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From: ROB...@DECUS.CA (Rob Slade, Ed. DECrypt & ComNet, VARUG rep, 604-984-4067)
Newsgroups: comp.org.decus,vmsnet.decus.lugs
Subject: DECUS Canada future directions
Date: 24 Feb 1994 01:02:29 -0600
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DECUS Canada, like everyone else, is in the throws of change. We are currently
working on some kind of plan for the future. This has been discussed within the
Leadership now, and a White Paper is arising.
This plan will likely take a number of DECUS Canada members by surprise. Please
do not think that this is simply another incomprehensible program imposed from
above by an uncaring, elitist and unresponsive leadership. Events have
overtaken us as well as you. The Strategic Plan recently published in DECUScope
may still be workable, but is definitely questionable in view of happenings
that have ocurred since it went to press.
The following is a recent posting on MUKLUK, the DECUS Canada office and
leadership machine. Further distribution was felt to be beneficial. For those
of you who will be able to join us at Symposium VAN94 in Vancouver, this will
be the major topic at the Annual General meeting. Those who cannot attend are
urged to direct comments to comm...@decus.ca, which will, definitely, be
considered. All members of DECUS Canada are urged to get involved in this: it
is your future. Input from other chapters is also appreciated.
=========================
Here is the second draft of the White Paper. It is structured like the
existing Strategic Plan and incorporates all the values. All of the
tactical information from the current plan has been omitted. Several
changes and clarifications based on the dialogue in TALK_TO_BOARD have
been incorporated.
We plan one more draft which will include tactical details. That will be
the version that will be presented to the members at Symposium.
*NOTHING* has yet been decided. This is simply a more detailed version
of a proposed plan.
Note the following major changes:
- Non-profit, non-commercial value added.
- Independent review of Strategic Plan.
- LUGs and SIGs receive part of membership donations.
- SIGs co-ordinate electronic conferences and Symposium interest streams
- Major new directions with regard to Digital Canada.
- Sponsorship has been clarified.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECUS Canada Strategic Plan
(DRAFT as of February 7, 1994)
OUR MISSION
Help our members solve information technology problems
OUR FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY
Promote the sharing of information among our members as well as
between our members and our partner Digital Canada.
OUR VALUES
We are a non-profit Society which promotes the exchange of
information in a non-commercial atmosphere. We recognize that
our Society is not a business.
We welcome, as members, people from all provinces, territories
and countries who use or are interested in Digital's hardware,
software or services.
We believe that our strength flows from our strong sense of
community. We trust and respect one another. We have fun and
enjoy one another's company.
We are an open and honest Society. We keep our members and
volunteers informed of our activities. We actively solicit input
from our members, our partner Digital Canada, our committees, our
LUGs and our SIGs as we develop and implement our plans.
OUR BOARD
Our members will elect a small Board of Directors to help us
achieve our goals. Our Digital Delegate and our Office Manager,
although appointed rather than elected, will be full and equal
members of our Board.
Our Board will guide our Society as a whole. Committees composed
of volunteers will recommend courses of action in particular
areas. The office will implement the plans assisted by
volunteers.
REVIEWING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
Our Society will review and update our Strategic Plan every year,
present it to members and volunteers for comment and our Board
adopt a final version at the July board meeting. Committees
will develop area-specific operational plans and budgets
consistent with our Strategic Plan.
Once a year, an independent agent will measure our progress
against our Strategic Plan and report directly to our members.
MEMBERS
Members are the heart of our Society. We exist to serve them.
GOALS
UNDERSTAND MEMBER NEEDS
We will understand what services our members want. We will
listen to their spontaneous comments, conduct regular surveys,
run focus groups and maintain internal information on member
hardware, operating systems, job, industry and interests.
PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEMBERS
We will provide the services our members want at a cost they can
afford in formats they find useful. We will provide access to
information via national and local face-to-face meetings,
electronic communications, magnetic media and newsletters.
ACT AS AN ADVOCATE
We will act as an advocate on behalf of our members to our
partner Digital Canada.
