The Internet shrinking the world has made LUGs less necessary I guess, but I think there's still room for them. With Linux becoming more user friendly, I would think that would open the doors to a wider variety of topics that can be covered. I'm not sure if Installfests are all that necessary anymore, but they are still happening here in Boston so I assume there are still people well served by them.
The beauty of Linux UGs is that you can gear them towards different crowds. The beginning desktop user and the 'power' users (for lack of a better term). I for one would love to go to a meeting covering Systemd and creating RPMs for instance.

It's all caused by the presence of the forums.

The public library system in my neck of the woods uses Linux (of the Mint variety now) almost exclusively, excepting a few Windows 7 boxes, but a library that employs Linux does not a LUG make.

I've sought out other users, but nothing has come together. Perhaps the expanding nature of Linux distributions and the
proliferation of readily available Linux aids online is the reason for the seeming decline of LUG.

Regardless, I'm still interested in forming one, if I can't find one.

I looked up ctlug, but I could only find Central Texas LUG. Is that the one you're talking about? Or is it in Connecticut? If it's in Connecticut, could you send me a link their website/webpage?

@ Mr. Macintosh, the last post was just short of 3yrs ago,,, kinda gives the impression that LUGS are disappearing

Unfortunately, this is true.

In the last city I was living in I stopped going to the LUG because over 10 years ago, It was mainly burnout mainframe guys who were only interested in talking about hardware. The folks running it were only interested in furthering their careers and it was hard to get questions answered on the mailing listso I gave up.

In the city I'm living in now, I went a few years ago and there was a great presentation, however the turnout was so disappointing, that I thought why bother, I'll just stick with online forums.

Other LUGs could learn from that by having some sort of ballot system where members choose what they want to talk about. You could have multiple choice ballots or a write-in system where everybody just gets a blank piece of paper and they write on it what they want to talk about. I've never actually attended a LUG (there isn't one in my area), but I expect one problem is that a small percentage of members might give presentations or speeches, which could be rectified by having people present their own topics - the person who suggests a topic is the one who gives a speech or presentation on it.

Those problems could be fixed by having members elect leaders/administrators.

This was over 10 years ago, so I have to think about it.

Some of the members thought about about calling for electing new leaders, however one of the top members had ties to a "non-profit" which acquired space that allow us a Linux computer lab with a projector and white board. The thinking was if we elected a new members, then we would lose that space, so the status quo was maintained.

Oh, okay.Yeah, that is a tough situation.