tlug: Request for Comments: short TLUG article

[craigoda@example.com]

Hello,
Ken Harada has arranged for a short introductory article on TLUG to be
submitted to Software Design Magazine.  The article is supposed to
be in the 400 word range.  I've written a short blurb and am requesting
comments from everyone.  The article states the direction of TLUG,
which built from my perspective of the way the group is headed. 
However, other people may look at things differently.  I've got to
submit it to Ken tonight for translation.

---------- begin proposed article -----------------

Tokyo Linux Users Group
  Short Introduction


The Tokyo Linux Users Group was established in 1994 in order to
provide mutual technical support for users of Linux in Tokyo.  The first
meetings had about 5 attendees.  The group is non-profit, non-political
and offers support for all distributions of Linux.  Currently,
approximately 200 people participate in mailing lists on the
TLUG server.  An average of 30 people come to nomikais that are
held every other month and over 50 people come to Saturday meetings 
that are held in June, August, October, December, February, and April.
Membership is free. However, costs for the food and drink consumed are
divided up among the people attending a meeting or a nomikai.
The group has an international orientation and over half of the
membership is non-Japanese.  The mailing list and meetings are
held in English.  However, Japanese people are encouraged to come
and will be warmly welcomed.  

Efforts are focused in two areas: 1) providing Linux services to TLUG
members, 2) coordinating member efforts to provide Linux services
to the general Linux community.

Services offered to membership include the following:
  o  technical support on mailing list,
  o  login access to TLUG server.  e-mail account, personal home web page
     space, CGI scripting capability, access to numerous Japanese programs,
  o  access to several mailing lists including a cooperative mailing
     list with JLUG and an effort on a Japanese version of The Perl 
     Journal
  o  ability to independently create a voting poll and to vote
  o  home page space for independent groups such as the Perl Journal
     Japan and JTLUG,
  o  meetings every other month with technical talks, demonstrations of
     Linux technology, free samples of software and books, free old hardware
     donated by other members,
  o  parties every other month,
  o  access to TLUG library with free checking out of books and software.


Projects to offer services to general Linux community:
  o  Web page at http://tlug.linux.or.jp with searchable archive of
     mailing lists,
  o  Online documentation in English on setup of Linux for Japanese
     support,
  o  planned FTP archive with general Japanese on Linux information
     as well as original work by TLUG members.  Once the FTP archive
     is configured it is planned to discuss the support of specific 
     software development projects,
  o  planned Japanese version of The Perl Journal,


Future Directions
-----------------
As TLUG grows, the focus of TLUG is moving from offering technical
services to the membership toward coordinating the creative energies
of the membership to contribute back to the global Linux community.
TLUG would like to contribute more to the international Linux community 
and help the development of Linux into a truly multilingual OS.  We 
also hope to assist in the smooth cooperation of the Linux community
in Japan the rest of the Linux community.  TLUG is also moving toward
support of the general Free Software movement.


Getting More Information
------------------------
Web: 	 http://tlug.linux.or.jp
e-mail:  info@example.com

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  subscribe tlug
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