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steercom:2024-02

SLUUG Steering Committee

5 February 2024

NOTE: Minutes posted on the Wiki are always unofficial. Schedules for upcoming presentations are always tentative. (Some more tentative than others!)

Location

  • No physical meeting until further notice
    • When we again have physical meetings, we would like to continue video meetings in conjunction with physical meetings.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • :?:

Agenda Changes

SUMMARY: This is where we consider any additions, changes, deletions, sequence changes, or other changes to items in the prepared agenda.

  * HISTORY: 
  * We can consider changes prior to all reviews, planning and OLD BUSINESS items.
    * By jumping ahead, then back, without altering agenda layout sequence.
  * Do NOT alter agenda layout sequence, during current meeting.
  * Moving a listed item out of sequence makes later editing difficult.
  * 
  * We can jump to **Old Business** items, consider, then back to usual sequence.
  * We can jump to **New Business** section, create new item, consider, then jump back to usual sequence.
  * By NOT altering agenda layout sequence during the meeting, that will keep it easier to build the next agenda.
  • AGENDA CHANGE:
  • QUESTION: Are there any additions, deletions, or other changes to sequence of items in the prepared agenda?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Last month the decision was to jump to business for Sean Teahaus so that he could leave early.
    • However; Stan R went right on into doing normal routine reports and nobody stopped him.
    • We could have done it better, allowing Sean to leave much earlier. Sorry.
    • :?:
   February 2024      
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  
             1  2  3  
 4  5  6  7  8  9 10  
11 12 13 14 15 16 17  
18 19 20 21 22 23 24  
25 26 27 28 29        

Start Video Recording

  • QUESTION: Have the recorders been started ( they should be, before call to order )?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • YES

Start STEERCOM Meeting

  • QUESTION: When was STEERCOM meeting called to order?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Monday, February 5th, 2024
    • TIME: 6:52pm

Attendees

Listed alphabetically by last name:

:?: * James Conroy

:?: * Jonathan Drews

:?: * David Forrest

* Ed Howland ( Stan R sent invite info )

:?: * Ken Johnson

* Lee Lammert

* Gary Meyer

* Stan Reichardt

:?: * Steve Stegmann

:?: * Sean Twiehaus

Secretary Report

SUMMARY: Somebody has to build the agenda and then record the minutes.

  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to August 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Stan R acting only as recording Secretary.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September:
    • Stan R would like Sean T to act as recording Secretary ( if present and he still would ).
    • Sean T not here, so Stan R. will act.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments:
    • Stan R would like Sean T to act as recording Secretary ( if present and he still would ).
    • Sean T not here, so Stan R. will act.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Stan R would like Sean T to act as recording Secretary ( if present and he still would ).
    • Sean T not here, so Stan R. will act.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Stan R would like Sean T to act as recording Secretary ( if present and he still would ).
    • Future Event Stan R gets run over by a truck.
    • Stan will Do tonight.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Stan R would like Sean T to act as recording Secretary ( if present and he still would ).
    • Sean offered in future, as requested.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Stan will Do tonight.

Treasurer Report

SUMMARY: Lee Lammert has been posting balances from bank statements.

Balance as of 1 January $3,141.27
USPS -$385.05
Dotster -$20.99
Balance as of 31 January $2,872.28
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Thanks to Steve for the domations from 2022 & 2023!!
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • USPS is post office box.

Calendar Report

SUMMARY: We maintain a calendar of technical events in the Greater St. Louis area and surrounding regions.

  * HISTORY: 
  * Not all events are official/sponsored SLUUG events. All sponsored events are shown in red.
  * Items have been added and corrected by Stan R, Gary Meyer and Don Ellis.
  * Items listed on this calendar were used to feed the ANNOUNCE weekly mailing.
  * Events on HIATUS are NOT counted! Historical items are NOT counted!  
  * Only face-to-face meetings were counted!
  * Detailed breakdown showing cancelled, defunct, delayed, missed, moved, and postponed meetings was being done.
  * The page has been altered to allow showing separate displays of supported meetings from sponsored meetings.
  * Stan R has discontinued doing detailed breakdown of calendar entries believing it is too much effort for too little value.
  • SLUUG Calendar is a Google Calendar available on our web site.
  • Count of number of events listed, each month, as of end of January 2024:

=

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
2011 xxx xxx 105 108 103 117 105 105 105 113 103 96 2011
2012 110 104 122 123 138 111 99 124 122 133 114 111 2012
2013 123 128 136 147 144 146 139 119 145 167 153 140 2013
2014 143 159 174 165 188 165 132 136 173 165 141 107 2014
2015 171 179 177 183 176 168 162 176 206 294 236 197 2015
2016 260 277 314 231 183 191 157 166 222 224 212 157 2016
2017 133 141 177 168 137 143 124 158 173 163 168 129 2017
2018 165 177 166 179 162 165 147 176 166 184 163 113 2018
2019 131 160 173 171 145 155 130 144 157 179 182 127 2019
2020 157 172 188 147 152 174 171 154 168 163 184 155 2020
2021 175 170 174 171 172 178 188 179 187 176 194 193 2021
2022 210 219 244 219 234 228 251 229 264 268 270 238 2022
2023 265 288 304 297 300 303 299 300 165 170 367 382 2023
2024 383 ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? 2024
  * LEGEND:
  * Greyed out areas indicate corrections or never previously reported counts.
  * xxx - numbers not recorded.
  * ??? - Future Numbers.
  * Stopped counting general Saint Louis County Library events in May 2016.
  * Re-counted April 2016 without library events.
  * Count of calendar entries for May is down from previous months. No explanation is given.
  * Count of calendar entries for March 2020 misleading because of 
  * Limited maintenance effort for March 2020 because CORONAVIRUS-19 self-isolation effects.
  * Started counting **moved** and **delayed** items in April 2020 as considered being useful.
  * Improvements in Google Calendar feature limits to five days processing at at time, takes
    * about 10 times as long to perform counting. Much more tedious.
  * Five day limitation "improvement" gone, no longer takes so much longer to count.
  • ISSUES:
  • Originally only local STL face-to-face meetings were counted. Started adding remote meetings.
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to August 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August:
    • Due to weekend power outage Stan R didn't get most recent months; but, have listed from first of year. Did not do June and July, yet.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Somebody does good work. Gary entries, Stan just corrects them.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: None
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Forgot to do September numbers last meeting.
    • Forgot to do October also.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Went back to get counts for September and October.
    • We found that Google changed the functions of the calendar display.
    • Google Calendar used to have an AGENDA listing feature, now replaced with more limited SCHEDULE feature.
    • We do not get same level of detail from SCHEDULE display that we used for scraping events for counting.
    • Counts from September onward seemed to be low compared to previous methods.
    • There is a way to ask for detail; but, not as of yet sure that it is giving good results.
    • Went back to August, only got 112 compared to previous method result of 300.
    • Went back to July, only got 108 compared to previous method result of 299.
    • Our ongoing cleaning up and removing of listings for defunct events may be reason for the significant change.
    • We never kept the files used from previous counting, so we are unable to determine how results have changed.
    • The new method counts all day events and events with a specific time, not historical entries.
    • So, we are now only counting events, not overall effort made while putting information on the calendar.
    • Future Event Stan R gets run over by a truck.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Blame Stan R.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Counts seem to include a lot of the actual live events ( many remote ones ).
    • Gary starting to purge defunct meetings. Changes have been appreciated.
    • Ed H gave us history of O'Reilly's FOO camp and the resulting BAR camp ( thus Foo Bar ).

