There is no formal structure or hierarchy in EdLUG, there are volunteers that do certain tasks and fulfill roles so that subscribers can enjoy the benefits. There is no list of these volunteers and the work done often goes unnoticed, appreciation is not always stated on the mailing list. To aid discussion I have created a drawing showing a rough structure of what EdLUG is like at present.
In EdLUG there is no position of President or Chairperson; there is only the position of Penguin Wrangler. Penguin Wrangler is the title that aptly describes a position that holds no real authority but follows the concept of a herder of cats. There is an EdLUG Penguin Wrangler and she was elected by a show of hands at a meeting in the Holyrood Tavern at the same time as the EdLUG Secretary and Treasurer. The List Moderator and Librarian volunteered for the job and our DNS is paid for presently by one of our subscribers who used to live in Edinburgh but presently lives in Japan. Our Penguin Wrangler was elected but as far as I am aware she has never made a further appearance or contributed anything to EdLUG. I am not even sure that she is still a subscriber to the EdLUG Mailing list. I personally think that this is a good thing. I cannot think of many things that a Penguin Wrangler could say that would have more sway than the other subscribers to the list. I think this position should remain vacant because it emphasises the informal nature of the group.
EdLUG(Outreach) is a formal group and needs a structure with procedures and elected officers. It also needs to be a subgroup of EdLUG which, though independent with its own constitution, must ultimately report to and follow the wishes of EdLUG, focusing on its main task of promotion of Linux and Free and Open Source Software.
As we can see there are only three new positions. The Press Officer
who
is the contact person for the outside
world, the Bookkeeper who will oversee the bank transactions and the
Signatory who will be available to sign
banking forms if the Press Officer and Bookkeeper are unavailable.
These
three positions are in EdLUG(Outreach) the other positions are not.
Those that hold positions in EdLUG can hold a position in EdLUG
(Outreach) but they must be officially elected to do so.