Re: [Fsuk-manchester] 2009 Meetings - Alternating Talks and Socials?

[Michael Dorrington]

Dave Page wrote:
> One thing discussed at the last Manchester Free Software meeting was our 
> schedule of talks for 2009. We've done a pretty good job of organising 
> speakers on various aspects of free software and free culture since starting 
> off a year ago, but it's not been easy, particularly with so few people 
> attending meetings and volunteering to help. A lot of them have been 
> organised at short notice, with very little in the way of publicity.
>
> How do people feel about the idea of spending 2009 alternating talks and 
> general social events? Personally, I feel that organising a speaker every two 
> months would give us more time to organise them, further in advance, and to 
> publicise them wider so we can make an effort to reach out beyond the geek 
> communities rather than preaching to the converted.
>
> The "off month" could be a general get together, perhaps with some lightning 
> talks, or possibly even more project-oriented work.

I agree with that for the reasons Dave gave and Lucy's reasons. I think 
the 'big' talks can make us a bit too academic, formal and passive. 
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the talks but I want to get people 
active in free software and related topics. I'd like us to run other 
things as well like discussions, workshops, lightning talks, reports on 
our projects, etc. I would like to get people enthused and to realise 
that don't have to be a programmer or a genius to contribute to free 
software and a free society.

M.