Subscriber Report

SUMMARY: Mailing List Report combined with MEETUP membership count, now called Subscriber Report.

  * HISTORY: 
  * We counted how many were on each SLUUG mailing list, then started using MEETUP dot COM site. 
  * These numbers roughly estimate size of our community over time. Both growth and shrinkage.
  • Subscriber numbers (approximate) as of end of January 2024:

|

Year 2017 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 273 285 291 299 301 302 304 315 319 325 336 340 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 582 580 575 570 569 569 569 568 566 562 562 559 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 197 196 193 190 191 192 191 192 191 189 188 189 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 36 36 35 34 34 34 34 34 33 33 33 33 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 20 20 20 23 23 23 23 23 22 22 22 22 SYSADMIN
Year 2018 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 348 360 367 372 375 377 385 390 393 402 408 416 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 556 544 543 543 545 542 535 534 533 531 531 533 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 188 188 187 187 187 187 187 185 184 184 185 183 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 33 33 33 33 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 SYSADMIN
Year 2019 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 416 423 432 443 452 464 466 473 472 480 488 497 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 532 532 532 534 519 516 516 514 513 516 513 510 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 184 182 181 182 183 183 191 190 191 191 190 190 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 30 31 32 32 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 22 22 22 22 22 22 16 16 16 16 16 16 SYSADMIN
Year 2020 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 501 514 516 521 527 535 547 555 564 570 577 590 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 504 502 501 501 500 499 497 495 492 491 490 490 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 188 190 189 191 191 189 189 188 188 189 190 188 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 31 31 31 30 30 30 30 24 23 23 23 23 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 SYSADMIN
Year 2021 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 603 613 626 631 640 650 652 658 678 687 698 710 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 489 488 482 480 480 479 477 478 479 481 480 477 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 188 189 188 190 190 189 189 189 190 195 195 195 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 23 23 23 24 24 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 15 15 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 13 15 15 SYSADMIN
Year 2022 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 718 727 730 751 762 770 787 806 823 830 840 871 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 480 475 474 474 473 472 471 469 469 469 470 469 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 198 198 197 196 197 196 196 197 199 199 199 199 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 24 24 24 25 26 26 25 25 25 25 24 24 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 15 15 15 15 15 SYSADMIN
Year 2023 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 886 898 918 927 936 945 960 976 995 922 946 972 MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 469 470 470 470 470 470 468 468 xxx 468 468 468 ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 200 202 203 204 203 202 202 202 xxx 202 202 203 DISCUSS
STEERCOM 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 25 xx 22 22 22 STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 xx 16 16 19 SYSADMIN
Year 2024 Year
List Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec List
MEETUP 902 ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? MEETUP
ANNOUNCE 470 ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ANNOUNCE
DISCUSS 205 ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? DISCUSS
STEERCOM 23 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? STEERCOM
SYSADMIN 19 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? SYSADMIN
  * LEGEND:
  * Numbers as of end of each month.
  * Blocking of mailing list attachments not completely configured yet.
  * This will be much easier to do on BOCK.
  * ANNOUNCE mailing list.
    * Still no volunteer editor to do a quarterly or monthly newsletter.
  * Command used to generate these (as root on Bud):
    * /usr/lib/mailman/bin/list_members **list_name** | wc -l (This doesn't seem to work on Bock.)
  * Greyed out areas indicate corrections or never previously reported counts.
  * xxx - numbers not recorded.
  * ??? - Future Numbers.
  • ISSUES:
  • We do NOT have any account access or control to our presence and videos on Google+ or YouTube.
  • We do NOT know how or what to count in Google+ NOR do we know how to metric videos.
  • We do NOT know how or what to count in YouTube NOR do we know how to metric videos.
  • No way to change meeting dates or set temporary hiatus in Google+
  • Don was to investigate Google+ status
  • Don was to place credentials for YouTube and any others on Bock /home/sluug
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to August 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August:
    • Due to weekend power outage Stan R didn't get most resent months; but, have listed from first of year. Did not do June and July, yet.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September:
    • Stan R has put in numbers for June, July and August.
    • Stan R added Gary M's alternate email address to STEERCOM and SYSADM lists.
    • Stan R thinks MEETUP dot COM monthly increases are mostly phony.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: None
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Forgot to do September numbers last meeting.
    • Stan R purged more than 75 names from MEETUP ( unrecognized, likely never attended any meetings ) to keep total well below 1000.
    • Gary made sexist remark.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: Future Event Stan R gets run over by a truck.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Lee pointed out correction to program for doing counts.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Life is just too exciting. Life is more than just junk mail.

Attendance Report

SUMMARY: Somewhat reflects the community interest in topics. Or, how well we publicised event.

  * HISTORY: 
  * Initial mail list subscriptions were prompted by attendance sheets.
  * Group leaders are responsible for taking attendance at face-to-face meetings.
  * Remote session attendance display with ZOOM does NOT work automatically.
  * Remote session attendance done best using extra recording with Linux SimpleScreenRecorder software. 
  • Blank attendance sheets are available here
  • Attendance numbers, as of end of January 2024:

