<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
Dear UKTUG member,
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">UKTUG is still in
deep trouble, a month after the AGM. Some of the committee have
been
working hard. Others have not, sometimes for medical reasons. I’m
not the only one in that category.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">It’s my view that
UKTUG is in a kind of trouble that the committee cannot solve for
you. So I’m appealing to you the members to understand the
problem,
decide what you will contribute to the solution(s) and contact me
at <br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:chair@uktug.org.uk">chair@uktug.org.uk</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I suggest as
subject “Motion
4 Plan”, or “Motion 5 Dissolution” according to your offer<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>I should be
explicit, for members to work together, they will need to share
contact details. That is at least a name and email, more if you
choose. </p>
Obviously you need
some explanation and motivation.
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">What state is UKTUG
in?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">A benefit UKTUG
brings to members, is to supply DVD’s to members. DVD’s are
declining in popularity. It is predictable that DVD’s will be
uneconomic to produce in the next 5 years.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">UKTUG is no longer
a
forum by which TeX users exchange information, tips and TeXniques.
It
used to be a focus for that a decade ago. Today, TeX users will
turn
to StackExchange and perhaps other fora.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">For many years
TeXFAQ was run from the UK, from UKTUG even for much of that.
UKTUG
used to support the UK CTAN node. That node was absorbed into the
German CTAN node some years ago.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">UKTUG does hold
speaker meetings. Typically annually, in a single venue, and even
so,
the speakers outnumber the listeners. The speaker list is quite
predictable, and UKTUG is a cumbersome way to organise speaker
meetings. <br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Those two
activities
could be supported by a much lighter structure. The inactivities
need
no structure at all.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">UKTUG has about
£13000 cash assets that it is not spending. I understand that
there could be a concrete spending proposal. I hope it forms part
of the motion 4 plan, or is acted on quickly.</p>
<p>UKTUG no longer
fulfils its general aim of supporting TeX. It could be a member’s
club, but it should not pretend to represent TeX in the UK. I urge
that UKTUG set up a members’ club, source DVD’s for those members
who really want them, dispose of its physical assets, its data,
give
its remaining monetary assets to Dante who support TeXFaq &
CTAN
(former UKTUG activities) then dissolve.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Active motions of
UKTUG: What progress at and since the AGM?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">The AGM passed a
motion on fees, (motion 1) and a motion 7 that was contingent on
motion 6, which failed. So they are dealt with.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Motions 3,4,5 also
passed. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">3 asks the
committee
to demonstrate it can operate constitutionally</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">4 asks the
committee
to say how UKTUG will benefit the TeX community, the raison d’etre
of UKTUG.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">5 requires the
committee to call an SGM to dissolve UKTUG if positive responses
are
not provided to 3, and 4.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">What has happened
since the AGM a month ago?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">After the AGM, I am
convinced that the committee will be able to meet motion 3. As I
understand it, we have Chair Jay Hammond by election. Secretary,
Joseph Wright and Treasurer Jonathan Webley appointed at first
committee meeting. That fulfils the constitution. We also have a
number of ordinary committee members.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">We’ve decided to
take technical measures to sort out difficulties we are having
with
email and web addresses, and to revamp the website. I endorse the
Secretary’s desire to get that sorted out.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I know from the
AGM,
that there are members who would like UKTUG not to shut down at
all.
For you, please volunteer for a subcommittee to positively fulfil
motion 4. Because the 2018/19 committee was unable to agree to
formulate the rescue plan for about 8 months, I’m pretty sure that
the new committee on its own, will not be creating an effective
one
in two months. I did ask them to react to that idea. There was no
committee discussion. Just a few private emails. You, the members
might do better. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I think there is
going to be an SGM to discuss dissolution of UKTUG on February 16<sup>th</sup>
(or thereabouts). It will probably also be judging the viability
of
a forward plan, if such a plan exists. I’m sure that the plan will
need nearly two months to create. The Committee is obliged to give
notice of the SGM, and its motions. So the SGM will have to be set
in
train without the plan, and will have to be able to respond to a
plan
that is submitted after the SGM is announced. A suitable motion
will
have to be formulated.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I’d like any
dissolution to be orderly, protect the current interests of
members
and specify what to do with the assets of UKTUG in a
constitutional
manner. That will require some planning, and input from you the
members. And certain motions to be acted upon immediately before
UKTUG shuts down. For brevity, I won’t spell out the details here.
If this is your chosen option, please volunteer for the
dissolution
motions sub-committee. Your help is essential. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">I intend to offer
both subcommittees such help as I can manage. But I lack the
vision
and energy to contribute the solution(s) on my own.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">You the members can
possibly rescue UKTUG. I think it would be better for UKTUG to
reform
into a casual club, and be honest about what it can achieve. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Even with your
input, I’m not sure that UKTUG can resume its former activities,
let alone contribute to TeX in the UK. However, it certainly won’t
if, in the next two months there is no plan to benefit TeX. Your
help is essential, whatever the outcome.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Jay Hammond<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%">Please contact <br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:chair@uktug.org.uk">chair@uktug.org.uk</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%"><br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Email use <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jay@jjnr.uk">jay@jjnr.uk</a></pre>
</body>
</html>