Hi All, It's been quite a while since I posted to this list. I've been lurking. I'd just like to ask you all to do me a big favour... For the last four years, the same very dedicated group of people have served as the WLUG committee, give or take a couple of transient members. I'd like to say they've done a great job, especially as this is the first year I've not been involved! ;) The problem is that it's left to them. I know from past experience that there is a lot of complaining behind the scenes, in private emails, and on irc about WLUG being run by an exclusive group who all know each other, and make decisions without enough consultation. That would be fair criticism if anyone else ever stood for the committee besides this dedicated bunch. Please consider standing for the WLUG committee. It doesn't require too much effort. You just need to be prepared to turn up to meetings regularly, do any tasks that are required of you quickly (and there aren't that many), and be good at reporting back to your fellow committee members. If you have good communication skills, and are a reasonably motivated person, *please* put your name forward. I'd like to think I'm not being hypocritical by not standing myself, I did it for four years, the last as president. I don't think it's unfair of me to hope that others will put their name forward. I've stepped right back this year, hardly even attending meetings, as I've had other priorities. I'd also like to think that the current hard working committee could do the same and not feel like if they do, nobody will step up to fill their shoes. Why does the WLUG even need a committee? After all, other LUGs don't have one. Well, I think that WLUG has achieved more than all the other LUGs in NZ put together. We have a world class knowledge base in our wiki, we have a great library, we have excellent knowledgeable membership, we hold regular informative meetings with interesting speakers, and we're just generally damn cool. Not to mentions things like installfests, software freedom days, and other such public advocacy events. WLUG rocks (I reckon). Would all this have happened without that same dedicated bunch pushing it along? I don't think so. Thank you Lindsay, David, Craig, Ian, Perry, Matthias, and all the other regular helpers, Matt, John, Daniel, and others. Right, I've gone on enough. Please consider standing for the 2006/2007 committee. It's not too much work, and it makes a huge difference. Cheers, Greig McGill