|

Year 2017 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom 8 6 8 6 7 7 5 6 6 4 6 3 Steercom
SLACC 7 12 10 5 7 (10) 6 7 8 11 xx 6 SLACC
SLUUG 20 17 24 17 10 13 7 13 12 21 14 16 SLUUG
STLLINUX 14 15 18 14 15 14 18 16 16 12 (27) xx STLLINUX
NEWLUG 9 10 xx 7 7 8 7 5 8 5 7 9 NEWLUG
Year 2018 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom 7 3 6 7 6 6 5 5 7 5 5 4 Steercom
SLACC 6 6 7 9 6 6 7 6 7 4 4 5 SLACC
SLUUG 14 13 13 18 15 11 8 15 14 14 10 13 SLUUG
STLLINUX 12 8 13 11 13 10 11 15 13 xx 9 9 STLLINUX
NEWLUG 8 11 8 11 11 9 10 12 9 7 10 5 NEWLUG
Year 2019 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom 6 6 6 7 5 8 6 6 8 8 7 8 Steercom
SLACC 6 6 7 7 8 7 6 10 10 9 6 9 SLACC
SLUUG 15 14 13 18 12 15 17 (20) 18 14 17 25 SLUUG
STLLINUX 18 11 11 16 12 16 20 16 14 18 18 17 STLLINUX
NEWLUG 9 5 11 10 8 7 10 13 9 5 6 3 NEWLUG
Year 2020 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom 4 6 6 (8) (5) (7) (6) (6) (7) (6) (6) (5) Steercom
SLACC 9 8 (6) (8) (7) (9)(11) (7) (10) (10) (8) (8) SLACC
SLUUG 17 13 (xx) (xx) (18) (22)(29) (22) (16) (xx) (17) (25) SLUUG
STLLINUX 18 12 (12) (xx) (20) (19)(25) (10) (16) (23) (15) (xx) STLLINUX
NEWLUG 6 6 - (10) (13) (13)(12) (11) (11) (12) (15) (9) NEWLUG
Year 2021 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom (5) (4) (5) (5) (5) (5) (6) (7) (5) (7) (6) (6) Steercom
SLACC (10) (9) (9) (8) (14) (10)(10) (11) (6) (9) (15) (15) SLACC
SLUUG (15) (26) (23) (25) (17) (22)(17) (18) (14) (22) (25) (19) SLUUG
STLLINUX (20) (19) (20) (19) (17) (17)(15) (18) (20) (20) (25) (20) STLLINUX
NEWLUG (13) (15) (16) (14) (9) (10)(10) (11) (15) (12) (16) (10) NEWLINUX
Year 2022 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom (6) (5) (7) (5) (5) (6) (4) (6) (6) (6) (5) (5) Steercom
SLACC (11) ( 9) (12) (14) (12) (11)(13) (11) (8) (12) (9) (9) SLACC
SLUUG (25) (28) (33) (30) (22) (21)(25) (26) (19) (18) (19) (20) SLUUG
STLLINUX (28) (21) (20) (20) (21) (17)(21) (18) (14) (20) (16) (33) STLLINUX
NEWLUG (14) (xx) (12) (14) (13) (12)(14) (12) (14) (13) (10) (16) NEWLINUX
Year 2023 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom (4) (6) (6) (7) (7) (7) (5) (7) (6) (5) (4) (7) Steercom
SLACC (10) (10) ( 6) (11) ( 7) (10)( 7) ( 7) (7) (7) (9) (14) SLACC
SLUUG (17) (18) (13) (23) (21) (21)(15) (18) (20) (18) (20) (23) SLUUG
STLLINUX (19) (16) (19) (24) (21) (19)(18) (17) (14) (16) (27) (20) STLLINUX
NEWLUG (12) (14) (14) (14) ( 8) ( 8)(14) (10) (11) (14) (18) (13) NEWLINUX

Proposed layout for next year, without parenthases. Was agreed upon during December 2023 meeting.

Year 2024 Year
Meeting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Meeting
Steercom 6 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Steercom
SLACC 13 11 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? SLACC
SLUUG 24 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? SLUUG
STLLINUX 25 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? STLLINUX
NEWLUG 16 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? NEWLINUX
  * LEGEND:
  * Greyed out areas indicate corrections or never previously reported counts.
  * xx - numbers not yet recorded, attendance not taken, or sheet missing.
  * ?? - Future Numbers.
  *(9) - Number in parentheses is head count. Use head count if greater than attendance sheet count (or sheet missing).
  * *  - sLUGs was STL Linux Users Group for Seniors with initial meeting 8 February 2015. Discontinued October 2017.
  * *  - SNUG SuSe was STL Novell Users Group with lunch meeting.  Discontinued December 2017.
  * -  - dash indicates no meeting (NEWLUG March 2020).
  • ISSUES:
  • Remote ZOOM sessions do not provide record of attendance. Currently done by Stan R with separate video recording.
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to August 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Steady attendance numbers, kind of same each month.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: September numbers in prior years similar; so, the topic not necessarily reason for low attendance.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: None
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Since there is no longer a sign-in sheet difference from actual head count, Stan R would like to remove parentheses that surround numbers.
    • Stan R uses a separate connection ( named Anonymous Coward ) to record virtual meeting attendance. Nobody else is doing this.
    • Stan R records meeting attendance in a LibreOffice Database and makes it available from the Steering Committee webpage
    • Nobody else is recording the attendance or even seems to be looking at that ATTENDANCE database.
    • Future Event Stan R gets run over by a truck.
    • Gary does screen shots, giving some kind of attendance.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Stan R was amazed at number of folks that attended NEWLUNIX on the day after Xmas.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • NEWLINUX attendance strong, with a bunch of people from MEETUP.

Meeting Review Comments

SUMMARY: We try to analyse what happened or what was presented at the previous months meetings.

January 2024

    January 2024      
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  
    1  2  3  4  5  6  
 7  8  9 10 11 12 13  
14 15 16 17 18 19 20  
21 22 23 24 25 26 27  
28 29 30 31           

HOLIDAY - New Year Day ~ Jan 1st, 2024

STEERCOM - Jan 3, 2024

SUMMARY:

  • Usually the Monday, a week prior to SLUUG General meeting.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • When should we do January STEERCOM meeting because of MONDAY New Year Day Holiday?
    • Tuesday, 2nd of January, was orginal choice.
    • Wednesday, 3rd of January.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • This meeting. Glad that Sean and Gary could attend.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • We were there. We are here now.

SLACC - Jan 4th, 2024

SUMMARY: Usually no presentation; so, held as a Configuration Workshop offering installation and configuration help. Hardware, Operating System and Vendor agnostic.

  • SLACC is the Saint Louis Area Computer Club.
    • First Thursday of each month. Free format; so attendance determines what is covered.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • None

SLUUG - Jan 10th, 2024

SUMMARY:

  • Second Wednesday of the month.
  • BASE (Personal Computing):
    • STATUS: Done
    • WHAT: History of the Shell
    • BY: Ed Howland
    • SYNOPSIS: NA
    • WRANGLER: Stan
    • ABSTRACT: NA
    • BIO: NA
  • REMARKS:
    • We did not have an alternative ( secondary ) topic on hand.
    • September SLUUG BASE was How to get started in emacs by Steve Stegmann
    • October SLUUG BASE was Pi-Hole by James Conroy
    • November SLUUG BASE was script recording by Stan Reichardt
    • December SLUUG BASE was Asciinema by Sean Twiehaus
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: None
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Future idea: Changes in Web Applications by Dave Forrest
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Will be doing on RaspberPi 4, can do with older. Doesn't need anything newer.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Stan has a number of slides ready. Will cover unfinished features in demo.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Stan R will be out of town during the SLUUG meeting on 13 December 2023.
    • Not sure if he will be able to attend remotely, and may not be able to record with SimpleScreenRecorder to track attendance.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Ed Howland sent talking points to Stan R, who created slides. Reference notes were sent after meeting.

