RE: [tlug] TLUG Funding (was: Feisty Upgrade, USB issues and other oddities)

["Kenneth Burling" <meyaden_emrys@example.com>]

> From: "Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com>
> Reply-To: Tokyo Linux Users Group <tlug@example.com>
> To: "Tokyo Linux Users Group" <tlug@example.com>
> Subject: [tlug] TLUG Funding (was: Feisty Upgrade,USB issues and other 
> oddities)
> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 21:54:04 +0900
>
> On 04/04/07, Shannon Jacobs <shannon.jacobs@example.com> wrote:
>
> > My oddity comment regards the club funding... This auction-based thing 
> > kind
> > of bothers me. In my current technical and non-programmatic state, I don't
> > feel like I'm likely to make any significant technical contributions. That
> > leaves non-technical contributions, including funding--but auctions sort 
> > of
> > leave me out. Partly I feel I have too much junk already, but mostly it
> > bothers me to feel like some people seem to be taking significant 
> > financial
> > hits for the fractional benefit of the group. I'd rather just pony up a 
> > bit
> > at each meeting and let it go at that.
>
> There is nothing stopping you from making a donation. Or bring in some
> of the junk that you have and donate it for auction.
>
> > From that perspective, I'd rather invert the problem. I suggest the club
> > decide on a budget and let the members discuss it and vote on it. Having
> > decided on how much money is needed, just divide it up by the number of
> > meetings and the number of people at each meeting, and ask for donations 
> > of
> > the appropriate amount, perhaps defrayed by auction proceeds or any other
> > revenue sources. I don't know what the budget has been, but considering 
> > the
> > meetings I've attended over the last few months, if most people gave a
> > hundred yen at a meeting, that would probably generate rather more revenue
> > than seems to be needed...
>
> Nah. If TLUG has gotten along along without charging dues--even
> quasi-voluntary ones like you propose--until now, I don't see the need
> to change.
>
> I think that charging a fee at meetings would keep some people away,
> and the general idea is that we want more geeks, not less.
>
> -Josh

I have to concur.  From what I have seen of the group, we don't usually
need a lot to keep things going.  It also seems to me that if something
were to come up that really needed funding, we would probably find that
there are several in the group that would reach into our pockets when the
need arises.  Dues at meetings may not be such a great idea at this stage
in the game, but if a need is expressed, I am generally more than willing
to fork over a bit of cash if I have it.  :)

Our biggest financial event though tends to be the nomikai.  We seem to
manage that one just fine.  :P

I do not know how much it costs to run the servers, or how much of that
comes out of the pockets of the admins though.  I think that might be my
biggest concern on the financial front.  The website is a great thing.
I am pretty sure we all want to keep it around. ^.^