Houston area group?

[Heliox]

Has anyone started a Houston area group? Or Interested in starting one?

[SpaceCow]

ill be back from UT Dallas during december and during the summer, interested in doing something when im away from our club up here at the university.

[Heliox]

:/ I've got more organizations I'm involved in than I can shake a stick at. I was kindof hoping to get enough interest in a Houston area group to have someone else start one so I could show up to the meetings periodically rather than having to show up every time to 'make' the meeting.

I'd be happy to meet up with you at some point in December when I'm not travelling for work. I might also be able to get a couple of others to show. With your experience at the UTD group, you might be able to encourage additional activity down here.

When do you think you'll be in Houston?

[dougfarre]

I am also from the UT Dallas Lock Picking Club... It is important to realize that in order to have a successful organization, there needs to be a recognized leadership staff willing to put forth the time and effort. Its not easy starting and maintaining a chapter of LSI. At first, with a club that lacks adequate leadership, it will just be a bunch of guys that show up for the meetings every week to hang out and maybe pick a few locks. That attitude might work for a little while, but eventually people will become disinterested. You need structure and a competitive attitude in order to maintain a successful chapter of LSI. Dan (Space Cow) and I would be happy to help start up a chapter in Houston, but only if there was a prominent leadership establishment among those who are interested.
-Doug

[Heliox]

I'm familiar with what it takes to keep a healthy volunteer organization running, Most of what I'm looking for is some people with energy, but lacking that, discussions with someone experienced with lockpicking organizations would be quite helpful. Lack of leadership is what has threatened to kill several organizations I've been involved with. (embezzelment too) but a lack of proper direction is more dangerous. Most people I know would be happy to just show up periodically rather than lead an organization, but they have friends and by generating interest in the concept with a solid goal in mind or at least somethign to emulate will help keep the group together long enough for leadership to form on it's own. It doesn't always work out, but I hope to find enough people to hit critical mass which was my original purpose for posting.

I have some other questions that I'll send up to the LSI guys when I'm less busy at work.

[dougfarre]

Post some of your ideas here... Maybe I can answer a few of your questions? Personally, I feel that lp101 could accelerate the process of establishing new LSI chapters by concentrating more rhe promotion of location based relationships among the lp101 community. So far, from what I have seen, there is no way to pinpoint other community members in your area without shifting through hundreds of threads. After the virtual relationship is established, it could be relatively simple to set up a meeting time and meet with the other interested members. Establishing leadership after this point would be relatively simple, you just have to get people excited about the idea first. You might have to be the one to take the initiative to get the first few meetings scheduled, then you can hand over the responsibilities to your newly elected leadership, and become a regular member.

[digital_blue]

Those are good points Doug. That was kinda the idea behind having the Locksport Local forum on the site. There are certainly a number of people on the site that would not be interested in being part of a local club, so having this area allows members who are to connect up with others.

db

[Heliox]

I'll get some questions together and start a new thread then (for easier searching). Thanks