New Member Question

[bkelsay at comcast.net]

This is why I have been making a special effort to greet new arrivals in the
last months.  I have been a little distracted in the lasst few weeks by my
new laptops.  (Trying to get the PCMCIA slots working.)  Hopefully most
people realize that with any  group that it takes a while for people to get
used to a new person.   Feel free to circulate around the room, introduce
yourself, find a group that is talking about something you are interested
in.  I'll be the one with some hardware free to a good home.

Will the person who requested a video card about 3-4 meetings ago please
show up?  I've been lugging it around w/ me.  I also had some 72-pin memory
for Brad Miller. (Who I have still not met or seen at a meeting.)

Brian Kelsay

----- Original Message -----
From: "DCT Jared Smith" <jared at dctkc.com>

> >Since I am new to the list and the KC area I was wondering what
> >exactly the Installfest and Demoday were. I think I have a pretty good
idea but
> >just wanted to make sure before I made a fool out of myself as usual.
Just
> >curious as to what goes on.
> >
> >Thanks, DBoard
>
> Installfest looks like this: Arrive at KCLUG meeting early. Note that
you've
> been preceded by one or two people who arrive _real_ early. They're rather
> quiet, not even acknowledging you. So you wait for other folks to show up.
> One by one they trickle in. They talk to each other, like old friends.
They
> note you with a single glance.
>
> You watch.
>
> Small circles of two or three geeks are talking to each other. The topic
flow
> is random. The topics are sometimes not computer related. Usually there
> are two or three laptops, maybe even a PC, being dismantled as CDs
> and drivers are loaded and configured. Perhaps two people with a cable
> between them are playing a net game of some sort.
>
> You feel awkward. You want to leave.
>
> Then you realize. "Oh. This is a bunch of geeks. They have no social
> skills. Perhaps it is up to me to be forward, if I want to participate."
So
> you awkwardly sidle up next to a small group, hoping they're friendly.
> They ignore you.
>
> You wonder if you're invisible.
>
> You know little about Linux, and everyone seems so smart, you wisely
> keep to yourself. But you want to learn. So you come back next time,
> and someone recognizes you. He asks you a question. A conversation
> begins, and soon, you're one of the 'regulars.' You ignore newbies as
> you watch them arrive.
>
> Demoday is the same. Buncha geeks. Beer might make things easier,
> but then less work would get done, eh.
>
> -jds