COMMUNICATE WITH MEMBERS
We will be open and honest with our members. We will maintain
excellent two-way communications locally and nationally. We will
keep them informed of our activities. We will actively solicit
their input as we develop and implement our plans.
ENCOURAGE NEW MEMBERS
The more members we have, the more information there will be to
share. Our ultimate goal is to have every user of Digital
hardware, software or services in Canada (and anyone else who is
interested) become a member of our Society.
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO BE ACTIVE
The more active our members are, the more information will be
shared. Our ultimate goal is to have every member contribute
something to our Society as well as receive something from us.
We will recognize and appreciate the contribution of members who
participate actively in our society while treating those who
simply buy our services as valued customers.
ENCOURAGE A DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP
We are a national organization. We will welcome, as members,
people from all provinces, territories and countries who use or
are interested in Digital's hardware, software or services. We
will actively seek members who have non-technical interests as
well as those whose interest's are primarily technical.
VOLUNTEERS
We are lead by volunteers and our committees are composed of
volunteers. We will welcome any volunteer who wants to help us
achieve our goals.
GOALS
USE VOLUNTEERS WISELY
In recognition of their dedication, we will use our volunteers'
time wisely. We will benefit from their expertise and enthusiasm
rather than simply using their time.
APPRECIATE VOLUNTEERS
We value our volunteers. We will show regular, public
appreciation for their efforts.
ALLOW VOLUNTEER GROWTH
We will provide an environment in which volunteers can learn and
grow both personally and professionally. We will help our
volunteers learn about all aspects of DECUS.
ENCOURAGE NEW VOLUNTEERS
The more volunteers we have, the more vibrant our Society will
be. Our ultimate goal is to have every member of our Society
involved as a volunteer in some way.
COMMUNICATE WITH VOLUNTEERS
We will be open and honest with our volunteers. We will maintain
excellent two-way communications. We will keep them informed of
our activities. We will actively solicit their input as we
develop and implement our plans.
LOCAL USER GROUPS
Local User Groups (LUGs) allow our members to share information
face-to-face at nominal cost. They are often our members' first
regular contact with our Society as well as their strongest
link to it.
GOALS
UNDERSTAND LUG NEEDS
We will understand what services our LUGs want. We will listen
to feedback from our LUGs.
PROVIDE SERVICES TO LUGS
We will provide the services our LUGs want at a cost they can
afford in formats they find useful. We will provide access to
electronic communications, distribute their newsletters and, on
request, maintain their financial records.
PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We will support our LUGs. We will share member donations with
LUGs. We will subsidize certain LUG events. We will fund the
formation of new LUGs.
APPRECIATE LUGS
We value the services our LUGs provide to our members. We will
show regular, public appreciation for the efforts of our LUGs.
COMMUNICATE WITH LUGS
We will be open and honest with our LUGs. We will maintain
excellent two-way communications. We will keep them informed of
our activities. We will actively solicit their input as we
develop and implement our plans.
ENCOURAGE NEW LUGS
The more LUGs we have, the more information members will be able
to share face-to-face at nominal cost. Our ultimate goal is to
have a LUG in every community which has a Digital Canada office
as well as every other community where there is interest in
forming a LUG.
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO JOIN LUGS
The more members our LUGs have, the more information members will
be able to share face-to-face at nominal cost. Our ultimate goal
is to have every member of our Society be an active member of a
LUG.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are groups of members who share a
common interest such as education, communications or management.
In contrast to a LUG whose members are normally in one community,
SIG members are usually scattered across the country (or beyond).
GOALS
UNDERSTAND SIG NEEDS
We will understand what services our SIGs want. We will listen
to feedback from our SIGs.
PROVIDE SERVICES TO SIGS
We will provide the services our SIGs want at a cost they can
afford in formats they find useful. We will provide access to
electronic communications, distribute their newsletters and, on
request, maintain their financial records.
PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We will support our SIGs. We will share member donations with
SIGs. We will subsidize certain SIG events. We will fund the
formation of new SIGs.
