Re: AUGD: Ethical Question
Re: AUGD: Ethical Question
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Ethical Question
- From: "Chuck Joiner" <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:11:26 -0500
>
>The question is; do you have businesses that attend your meeting, and
>if so, have you set up rules, or guidelines for how those businesses
>can conduct, or solicit business?
Hi John,
It seems that so many MUGs have people in their leadership roles that
also have some sort of Mac-related business. The fact that you're even
asking the question is a very good thing. If you don't set up some kind
of understood-by-all guideline, you run the risk of driving out those
people because they don't want to give away what they charge for.
The rule of thumb that our group adopted is that if a problem or
question can be answered in a couple minutes, **at a meeting,** it was
both reasonable and appropriate, given the sharing environment of a user
group.
The business folks felt comfortable with this since it let them
participate and show off their skills and expertise to potential
customers, but it didn't cannibalize their business.
The members came to understand that certain levels of support,
instruction and service have to be paid for, and appropriately so.
(Yes, some had to be "educated" the hard way, but after it was carefully
explained to them, they agreed.)
The biggest key to making it work is communicating both views to both sides.
Guess the bottom line is that whatever works for both your members and
doesn't alienate those who do what they do for a living is the right mix.
---Chuck
_____________
Chuck Joiner
Editor-In-Chief
The MUG Center
http://www.mugcenter.com
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