Waikato Linux Users Group Inc. Interim Statement on National Linux Body ======================================================================= Tue, 26 July 2005 During this year discussion has intensified around the creation of a national Linux body in New Zealand. WLUG committee members have been involved in this discussion and WLUG has shown its commitment to the ideal of a national linux body by offering to host an "NZLUG Theme" into the WLUG Wiki. WLUG envisages a national Linux organisation for New Zealand which would be very closely modelled on the successful Linux Australia. In particular such an organisation would have the following broad goals: - Support, resource and promote local LUGs - Provide national co-ordination services (speaker organisation, etc) - Provide hosting for LUGs where required - Provide financial support - Partner with organisations like NZOSS to advocate and educate the community (and particularly Government) on the benefits of Linux and OSS. - Partner with organisations like Linux AU to support and enhance the LCA conference. The national organisation would not perform the functions of a LUG itself, instead it would: - Provide a central location where users could be connected to their local LUG - Provide co-ordination and communication between individual LUGs - Undertake national initiatives supported by all LUGs - Aggregate LUG opinion and present a unified voice to the Government and other industry groups. The WLUG committee intends to meet this Friday (July 29) to discuss this issue further and to formulate WLUG's definitive position on this subject. We look forward to working with other members of the New Zealand Linux community in trying to create a national Linux organisation. Please direct all submissions on this matter to secretary(a)wlug.org.nz before midday on the 29th of July. -- Greig McGill President Waikato Linux Users Group Inc.