Greetings all interested Linux persons, I took an impromptu opportunity this morning to do a casual survey of MMMGC to ask about the possibility of Albuquerque-based nmglug mailing list members having some meetings there. I spoke briefly to facility coordinator Tyler Dunn who asked me which Linux group I was talking about. Turns out NM Computer Society-Linux already meets there 2nd Thursdays 7:15-8:45 pm. Anyone already familiar with this group? If I remember correctly Tyler also said that either he was personally active in, or had at least attended meetings, himself. Tyler introduced me to Ed Cardona, MMMGC computer lab director, who gave me something of an overview of the needs and characteristics of established lab users. Much of it I frankly can't remember well as there were considerable distractions at hand, both in the facility, and between my ears. For instance, several machines had just been hit by viruses. But significant points are as follows: Previously limited access had recently been extended--solely by virtue of the continued presence and willingness of volunteer monitors--to the full range of MMMGC open hours (Ed listed these to me as 9-12 T,Th; 1-3 M,W; 9-3 F,Sat.) Availability of said hours might easily be torpedoed in the event of any sort of property mishap (theft, damage, sabotage, etc.) A lot of structured classes take place in the facility; other groups use it frequently. I think Ed also said there either was an ongoing Linux class affiliated with Sandia Lab employees or there had been at one time. Someone said they had often found Linux discs left behind in the drives. Point being that there are considerable competing needs for access to the very nice but limited computer resources. Aside from the lab there are also several (three, I think) classroom-size rooms, all of which? are furnished with a monitor and projector. I didn't tour the rooms, but from prior visits I remember lots of chairs and plenty of table space. We'd be encouraged to use these spaces if/when more appropriate than the computer lab. Also, as I remember it, there are two large lobbies with comfortable tables and chairs, public Wifi and a large dining/event area all of which are available for casual non-reserved use by small informal groups, excepting meal-serving and reserved/scheduled-event times. Ed mentioned too that he knew of another Linux group that meets at the Bear Canyon community center. He's going to send me the name and email address of the leader. I'm not really clear on whether this is a group or a taught class, but I gathered the impression it's a group similar to nmglug. Does anybody know about this group? Finally, I emailed Ed to state that I would try to gather assessments of or gage desire for actual use of the lab computers versus simpler and more available meeting/presentation/discussion/workspace, etc.--which I am hereby doing... Additionally,Tyler asked if, and I think--in my state of near complete ignorance--that it might also be appropriate to gage how much overlap and interest there is in possibly coordinating meetings with either or both of the other Linux groups mentioned above. How much, if anything, does anyone know or care about the NM Computer Society-Linux and the Bear Canyon Linux group? I can sort of guess and I imagine one or both have webpages, but for now I'll just put it out there in case there are other clueless Albuquerque newbies like myself who'd like to know what everybody else knows, or doesn't. Tom in Albuquerque