[SPUG-Workers] The future of SPUG

[Kevin Fink]

Colin and I have already discussed this a bit, but just to get my "vote" 
out there - I think that this would be a great move for SPUG. The 
resource (I'm going generic, since Colin didn't name names) he has 
talked to would do an excellent job. Although he isn't a Perl geek (yet) 
he has all of the leadership qualities that SPUG needs.

Kevin

Colin Meyer wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> I've been doing a bit of thinking and talking about SPUG lately. I
> think that it used to be an excellent resource, and could easily become
> one again.
> 
> Background: I feel that we are entering a time of technological
> ambiguity for internet software companies. A year or two ago, and anyone
> recommending technology for internet software could do no wrong by
> advocating Java or .Net. There was just no question about it, the answer
> was obvious.
> 
> But these days companies looking to hire seem up in the air about their
> technological platform. You hear companies saying that they are "looking
> at" LAMP, SOA, ROR, etc. I find the fact that Ruby on Rails is gaining
> such popularity to be a definite clue that companies are not just
> accepting de-facto standards, but are willing to look at fringe or niche
> technologies.
> 
> So, this is where SPUG comes in, and why it is so important to revive
> our group now. As we are all aware, Perl is good technology. I don't
> really have to say that it is better than e.g. ROR, but simply that it
> is *good* technology.
> 
> And Perl attracts a certain type of engineer. When these engineers are
> allowed to thrive with their good technology, they do excellent work.
> 
> SPUG plays the role of advocacy. Folks from different companies around
> town can get together and see how each other are using Perl. We get
> confirmation time and again that Perl is being used to solve important
> problems. It is a place for people to see that Perl is being used by
> companies to make money. It is a place for employees to hook up with
> employers. It is a place for people to improve their knowledge and hone
> their skills.
> 
> What do we need to get SPUG on top again? That is easy. SPUG was awesome
> under the excellent leadership of its founder, Tim Maher. Tim publicly
> divulged his secrets a few times. It basically comes down to:
>  - Regularly scheduled meetings. The question "is there a meeting this
>    month?" should never come up on the email list
>  - Meetings that are well organized and executed -- Tim had a simple
>    format of roughly: Perl news, introduce new members, who's hiring,
>    who's looking, introduce speaker, make sure that there's a mid
>    meeting bathroom break, let people know where to get together after
>    the meeting for a drink.
> 
> Ever since Tim stepped down (THANKS again for the YEARS of excellent
> leadership, Tim), we have been floundering. There have been a number of
> people who have stepped up, and then stepped back down again, myself
> among them. Thanks to: Andy, Jerry, Trey, numerous other people who's
> names won't come to the top of my head right now, for arranging for
> speakers, running the mailing lists, and other such work. Sadly for us,
> that has not been enough.
> 
> I have found someone who is willing to organize SPUG, and who I believe
> is plenty capable. His only hesitation is he is not a terribly technical
> person. He is a recruiter. You may have guessed who he is by now. I don't
> think that our leader needs to be a technical ubergeek. What we really
> need is organization.
> 
> So, I guess that my purpose of writing this note is to get some feedback.
> One thing is that I don't want to come in and tromp on anyone else's 
> ideas. But I do want to get SPUG going, to restore the value it once
> had.
> 
> What do you think?
> 
> Thanks,
> -Colin.
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