COOKIE TIME ~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ CALL FOR HELP (Gooey Middle):


  • Second Wednesday of the month.
  • MAIN (Professional Computing):
    • STATUS: Done
    • WHAT: Systemd Timers Better than Cron
    • BY: Sean Twiehaus
    • SYNOPSIS: NA
    • WRANGLER: NA
    • ABSTRACT: NA
    • BIO: NA
    • REMARKS:
      • We did not have an alternative ( secondary ) topic on hand.
      • September SLUUG MAIN was Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) by Jon Newbolt
      • October SLUUG MAIN was Risc-V Architecture by Carl Perry
      • November SLUUG MAIN was Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Android by Jon Newbold, Microsoft
      • December SLUUG MAIN was Python's Pandas Data Frames by Robert Citek
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: Nothing yet. Johnathan Drews trying to line something up about a game developer.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: None
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: None.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Jon Newbold had to reschedule to 8 November due to work travel requirement. A Great Disturbance in the Force.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Stan R will be out of town during the SLUUG meeting on 13 December 2023.
    • Not sure if he will be able to attend remotely, and may not be able to record with SimpleScreenRecorder to track attendance.
    • Steve Stegmann will also try recording.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Might be short; but, not a problem. Because systemd is very large and has lots of topics, we will look to future talks.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • That was good, very informative. Was mentioned by attendees during both NEWLINUX and SLACC meetings.

STLLINUX - Jan 18th, 2024

SUMMARY: Formal presentations usually focused on LINUX Operating System.

  • STLLINUX is the St. Louis Linux Users Group.
    • Eight days after SLUUG MAIN General Meeting.
  • LINUX
    • STATUS: Done
    • WHAT: Introduction to Hadoop
    • BY: Steven Lembark
    • SYNOPSIS: Tool for dealing with large amounts of data.
    • WRANGLER: Gary
    • ABSTRACT: NA
    • BIO: YES
    • REMARKS:
      • We did not have an alternative (secondary) topic on hand.
      • September STLLINUX was Podman Desktop by Chris Bowland of RedHat
      • October STLLINUX was A Mix of Tech Topics by Ken Johnson
      • November STLLINUX was Transport Layer Security ( TLS ) by Michael Lucas
      • December STLLINUX was ZFS 3-2-1 Backup and Bitrot by Sean Twiehaus
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Not yet confirmed; but, considering (1) CentOS Stream (2) Redhat Podman (management for Docker).
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Better NOT to have a speaker back-to-back, one meeting immediately right after another.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Gary expects to dun Michael Lucas for abstract and bio very soon now..
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Stan R thought presentation flow was a bit erratic. To be fair, Steve's hardware setup was funcky.
    • Lee pointed out that there was an overwhelming amount of information. Might have been better structured.

NEWLINUX - Jan 23rd, 2024

SUMMARY: Previously named Hazelwood LUG (HZWLUG), then Newcomer LUG (NEWLUG). Now, Newcomer Linux User Group is designated as NEWLINUX. The NEWLINUX home page lists a number of topics to provide general directions from which we could start. Usually no presentation; so, held as a Beginner Workshop offering installation and configuration help. Topics are usually determined by attendees. We usually cover way more than one topic.

  • NEWLUG was how we named our Linux Users Group (LUG) for Linux Newcomers.
    • NEWLINUX is name that we can frequently use for our Newcomer Linux Users Group.
    • Fourth Tuesday of each month. Free format; so attendance determines what is covered.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: None
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: None.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Again had some difficulty and delay opening up public JITSI session. Also there were frequent drop outs during meeting.
    • Made a bookends slide-work for this Beginner Workshop meeting. Bookends working somewhat well with Announcements and main topic of Remote Support.
    • Gary went to private home site to assist a low expertise Linux user. The user was running Linux Mint 19 that was getting End-of-Support notifications.
    • One new attendee later wrote that he was having some unreproducible problem signing up for ANNOUNCE mailing list. Sent him signup nomination.
    • Two, and possibly four new attendees ( not sure, because they only would put in first names ).
    • Because Gary was providing on site assistance, he wasn't keeping watch on chat room activity.
    • Phil B helped a little bit with chat; but, looking at the recording later, a lot of chat postings seemed to have been missed.
    • Frequent attendees Wayne S and Tony C were very helpful with lots of input during the meeting.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Three new folks. One interested in Ethical Hacking.

Meeting Schedule

SUMMARY: This is where we discuss available and confirmed meeting topics. GOAL: To map out meeting topics for as much as 3 months out.

  • No physical face-to-face meetings until further notice.
  • When we again have physical meetings, we would like to continue video meetings in conjunction with any physical meetings.
  • We try to track prospects to give presentations at our SLUUG General (SLUUG) meeting and LINUX (STLLINUX) meetings.
  • We try to segregate topic types as either BASE, MAIN or LINUX, with BASE and MAIN given at the General meeting (SLUUG).
  • BASE topics should be oriented toward simpler Personal Computing. Usually given at General meeting (SLUUG).
  • Short is good. Something fundamental, introductory, instructive or simple.
  • MAIN topics should be oriented more toward advanced or Professional Computing. Usually given at General meeting (SLUUG).
  • Something more advanced, detailed, important, profound, new, significant, timely or useful.
  • LINUX topics often could be either at the General meeting or at the St. Louis Linux Users Group (STLLINUX) meetings.
  • We want to have alternative (secondary) topic on hand if primary speaker doesn't show.
  • Gary will continue to explore different computer manufacturers (ex: Cray) who might be able to do presentation "Where are they now?"

February 2024

SLACC - Feb 1st, 2024

SUMMARY: Usually no presentation; so, held as a Configuration Workshop offering installation and configuration help. Hardware, Operating System and Vendor agnostic.

  • SLACC is the Saint Louis Area Computer Club.
    • First Thursday of each month. Free format; so attendance determines what is covered.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • One first time and one second time attendee. A few questions we could not provide good solutions. Otherwise, not many hardware or software configuration questions before going off on tangents.

Some questions and discussion about systemd journaling logs, and demonstration of using pinfo to navigate info pages. Question was asked about drop dead time to upgrade BOCK to debian 11.

    Ballot not yet avilable; but, explained that ballots would be made available on line and would be accepted for counting up to date of next Steering Committee meeting.
    Gary M described SLUUG Base session time as quickly covering required **annual meeting** and **Brief Review of Debian Upgrade**. 
    Also, MAIN Topic **Continued Growth of Artificial Intellegence** by Scott Granneman.
  * :?:

STEERCOM - Feb 5th, 2024

  • Usually the Monday, that is a week prior to SLUUG General meeting.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Small group.

