mailing list but I think some of the people who volunteered aren't on the mailing list. I'll bring this up with Shane and/or Vanessa if there's another eday next year. We do need someone to take responsibility for advertising WLUG events. In the past I've posted them on a number of event sites but this year I've been entirely unmotivated and apathetic. Part of the problem is that most of our presentations this year have felt like 'gap-fillers' rather than anything really interesting and worthwhile.