APPRECIATE SIGS
We value the services our SIGs provide to our members. We will
show regular, public appreciation for the efforts of our SIGs.
COMMUNICATE WITH SIGS
We will be open and honest with our SIGs. We will maintain
excellent two-way communications. We will keep them informed of
our activities. We will actively solicit their input as we
develop and implement our plans.
ENCOURAGE NEW SIGS
The more SIGs we have, the more information members will be able
to share. Our ultimate goal is to have a SIG for every area of
interest represented at our annual face-to-face meeting as well
as any other area where there is interest in forming a SIG.
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO JOIN SIGS
The more members our SIGs have, the more information members will
be able to share. Our ultimate goal is to have every member of
our Society be an active member of one or more SIGs.
COORDINATE INTEREST STREAMS
Our ultimate goal is to have each SIG conduct an electronic
conference and co-ordinate an interest stream at our annual
face-to-face meeting.
DIGITAL
We are proud of our partnership with Digital Canada. We
recognize that it is our key strength. We will ensure that both
Digital Canada and our Society benefit from our partnership.
GOALS
HELP DIGITAL CANADA
Although our members' needs will always be our first priority,
building our partnership with Digital Canada will be our second
priority. We will help Digital Canada achieve its goals in any
way that is consistent with our Mission.
PROVIDE FEEDBACK
We will be the "voice of the customer" to Digital Canada. We
will provide regular, constructive feedback from a large, diverse
group of customers.
COMMUNICATE WITH DIGITAL CANADA
We will be open and honest with Digital Canada. We will maintain
excellent two-way communications at all levels. We will keep
them informed of our activities. We will actively solicit their
input as we develop and implement our plans.
OTHER DECUS CHAPTERS
Our Society is, by choice, a part of the worldwide DECUS
organization. We will co-operate enthusiastically with other
DECUS chapters. We will play a leadership role in contributing
to the development of DECUS throughout the world.
OFFICE STAFF
The office staff, assisted by volunteers, implement our plans.
We value our staff and we will use their time wisely. We will
keep them informed of our activities. We will actively solicit
their input as we develop and implement our plans.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
We will develop relationships with other organizations as a
service to our members as long as they are consistent with our
Mission and do not have a negative impact on our partnership with
Digital.
FUNDING
We will spend our money to provide maximum benefit for our
members.
We will develop additional sources of revenue beyond our national
face-to-face meeting.
Membership in our Society is free. We will ask our members for
financial support. Sponsorship will be voluntary.
We will also ask for financial support in the form of sponsorship
from corporations as long as their activities are consistent with
our Mission and do not have a negative impact on our partnership
with Digital.
Our partnership with Digital Canada include financing "overhead"
costs associated with our Society, including sufficient office
space, staff, Finance & Administration support, MIS support,
communications (including Datapac), legal, Symposia trade show,
Digital delegate costs and miscellaneous operational expenses
such as: printing, postage, duty, telephone and others.
When Digital Canada cannot provide enough office staff to support
our activities, we will allocate funds to hire additional staff.
RESERVE
We will maintain a reserve sufficient to cover all of one fiscal
year's essential operating expenses. When our reserve is low, we
will replenish it.
LANGUAGE
We will promote the exchange of information and publish official
documents in both official languages.
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From: k...@umbc.edu (Kurt Reisler)
Newsgroups: comp.org.decus
Subject: Joining DECUS Canada
Date: 3 Mar 1994 14:34:37 -0500
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I had a chance to talk with the Canadian leadership about this at the
AGM meeting last night. I have a copy of the membership application for
DECUS Canada, and will be posting an ASCII and PostScript versions of
the form to comp.org.decus. We (UNIX SIG) may also set them up on an
anonymous ftp site.
Have to get back to sessions.
Remember, just say NO to bylaw changes
--
Kurt Reisler (UNIX SIG Chair, DECUS US Chapter)
Captain, UNISIG International Luge Team
Only a guest at klr@.umbc.edu
Are creative spellings like a patentable life form?