SLUUG - Feb 14th, 2024

  • The required Annual Meeting
  • Second Wednesday of the month.
  • BASE (Personal Computing):
    • STATUS: Confirmed
    • WHAT: Brief Review of Debian Upgrade
    • BY: Volunteers
    • SYNOPSIS: NA
    • WRANGLER: NA
    • ABSTRACT: NA
    • BIO: NA
  • REMARKS:
    • We did not have an alternative ( secondary ) topic on hand.
    • October SLUUG BASE was Pi-Hole by James Conroy
    • November SLUUG BASE was script recording by Stan Reichardt
    • December SLUUG BASE was Asciinema by Sean Twiehaus
    • January SLUUG BASE was History of the Shell by Ed Howland
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Official annual meeting required by charter.
    • Ballot not finished, needs to be available online NLT 14 February main meeting.
    • Can we have specific email address for submitting ballots?
    • We need to explain ballots sent by email are not anonymous nor secret, and that
    • ballots sent thru USPS surface mail can be handled and treated to be anonymous and secret.
    • BOCK is on OpenSuSE virtual machine with XEN kernel. Issue is that Lee has yet to figure out how to clone BOCK.
    • vote2024@sluug.org is email address for submitting ballots, received by Lee, Gary and Stan.

COOKIE TIME ~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ CALL FOR HELP (Gooey Middle):


  • Second Wednesday of the month.
  • MAIN (Professional Computing):
    • STATUS: Confirmed
    • WHAT: Continued Growth of Artificial Intelligence
    • BY: Scott Granneman
    • SYNOPSIS: NA
    • WRANGLER: Gary
    • ABSTRACT: NO
    • BIO: YES
    • REMARKS:
      • We did not have an alternative ( secondary ) topic on hand.
      • October SLUUG MAIN was Risc-V Architecture by Carl Perry
      • November SLUUG MAIN was Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Android by Jon Newbold, Microsoft
      • December SLUUG MAIN was Python's Pandas Data Frames by Robert Citek
      • January SLUUG MAIN was Systemd Timers Better than Cron by Sean Twiehaus
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • :?:

STLLINUX - Feb 22nd, 2024

SUMMARY: Formal presentations usually focused on LINUX Operating System

  • STLLINUX is the St. Louis Linux Users Group.
    • Eight days after SLUUG MAIN General Meeting.
  • LINUX
    • STATUS: Confirmed
    • WHAT: Large Language Models
    • BY: Alex Towell
    • SYNOPSIS: YES
    • WRANGLER: Gary
    • ABSTRACT: YES
    • BIO: NA
    • REMARKS:
      • We did not have an alternative (secondary) topic on hand.
      • October STLLINUX was A Mix of Tech Topics by Ken Johnson
      • November STLLINUX was Transport Layer Security ( TLS ) by Michael Lucas
      • December STLLINUX was ZFS 3-2-1 Backup and Bitrot by Sean Twiehaus
      • January STLLINUX was Introduction to Hadoop by Steven Lembark
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • We need to advertise this during Gooey Middle time of SLUUG Main meeting on 14 February.

NEWLINUX - Feb 27th, 2024

SUMMARY: Previously named Hazelwood LUG (HZWLUG), then Newcomer LUG (NEWLUG). Now, Newcomer Linux User Group is designated as NEWLINUX. The NEWLINUX home page lists a number of topics to provide general directions from which we could start. Usually no presentation; so, held as a Beginner Workshop offering installation and configuration help. Topics are usually determined by attendees. We usually cover way more than one topic.

  • NEWLUG was how we named our Linux Users Group (LUG) for Linux Newcomers.
    • NEWLINUX is name that we can frequently use for our Newcomer Linux Users Group.
    • Fourth Tuesday of each month. Free format; so attendance determines what is covered.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • :?:

March 2024

     March 2024       
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  
                1  2  
 3  4  5  6  7  8  9  
10 11 12 13 14 15 16  
17 18 19 20 21 22 23  
24 25 26 27 28 29 30  
31                    

Counting of BALLOTS - Mar 4th, 2024

  • Volunteers do counting

STEERCOM - Mar 4th, 2024

  • SLUUG Board Membership acknowledged and recorded
  • SLUUG Officers appointed from amoung ballot advisory votes

SLACC - Mar 7th, 2024

SLUUG - Mar 13th, 2024

STLLINUX - Mar 21st, 2024

STLLINUX - Mar 26th, 2024

Old Business

Server Admin

SUMMARY: We put up a server on the Internet for email, it grew, and now we have to maintain it.

  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments: DNS zone transfers broken right now. Investigating. Everything else working fine.
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February: Running fine. No rush to go to Debian 11.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March::
    • Removed comments prior to January 2023.
    • Running fine. BOCK is a virtual machine. Host will be updated some time in March.
  • 2023-04-03 Comments:
    • Running. Kernel update brought down for just 5 to 10 minutes. No complaints.
    • Mike Knight found 4.4 Gb of data that Stan R had temporarily hosted for BUGLug.
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: Still running. Expect to upgrade from Debian 10 to 11 sometime this year.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: Seems to be working ( many thanks to maintenance script written by Mike Knight ).
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July:

=

Version Released Debian Security Support Debian Long Term Support
Debian 10 Buster 2019-07-16 2022-09-10 2024-06-30
Debian 11 Bullseye 2021-08-14 2024-07-01 2026-06-30
Debian 12 BookWorm 2023-06-10 2026-06-10 2028-06-10
On BOCK we are currently running Debian 10 Buster.
FYI Debian 12 was just released.
Debian end of life dates available here https://endoflife.date/debian/
We want to wait until cooler weather, in the Fall. Nobody is paying us to panic.

=

  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: We need to post to DISCUSS about a project to upgrade BOCK.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Biggest concern on BOCK upgrade is around MAILMAN.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Planning to move from Debian 10 to Debian 11. Emcee should ask for volunteers.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Mike Knight has been doing considerable research on mail problems.
    • We still need to consider mailman versions available for Debian 11 or 12.
    • We need to improve publicity for volunteer for transition to Debian.
    • Gary suggests not doing December (too encumbered) to do transition, maybe January or February.
    • Need to decide whether to do live upgrade session during MAIN or STLLINUX meeting.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Lee has tweeked Postfix problems.
    • Mike Knight solves some email problems, set up DEMARK and some paramaters that help with the mailing lists..
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Planning in progress, Wiki page is up for contributions of thoughts and issues.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Nothing

Bock Upgrade

  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Mike Knight has been looking at Mail
    • Lee recommends collecting ideas to build steps.
      • A to-do list ( structure ).
      • A what-we-did list ( a Wiki manager ).
    • Lee suggests two people,
      • one to build Wiki Page documentation.
      • second is recording as we go along
    • Spin up of testing version in a Virtua Machine.
    • Sean Twiehaus will give shot at building Wiki instance.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:

Web Site SLUUG.ORG Maintenance

SUMMARY: We have a traditional Internet presence with the existence of our main SLUUG web site.

