Re: [PLUG] New space for PLUG meetings

["William H. Magill" <magill@isc.upenn.edu>]

>   On Tue, 10 Oct 2000 Darxus@ChaosReigns.com wrote:
>
>   > On 10/10, Michael W. Ryan wrote:
>   > > It may be time to acknowledge that PLUG has grown past the size in which
>   > > it can find space for free.  Perhaps the group should be more formally
>   > > organized and start a process of collecting dues at each meeting to pay
>   > > for its space and, possibly, food.
>   > 
>   > Are you interested in taking on that responsibility ?  I'm not.  Nobody
>   > else has volunteered.
>
>   I don't think the issue has ever really been raised.  Personally, I don't
>   have the time to, and the hostility I've received from this group in the
>   past isn't exactly motivating.  That does not, however, invalidate my
>   point.  Look at the reality of the situation.  PLUG needs a larger space,
>   preferably with some technological amenities in Center City, and we're
>   finding that these spaces cost money.  No one seems to have the means to
>   make any of these freely available (we go through this every time).  This
>   means that either PLUG has to grow up as an organization and structure
>   itself and start handling money, or it has to move, or it has to stay how
>   it is and suffocate.

This is a very "normal" problem for any organization. 
Sooner or later the original founders get tired/bored/new-jobs/married, etc
and the group has to look around for new venues and sponsors.

For the past few years IQ has been sponsoring PLUG. They pay the bill for: 
        the rent of the room
        the janitorial clean up after the event
        whatever technology is being used
        whatever food and drinks have been provided
        and probably other thing which don't seem obvious

This ammounts to more than "chump change" pretty fast.

There is not an easy answer to the problem sort of finding another sponsor.

Even if you were to have "dinner meetings" - at a restaurant in a private
room, you are expected to "spend a certain amount" to cover their costs.

I know better than to even waste my time asking around the University,
because I know that since I'm not a "student organization" (and therefore
have access to activity fee monies) I have to pay for any space I would use
- be it "unused" classroom or swank new space in the Student Union, Houston
Hall. 

-- 
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T.T.F.N.
William H. Magill                          Senior Systems Administrator
Information Services and Computing (ISC)   University of Pennsylvania
Internet: magill@isc.upenn.edu             magill@acm.org
http://www.isc-net.upenn.edu/~magill/


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