The MLUG is a (to be) non-profit organization started by Ed Wiget in 2001. Anyone may participate and contribute. Our formal mission statement is simple, "Linux users helping linux users".

We would love to have you join us! We are currently on a membership drive. We have official members in many surrounding cities within the Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio area - membership is not limited to just Maysville. Membership is open to everyone, whether you know absolutely nothing about Linux, or you are an experienced Linux guru. Any way that you can contribute, even if its asking for help with a problem, makes this web site a better place for everyone!

We have an entire Frequently Asked Questions about MLUG Membership.

Go and grab a refreshment to enjoy while you browse our web site and check us out! Let us know how we can serve you!

Throughout the years, we have discussed becoming a "not for profit" entity. The reasons are pretty simple, we want to be able to help businesses, schools, and other non-profits within the community. However, as much as we want to be able to help, we always face several huge hurdles because we are not currently a 501(c)(3) business. Some of these hurdles include:

• Businesses who wish to make donations to us can not currently use those donations as a tax deducation. Some of the donations we ALMOST received were used, yet working, computers including workstations and servers that we could have passed on to other non-profit businesses or even schools or low income families
• The MLUG has very minimal operating funds - matter of fact, for more than 5 years the total cost of running the MLUG has been paid by a single individual due simply because of his love of the technologies and his commitment to the community. Some of these expenses have been - multiple domain name registrations for 6 years, web hosting, refreshments at meetings, the cost of producing and delivering cdroms of linux distributions to members, the cost of purchasing door prizes for members, and even the little things that make up a huge part of operating expenses such as paper, ink, and blank cdrom/dvd media, etc.
• Other organizations who provide funding for research, project development, etc will not provide these funds to non-501(c)(3) businesses
• It is practically impossible for us to get liability insurance without an operating expense - yet liability insurance is required for most/all of the places we have meetings
• Our growth is stiffled by a lack of funding - as other LUGS continue to grow, their growth is directly related to the services they offer their members. For example, a large LUG can pay nationally reknown Linux activists and guest speakers to give presentations at meetings, yet we can not afford to do so.
• Die-hard linux users in the area know about the MLUG from using a simple search engine, but the Linux users we need to deliver our messages to (such as businesses, schools, and other non-profits) are not aware of the things we do in the community because we have no advertising funds available
• many other things occur continuously

The MLUG goals are very simple.

To sum it all up:

• Advocacy
• Education
• Support
• Socializing

• To talk to others who have discovered Linux and other Open Source Software.
• To build a community of Linux users everywhere
• To share a combined experience to new users, or those struggling with a problem (providing support).
• To be open to everyone - We are experts and novices, professionals and hobbyists, young and old, commercial and residential users with various levels of Linux knowledge.
• To share our combined knowledge of Linux
• To advocate the use of Linux, but only to those who want to know about Linux. (without carping, i.e. we don't force linux use or condone those who use something else
• As a community, to serve as the "Central Headquarters" for Linux
• To educate others who wish to know more about Linux
• To provide corporate support to those who need it via consulting with businesses, non-profits, and schools
• To train workforces, administrators, linux consultants, and the everyday home or business user
• To provide documentation about Linux to other Linux users
• To be self-supportive
• To raise public awareness about Linux
• To become a non-profit entity - 501(c)(3)

The first and foremost way is to get enough money to become 501(c)(3). This requires a considerable amount of money when it has been researched in the past, and even more recently. We would gladly accept a donation from an attorney who could provide these services for us, but we have yet to find one. The current going rate is about $1,365.00 for a complete 501(c)(3) filing and all necessary paperwork, license fee's, etc. On top of that, we also need funding to hire some additional consultants. More specifically, someone who can do our accounting audits and file our taxes.

On top of that, only a small portion of membership fees, product sales, and services goes into the MLUG operating fund. The reason is simple, with each type of membership, there are items that members receive. We have to pay for those items and shipping those items to those members. For services, we have to pay a salary to technicians, consultants, etc (unless they are going to volunteer their time). For products, we have to pay for the product and also pay the shipping to the customer out of the product purchase price.

If we really wanted to set a realistic goal, we need about $2,500 - $3,500 just to get the ball rolling, then we need a regular income to keep the ball rolling during the first few years.

The MLUG has just officially started offering MLUG appareal in March 2006 and paid memberships, products, and services in May 2006. At the present time (May 31, 2006), we have collected a total of $20 donation from Danny Boyd and 1 Paid membership fee (from me) for a grand total of $34.50

• If you are not already a member, become an active member by registering on this web site. Active membership is free.
• Consider becoming a premium member or lifetime member if the MLUG suits your needs
• Purchase MLUG apparel and show your support! Also, MLUG apparel helps us to advertise to others.
• Help us spread the word. You can do that by adding our image to your web site with a link to us, i.e.
  
  
  
  
• Tell your friends about linux - or even show them your own computer
• Post messages in public forums about the MLUG
• Tell businesses or individuals about the types of products and services we offer
• Make a donation via paypal to donations@maysville-linux-users-group.org
• Volunteer - if you are an attorney or know of an attorney who can get us 501(c)(3) for free, or a much lower rate, then please offer to volunteer your services to us
• Volunteer - If you are a CPA who can volunteer your time, or you know a CPA who can volunteer their time, please contact us and offer your services
• Volunteer - if you are an individual who has skills in Windows, Linux, or Macintosh computers, or who has skills in Databases, Accounting, Programming, Teaching, Writing Documentation or Articles, Graphics, etc....you can also volunteer your time.