  • Usage statistics for Bock Web Pages https://www.sluug.org/hitreport/.
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments: Mike Knight posted about broken and missing links. That prompted Stan R to make some corrections ( not all yet ).
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February:
    • Some discussion about making STLLINUX site more resemble SLUUG front page.
    • Consensus that it would be good idea and should clean up some Google Lighthouse complaints.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March::
    • Mike Knight posted remarking that we frequently state in many places NO PHYSICAL MEETINGS until further notice.
    • His question is "Should they just state NO PHYSICAL MEETINGS.
    • Or is there a plan for future real face-to-face meetings, and thus the hope for a "further notice"?
    • Per Stan R there are no plans for future face-to-face SLACC and NEWLINUX meetings.
    • Per Lee Nic-N-Elana's restaurant going strong ( old site ).
    • We will leave narrative, so there is some hope.
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: Stan R. way behind in website updates.
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: Stan R. starting to catch up ( somewhat ). Barely keeping up. Little reorganization as hoped.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: Mostly simple barely keeping up. No progress on keeping things logical or stream lined.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: Stan R still maintaining and not drowning. Treading water.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Nothing important.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Steady as we go.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Usual. Not enough time to clean up much.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Stan R combined meeting listing from STLLINUX home page with Presentation Archives page. Used available info, clean up still needed.
    • Stan R then placed Presentation Archive iframe page on all three sponsored home pages, the SLACC, STLLINUX and NEWLINUX home pages.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: Added Presentation Archive iframe page to the Steercom web page.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None, keeping up.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Usage statistics for Bock Web Pages https://www.sluug.org/hitreport/.
      • Gives numbers; but, they are not deeply informative.
      • Stan R ( and maybe all of us ) should be intereseted in knowing how many views of Presentation Archive items we were getting.
      • We might start polling during meetings, whether memebers are looking at Presentation Archive items.
    • We are fat, dumb and happy. Even we don't look at what we have.

Uploading Presentations

SUMMARY: We have recorded many of our past meetings and made some of them available on the Internet.

  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments:
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February: Kind of keeping up with that. Need to delete a few excess Steercom videos.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March: No problems.
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: Keeping up ( I think ~ Stan R ).
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: Keeping up. Might have some old ones that haven't been uploaded and linked before. Slow but steady.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: Keeping up, and been marking more for removal.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July:
    • Mostly unaltered videos are uploaded ( nothing done to reduce quality or size ).
    • QUESTION: Do we have any measurement of how many of uploaded videos are being viewed?
    • We won't worry about it, if isn't burden on Lee's operation.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August:
    • Keeping pace.
    • Stan R had problem downloading files from ZOOM. Lee did download, then Stan was able to finish processing.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: None
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Good, no problems.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • When we get them recorded, they get updated. Been purging more ZOOM recording to conserve allotted space.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: Keeping up.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Keeping up with current recordings. Not time for dealing with back-log of old recordings.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Keeping up.

Web Site MEETUP.COM Maintenance

SUMMARY: We have presence on MEETUP.COM.

  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments: Stan can't hear or see anyone moving now.
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February: Barely worth the effort.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March: Per Gary and Stan R it sucks ( more and in many different ways, month to month ).
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: Gary had been locked out by MEETUP for 5 hours.
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: It sucks, is pain in posterior.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: It sucks, it sucks, it sucks. Something new messes up every month. Somewhat draws in attendees; but, nothing big.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: Meetup sucks.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Last cycle Gary was bushwhacked, input grabbed screwy characters.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September:
    • We kept getting messages from folks that are too impatient to read individual meeting instructions that tell them to check our web sites.
    • Apparently the front most SLUUG MEETUP about page lacked the additional linked here information we have for individual meetings.
    • Stan R added the linked here information to bottom of the SLUUG MEETUP about page.
    • It was very hard to find where we could update that front page ( no surprise ).
    • We were getting posting photos to our MEETUP meetings that show mushrooms and mention illegal drugs ( like Meth ).
    • Ken Johnson changed settings so that regular visitors could not post photos.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: We are at 995, now approaching 1000 membership. Wonder what will happen. Hard to know from their poor description.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Need to characterize SLACC as a Configuration Workshop, and the NEWLINUX as a Beginner Workshop.
    • Lee suggest it has been providing some significant visibility on the Internet.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: Sorta helpful.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Meetup sucks, removing mistakes send out confusing CANCELLATION message.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • In a previous month ( December ? ) Stan R had reduced membership count by deleting many unrecogized names.
    • On 20 January MEETUP membership showed as 999. Stan R reduced count again, to 896 by deleting many unrecognized names.
    • Have not seen any elimanated names show back up.

Our Internet Presence on Other Social Media

SUMMARY: We presume that our single web site isn't enough to draw younger crowd.

  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments:
    • Does NOT look like anyone has updated our twitter feed since November.
    • QUESTION: Who is supposed to be updating it?
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February:
    • What is best lead time to tweet about meeting? Consensus is before. Really, nobody here wants to do work.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March::
    • Scott Granneman's offer about Mastadon in the FedAUniver means some of us might sign up.
    • Per Stan R we need demonstrations of different social tools.
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: Gary M will approach Granneman about Mastadon.
  • 2023-05-01 Comments:
    • A significant number of TWITTER users have moved over to the social media technology ( beta ) of the
    • week, BlueSky.
    • Stan R watched and recommends Sunday's netcast of This Week in Tech
    • panel discussion on Twit TV about current social media.
    • Still same issues for us.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: Unfortunately, our prejudices preclude advancing or progressing in this territory.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: Maybe we [ could ] get some presentation from Scott Granneman.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Our only interest is for advertising our meetings.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Johnathan suggested Mastadon over MEETUP. Need effort. Need clones.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Nothing that we care to do, although Stan thinks Mastadon is best of bad possibilities.
    • Neither of those of us here care for social media. We need to find somebody younger.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Too many different social media things and we are dinosaurs.
    • We we need somebody to advertise us on social media.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: No feedback from James Conroy or Sean Twiehaus about any social media.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • No specific comments, some discussion early in this meeting.

ANNOUNCE Mailing List

SUMMARY: As a historical descendant of our monthly newsletter, the ANNOUNCE mailing had been a weekly extract of our SLUUG GOOGLE Calendar of Events. Previous editors had also styled it less of 1 liners of the entire calendar and more of abstracts of OUR talks & outstanding interest items.

