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On 11/16/1999, at 2:50 PM, David Eaton wrote:
> I'd have to agree for the most part with what's been said-- I'd like to • see
> NELUG cater to a wider audience... However, this is really where the • purpose of
> NELUG gets called into question.
I'll start off my saying that everything was very well said, Dave.
Although
I am still 2 1/3 years away from being considered an AFOL, I can see
why you wanted to set up AFOL group, partly because of circumstances
that I have mentioned previously. That is why I also suggested that if you
(NELUG) decide to allow some JrFOLs to become members, that you
only accept those who show maturity and understanding about the whole
reason behind this group, and most of those people are going to be over
13 years of age(I'm not saying that you can't have a muture 11yo or an
immature 17yo, just that in most cases that is what it's going to be)
> If we want a bunch of us to get together and talk about Lego (your • standard
> NELUG meeting so far)-- well, I don't want a bunch of young children • running
> around. In addition to that, children don't usually have a mode of
> transportation to get anywhere, and aren't allowed out late at night, • etc.
> Plus it would probably mean that if anything DID happen (accidental • injuries,
> etc., someone falls down the stairs at someone's house, whatever), I • DON'T want
> NELUG to be held responsible. Things like that get tricky when you're • dealing
> with minors.
If I were a member I would suggest that only those "children"(JrFOLs)
who are allowed to go to meetings are those who have run the gauntlet
so to speak and proved that they are mature enough to be part of the
group.
Also, if that JrFOL were to attend meetings, their should be the
requirement
that a parent accompany them to their first meeting and approve of all
that
goes on and sign a type of "release" form, if they do or don't plan to
stay
with their child, saying that they trust the members of the group and that
they accept all responsibility for what their child does and will not hold
any
member of NELUG resposnible for something that happens to the child(unless
done purposely).
> However, I don't think that's the sole purpose behind NELUG. Another • aspect of
> NELUG is informational. We have a mailing list (although not highly used • at the
> moment, now that the Mindfest has died down, etc) that gets sent out • informing
> our members of events in the area, etc, etc. Here, being a minor doesn't
> present a real problem. Sending out a newsletter via email (no addresses • or
> phone numbers being given out or anything) is pretty safe, I'd say. The • only
> possible problem that it might have would be irresponsible kids using the
> mailing list for trivial things... but that can be controlled, I'd say.
>
> The other big purpose to NELUG is to help sponsor larger events. We • haven't
> really done anything YET that's been strictly NELUG, but it's certainly • in our
> future (I hope). Here's where it can also get tricky. If we do something • like
> take a trip down to Enfield, it's probably similar to a "regular" • meeting--
> kids would need transportation, parental approval, and there are still
> liability issues... However, if we get a huge confrence room for a day • (or
> something like that) and decide to sponsor a building event, I think I'd • like
> to welcome kids... it's also something that parents probably wouldn't • mind
> attending, even, if it's only for a few hours-- and that helps address • the
> other problems... and to help with liability, etc, we could have an • application
> form for parents/guardians to sign with the appropriate legal • information.
> Doing that for things like trips to Enfield/Regular meetings seems like a • lot
> more effort, though-- more trouble than it's worth.
These are the two areas that I, myself, am most interested in. I want to
know what's happening in this part of the country and whose here, what
they think, etc. I'd also like to be included in events and be able to
help
out the group in any way possible even though I wouldn't be able to attend
the meetings. I believe that I saw on the site that Eric does minutes for
the
meetings?? If that is so, I would be able to get any important info
discussed
from that, and if I had any questions the mailing list would serve that
purpose,
correct?
Back to the day-trip idea. If you were to allow children to go, I would
make
it nescesary for a parent(or if they are unable, not unwilling, to go,
then have
them appoint a fellow parent, or member who they trust and who accepts
responsibility for that child).
> Hence, it's tricky. I'd LIKE to have younger audiences be able to use us • in the
> informational sense, but that even brings up problems. If a 9 year old • gets an
> email that there's a NELUG meeting, and doesn't understand that it's • going to
> be us mostly talking about lego, displaying models, etc., rather than • sitting
> down and building/playing games, etc., and s/he shows up to the meeting--
> well.. that's a problem.
>
> So the solution up until now has been to only have an adult audience, • with the
> intent to be to cater more to younger audiences when we are a larger • group.
> Hence it's been a "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it". And now • it
> looks like we've seen the first signs of that bridge, especially with all • the
> kids who saw us at the Mindfest, and potentially the ones who are seeing • our
> display at the Construction Site... But I'm still not sure what the best • way is
> to cross it yet.
>
> DaveE
I would suggest that younger JrFOLs CANNOT become members, only
those who are mature teens. You could have periodic events for the
younger children, but not "meetings" per say, where they can build and
the parents can converse with the real members who are putting this event
on.
I believe that Eric had mentioned in another thread that there is a
meeting
coming up in the next couple of weeks. I would highly suggest that this
topic be discussed. I openly say that I would like to be a member even
though
I would not really be active. By now you should know my reasons for
wanting
to be a member, and one last thing I suggest is that when you discuss
this topic at your next meeting also make it a point to consider this:
"A JrFOL fills out the form, which now has 13-18 on it. Eric recieves it,
and
then sends a message to the NELUG email list saying, 'John Doe, who is
14 has asked to become a member. He posts to Lugnet, please research
his posts and by next meeting decide whether you think he is mature enough
to become a member'. Then at the next meeting you all vote, share
opinions,
etc. and decide whether he should be allowed to be a member. If yes, then
he should be entitled to come to meetings, be involved in events, etc. If
no,
then he is still welcome to events, accompanied by a parent."
There, I think that is all I have to say for now.
Ryan
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: NELUG Turns 50!!
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| I'd have to agree for the most part with what's been said-- I'd like to see NELUG cater to a wider audience... However, this is really where the purpose of NELUG gets called into question. If we want a bunch of us to get together and talk about Lego (...) (25 years ago, 16-Nov-99, to lugnet.loc.us.me, lugnet.org.us, lugnet.loc.us.ma.bos)
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