RUSTINGTON LUG

I have tried once before to get local interest in Linux. We had one meeting and several friends attended, but alas the number was small and I gave up for a while.

Now with Winter approaching I determined to try again. I found a suitable hall for hire and advertised in the paper, in the library and on three local websites. One of the Surrey LUG members gave me advice and support.

I selected a hall that I knew had a pull-down screen and visited it with the lady responsible for hiring. She didn't even know that there was a screen available in the room. All went well until we discussed internet access. That brought the "manager" of the "meals on wheels" program into the picture. The organisation was the WRVS who had a lease of the building from the Sussex Conty Council. I was rather brusquely told that the person ale to give a ruling was on holiday for a fortnight. End of conversation. Next I was told that my car with trailer was dangerously parked outside. The lady responsible for the hiring came outside as I was leaving and apologised for the "manger's" behaviour! To enable internet access I bought a wifi modem which worked very well/
We had a first meeting and because of the sunlight and lack of curtains we could not decipher the image of the computer desktop! We soldiered on and hoped that people weren't too put off.
So in preparation for the next meeting we worked out a strategy! We would use a 40" TV as a monitor. A meeting was arranged by the WRVS "Worthing Manager" and I presented my case. Internet access was out and we discussed putting a TV on the wall. Next day, one day before the LUG meeting I was given a formal interdiction for bringing ANY TV into the hall. On the grounds that a license was needed. (exception "training" see TV license rules)
Fortunately I found a friendly Parish Council who had hall for hire, and who agreed to everything and so all was set up.

I had a problem telling the prospective attendees that the venue had been switched. Thanks to a friend who stood by the WRVS door half an hour before the advertised time of the meeting and did a noble job of redirecting.

The new room is fabulous and we go from strength to strength. Next week one of our group will give a presentation.

In spite of many spanners in the works, the RUSTINGTON LUG goes forward! This means that I don;t go to Horsham or Juniper Hill or even Guildford now. We have our own home brew LUG!