  * **HISTORY:** The subscriber list has been populated from attendance sheets by a nominating subscription process, which requires human input.
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments:
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February: Problems really relate to advance scheduling.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March:: None
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: None
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: It works.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: No changes.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: No changes on list. Topic for STLLINUX was determined too late to make use of it as announcement.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: It works.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Robert Levitt has been posting items to list.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November:
    • Stan suggest we use it to promote BOCK upgrade of Debian with propaganda.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Stan R thought archive was broken, but it was human error PICNIC ( Problem In Chain Not In Computer ) .

Hybrid Meetings

SUMMARY: Combine recording physical plus remote meetings

  * HISTORY: 
      * We have for the longest time been saying: 
      * **No physical face-to-face meetings until further notice.**
      * When we again have physical meetings, we would like to continue video meetings in conjunction with any physical meetings.
      * So, in anticipation of future openings of libraries and restaurants,
        * reduction of lock-down, we need to work toward perfecting the technology. 
  • 2021-07-05
    • Project considerations
      • Locations
      • Schedule ~ Timeline
    • Assets
      • Staffing
        • Project Leader ~ Lee Lammert (at least Point Of Contact)
        • Project Wrangler ~ Steve Stegmann (if he will remember)
        • Recording Hardware ~ Lee Lammert
        • Recording Software ~ Tyler Rudie (had been experimenting with OBS during July STLLINUX meeting)
        • Remote Virtual Software ~ ZOOM or Jitsi (maybe better) ?
        • Head Count (local clipboard and remote software participant panel to capture attendance).
        • Production Chief(s) ~
          • does recording and archives.
          • one for remote and one for live location
        • Minions
      • Equipment ~ inventory ~ splitter ~ projectors ~ microphones ~ cameras ~ smartphone cameras ~ portability
        • avoid condenser microphones ~ want dynamic microphones (which may be more expensive)
      • Servers ~ ZOOM ~ Jitsi
      • Software ~ OBS ~ Discord? ~
        • Capabilities ~ Remote Video ~ Chat ~ Recording ~ Screen Sharing ~ YouTube Streaming?
        • Documentation ~ Diagrams ~ Limitations
        • Testing ~ Bat Cave? ~ Restaurant?
    • Discussion:
      • Gary M virtual remote experience at 2600 club was not good. They did not have splitter for hybrid session.
      • Lee figures harder, quite difficult, do we want to really do it. How do we do recordings?
      • Stan R says local noise too much at restaurants.
      • Head counts need to be considered. Gary once shared ZOOM participant panel. We need to promote sharing participant panel(s) for count heads.
      • Stan R has less problem using Jitsi.
      • Stan R thought Jitsi does not have built in recording (may not be true).
      • Stan R uses Linux SimpleScreenRecorder (SSR) to record all remote sessions. Specifically activates participant panel while recording sessions with SSR.
      • We must consider when will libraries open up. Also, Siemens, Nick and Elena's restaurant.
      • Gary suggests we move this topic earlier in agenda. We don't expect to make much progress right away; but, need to keep in mind.
  • The narrative comments in the agenda/minutes ( after 2021-07-05 ) prior to January 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-01-09 Comments:
  • 2023-01-30 Comments for February: Hybrid meetings, nothing comes to mind.
  • 2023-02-27 Comments for March: James Conroy says doing too hard.
  • 2023-04-03 Comments: Free Beer and Pizza would be a large draw. We need to consider further.
  • 2023-05-01 Comments: Our policy should be to encourage anyone else that wants to do all the work.
  • 2023-06-05 Comments: Moving on.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July:
    • We would need to consider counting both remote attendance and face-to-face attendance. Should we care, who would do it and how would we track it.
    • No disagreement. Lot easier for Dave Forrest to be at face-to-face meetings.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Nothing to say.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: No thoughts.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Any combined numbers could just be combined.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • None

Cameras and Microphones and Projectors

SUMMARY: We try to record many of our meetings.

  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: SUGGESTION: Don't use condenser microphones. Only use Dynamic microphones.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Nothing to say.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Lee has one camera, Don has at least one microphone, stan has projector.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: No changes.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Note that We have not made any progress toward moving to hybrid meetings.
    • Also, we have NOT agressively advertised seeking assistance in developing hybrid meeting techniques.
    • Have we essentially abandoned face-to-face meetings?
    • Should we consider donating or selling these assets?
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • No actions or decisions made on previous month comments.
    • Since nobody is volunteering to do work, we won't make any progress.
    • Will come back eventually; just, we don't know when.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Not likely to bring much money.

Attendance Database

SUMMARY: We use for head count tracking and for member voting qualification during each Calendar Year (CY)

  * HISTORY: 
  * Attendance tracking necessary for member qualifications to vote in our annual elections.
  * At face-to-face meetings we would pass around clipboard with sign-in sheet.
  * The standard remote video recordings do not automatically show participants.
  * Stan R runs a second connection to each video meeting named **Anonymous Coward** to record attendance. 
  • LibreOffice BASE Attendance database file is available for download from https://www.sluug.org/steercom/ page.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August:
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Works good.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Stan updates immediately after each meeting. Often necessary to record with SimpleScreenRecorder.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Good stuff.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Keeping up the counts. Lee said very worthwhile.
    • Stan R suggests we do away with elections and just do a lottery for positions.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Run under Russian Rules.

Planning Schedule Report Database

SUMMARY: We have LibreOffice BASE for tracking BASE, MAIN and STLLINUX meeting topics and speakers.

  * HISTORY: 
  * A running database helps Gary schedule meetings.
  • LibreOffice BASE Planning database is available from https://www.sluug.org/steercom webpage.
  • Go to https://www.sluug.org/steercom/ has link to planning.pdf
  • or directly to report at Planning Schedule Report
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August:
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September:
    • Stan R changed the 2023-07-12 entry for Steve Stegmann's TMUX - A Longer Introduction from listing as Base to Main.
    • Stan R altered length of Phone field in Planning database and it's report to allow room for telephone extensions.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Help Gary stay focused. Gives Stan something to beat him about head and shoulders.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Becoming Gary's go to tool. Even used it during tonight's session.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: Lee was amazed about how many presentation he had done.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Stan R added General meeting BASE and Main items, plus STLLINUX items for 1996 from info in old newsletters.
    • The event items include WHEN TYPE STATUS WHAT WHO, giving a more complete history of our past efforts.
    • Will have to add our previous Special Interest Group, the Computer Telephony Integration (CTI).
    • Likely will later start including the previous Saint Charles Linux Users Group events.
    • Above will be done when Stan R has time.

Handouts

SUMMARY: We have informational handout PDFs available http://www.sluug.org/resources/handouts/.

  * HISTORY: 
  *The PDFs are generated using LibreOffice. The originating files are stored along with generated PDFs.
  * Lee ordered printer parts that should correct crinkle problem.
  * Stan R has been modifying a Linux Presentation Day from 2015 found on the Internet.  It has excellent content.
    * Difficult to modify, as it is extremely graphically intense.  Built and modified with the Scribus application.
    * Likely too complex to print, may wind up splitting content to make a slide show presentation.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Nothing new.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Stan cannot manufacture extra time.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Stan cannot manufacture extra time.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Stan needs a time machine or a clone to do updates.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • No time, no changes.

Organizational Papers

SUMMARY: We have large box of hard copy historical records concerning our organization. It has been floating around.

  * **HISTORY:** 2020-10-05 Gary found cardboard box with old secretary material. Original Xeroxes of articles of corporation, etc. Historical interest. No idea who dropped it off.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Gary has only heard rumors of their existence.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: * Completely disorganized. Box still there.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Gary believes box is still there ( not verified ).
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Gary not sure if still there.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: No racoon has carried the box away.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Stan R asked Gary M to bring him the box. Stan R wants to look for old newsletters prior to 1996.

Sponsorships

SUMMARY: We seek financial support from the tech community.

  * **HISTORY:** We are not good at getting sponsors.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Thank You Dave!
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Nothing new.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: We are not good at self promotion.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Omnitec is still quite generous.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • We appreciate donations ( two years ) by Steve Gomez.
    • Concencus is to show it with beer or meal. Approved. Gary volunteered.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Gary is slacking, hasn't contacted Steve Gomez. Did see him at a remote meeting last month.

We Need Help

SUMMARY: We don't have enough volunteers to do everything consistently.

  * **HISTORY:** We need new members who want to do stuff. Same as every month.
  • QUESTION: Any new volunteers to help?
  • Tyler Rudie had volunteered to help with SLUUG Google calendar input.
  • Gary, Stan, & Tyler need to get together to review Tyler getting to work on Google Calendar modifications?
  • Tyler Rudie has been granted permissions to help with SLUUG Google calendar input. Not yet given guidance or instructions.
  • Gary needs to prompt him.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July:
    • Stanford Baldwin avoided conversation
    • Robert Levitt willing and Gary will encourage him to post spontaneously.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: Gary needs to talk to Robert Levitt and Tyler Ruddie.
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: Gary needs to start picking on somebody else.
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: Gary suggests approaching individuals one-on-one, face-to-face if meeting them.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Not enough grey hairs out there to do us any good.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: Robert Levitt willing; but, needs to do it better.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • We need to seek more individual help by one-on-one requests. Ask crowd gets no response.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Gary M has been trying to do more publicity, more timely MEETUP information. Seems to have been working.
    • Gary M will seek other avenues and more one-on-one requests.

New Business

SUMMARY: After old business, we call for anything that we need to deal with.

  • QUESTION: Do we have anything else, anything new that we need to deal with?
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-06-26 Comments for July: Home Automation group may be a source of presentations for us, if they keep ZOOM efforts going (per Gary).
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: None
  • 2023-10-02 Comments:
    • Recognition of Phil Bunch participation and contributions.
    • How often mention will be determined later.
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: None
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • None.

Recurring Requirements

SUMMARY: We routinely rotate thru the following (just in case).

  * HISTORY: 
  * In past, we had missed critical government filings, dropped ball on domain renewals, and similar important items.
  • December 2023 - Ticket ( ballot ) nominations should be solicited.
  • January 2024 ~ Post Office Box Renewal ( automatic 6 months on credit card ) ~ Lee handles.
  • January 2024 ~ Bribes early to Stan R so your name won't be on ballot.
  • February 2024 - IRS Form 990-N for Tax Exempt Status. Due by April. e-postcard.
  • February 2024 - STLLINUX.ORG domain automatic renewal.
  • February 2024 - SLUUG Annual Board meeting and elections.
  • March 2024 - Count Ballots
  • March 2024 - Updates to contacts on webpage if required.
  • March 2024 - Updates to email aliases if required.
  • March 2024 - Consider schedule workshops for July and August 2021
  • May 2024 - LetsEncrypt renews every 60 days early ( 30 day grace period ).
  • June 2024 - BuddyNS SLUUG account due (Automated) * WAS RENEWED.
  • June 2024 - Missouri Annual Report for Corporate Legal Status due. DUE 2024 ( every two years now )
  • June 2024 - *automated* LetsEncrypt free SSL certificates for websites on BOCK.
  • July 2024 - SLUUG.ORG account due (Automated) done in June.
  • July 2024 ~ Post Office Box Renewal (automatic 6 months on credit card) ~ Lee handles on SLUUG card.
  • August 2024 - Missouri Tax Holiday ( on our calendar )
  • August 2024 - NEWLINUX.ORG domain renewal. Stan R.
  • August 2024 - SLACC.ORG domain renewal. Stan R.
  • September 2024
  • October 2024
  • November 2024 - Search for upcoming Technical Group Xmas parties to put on our calendar.
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to July 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-07-31 Comments for August: None
  • 2023-08-28 Comments for September: None
  • 2023-10-02 Comments: None
  • 2023-10-30 Comments for November: Gary suggested looking in November for Technical Group Xmas parties to put on our calendar.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-01-03 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • None

Recognize Useful Efforts

SUMMARY: When anybody does something to help!

  • QUESTION: Did anyone do anything helpful or useful?
  • 2023-12-04 Comments:
    • Phil Bunch all time contributions.
  • 2024-01-03 Comments:
    • Phil Bunch handled the NEWLINUX meeting.
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • Thanks to Ed, Lee and Stan for showing up. Lee thank Gary for food and beer delivery.

Blue Sky Recording

  • QUESTION: Will we have Blue Sky Idea session to record or not record?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • None

Adjourn STEERCOM Meeting

  • QUESTION: At what time was STEERCOM meeting adjourned?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
  • Monday, February 5th, 2024
    • TIME: 9:18pm

Stop Video Recordings

  • QUESTION: Have the recorders been turned off?
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • YES

Blue Sky Ideas

SUMMARY: Food for thought ~ anything not previously covered that provides mental stimulus for thinking about improvements or solutions.

  * HISTORY:  Stimulate creativity by planting the seed of an idea.  
    * Current action or response not required.
    * Some ideas are Off-The-Record ~ NOT TO BE RECORDED!
    * Some ideas should be publicized.~ SHOULD BE RECORDED!
    * If a speaker believes something should not be recorded, the recording operator needs to be notified.
    * ** Each speaker would initially declare whether an idea should be recorded or not. ** 
  • The narrative comments in this section prior to December 2023 Steercom have been removed.
  • 2023-12-04 Comments: None
  • 2024-02-05 Comments:
    • TIME: None

End of File

steercom/2024-02.txt · Last modified: 2024/02/05 21:21 (external edit)