- SFD-discuss - lists.mailman3.com

Re: [SFD-discuss] Software Freedom Day in Melbourne, AU

by Pockey Lam

Dear Lev, After checking the registration entries, you clicked on the box of "No" when the form asked you if you want to receive any team pack, so you never gave any shipping address. If you want to receive team pack next year, please pay attention and click "yes" as well as inputing your mail address. We will be definitely happy to send you your team pack :) Regards, Pockey On 09/24/2012 12:20 PM, Lev Lafayette wrote: > Hi Pockey, > >> Thanks for the updates! Would you please give me the name of the >> receiver so I can track your team pack for you. > May as well be me :) > > Lev Lafayette > 169 Wiltshire Drive > Kew, Victoria, 3101 > AUSTRALIA > > Best wishes, >

Sept. 24, 2012

Re: [SFD-discuss] SFD 2012 for Mufulira, Zambia

by Pockey Lam

Dear Misheck, Do you have any local community e.g. Linux User Group or non profit organization related to e.g. education in your city so you can talk to them to help with the computers donation? As the president and member of the Beijing Linux User Group, we used to gather old computers donated by companies, embassies and schools and then installed Linux and FOSS apps afterwards send them to those who need in Beijing. It would definitely be easier to ask for help from the local communities. Regards, Pockey On 09/23/2012 02:24 AM, misheck mutuzana wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > This year we did not participate in the SFD activities. The place or > venue we wanted to use for demonstration purpose with hands on > practice with the community was fully utilised by the owners. The > community here understands better when a demonstration is been done. > We are therefore asking for anyone in this community to donate some > computers so that we can have our own place where the community can > betaught with open source application programs. It seems a lot of > people are used to the proprietary software. > > We want to make a difference in the community of Mufulira, Zambia. > > Looking forward to hearing from you soonest. > > Regards > Misheck Mutuzana > Email: mutuzana(a)yahoo.com, mutuzana(a)gmail.com > <mailto:mutuzana@yahoo.com,%20mutuzana@gmail.com> > http://wikieducator.org/User:Mutuzana > Skype: misheckmutuzana > Twitter: mutuzana > > +260 955-418926 /966-418926/977-418926 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* "sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org" <sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org> > *To:* sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org > *Sent:* Saturday, September 22, 2012 2:00 PM > *Subject:* SFD-discuss Digest, Vol 64, Issue 29 > > Send SFD-discuss mailing list submissions to > sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org <mailto:sfd-discuss@sf-day.org> > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org <mailto:sfd-discuss-request@sf-day.org> > > You can reach the person managing the list at > sfd-discuss-owner(a)sf-day.org <mailto:sfd-discuss-owner@sf-day.org> > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of SFD-discuss digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Montreal/Quebec city report (Canada) for SFD 2012 > (Fabian Rodriguez) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:20:58 -0400 > From: Fabian Rodriguez <magicfab(a)member.fsf.org > <mailto:magicfab@member.fsf.org>> > Subject: [SFD-discuss] Montreal/Quebec city report (Canada) for SFD > 2012 > To: sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org <mailto:sfd-discuss@sf-day.org> > Cc: libreplanet-ca-qc(a)libreplanet.org > <mailto:libreplanet-ca-qc@libreplanet.org> > Message-ID: <505C69BA.7060200(a)member.fsf.org > <mailto:505C69BA.7060200@member.fsf.org>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > (BCC: Gabriel Cossette, SFD 2012 organizer in Quebec city / CC: > LibrePlanet QC mailing list) > > Hello, > > This year we had exceptionally low participation at SFD 2012 in Montreal > and Quebec city. > > In Montreal we had a full day of activities on Friday Sept. 14: > http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Montreal/LPQC > > In Quebec we had a smaller event, "happy hour" in a bar on Saturday, > Sept. 15: > http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Quebec/LinuQ > > I was leading the Montreal event while another free software activist > here, Gabriel Cossette was leading the Quebec city event. This was > advertised only a couple of weeks before the events, although it's not > unusual in our context (lots of events in Quebec, last-minute volunteer > organization). > > In Montreal very few showed up, two were presenters. One of them was a > blind, long-time GNU/Linux user. Instead of following the schedule we > made the best of our time, trying to liberate an Android phone, testing > Trisquel for accessibility, testing new USB keys I had created with > multisystem (http://liveusb.info/dotclear/) and generally talking about > community reinforcement and advocacy ( a new local Mozilla community is > coming up ). The venue for Montreal was graciously offered by the > /Consulado General de la Rep?blica Bolivariana de Venezuela en > Montreal//,/ they have a beautiful place equiped with multimedia > equipment and Internet. While a bit disappointing in attendance, low > numbers meant we had lots of time to discuss one-on-one and experiment / > test / exchange. > > On the positive side, I reviewed past year's communications, updated a > few wiki resources, and kept open that important contact for the venue - > free (as in beer), "compatible" venues for free open source software > events are not easily found. > > In Quebec city something similar happened. I am told by Gabriel their > meetup there started at 6 PM and lasted until 11PM, lots of informal > discussion and exchanges: few people showed up but a great time was had :) > > I blame the low turn out on lack of proper planning beforehand - but > specifically on my choice of Friday for the main event. The venue we had > available for Montreal on such short notice was only available on Friday > so I took a bet (and lost). The Quebec event wasn't coordinated with > Montreal's - although I know Gabriel well the usual cooperation didn't > happen. We missed the deadline for registrations too so promo material > wasn't available other than what I produced on my own. > > This serves as a reminder we can't improvise, and we also need to > coordinate better events between different locations. Last year we had > prepared for over a month and the event was on a Saturday, very > different (great) results. Keeping all the above in mind, I hope I ( or > anyone else doing this in Quebec province next year) can avoid such > mistakes for next year. > > tldr; lack of preparation and coordination resulted in low turnout, > hopefully we learn from this and nail it next year > > Happy Hacking, > > Fabi?n Rodr?guez > http://fsf.magicfab.ca <http://fsf.magicfab.ca/> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: PGP/Mime available upon request > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://www.enigmail.net/ > > iEYEARECAAYFAlBcabYACgkQfUcTXFrypNVjUgCg1UUfQB/fRHDL+ylwR3HZyiml > y+AAoMjBXSSPtW6zU01jYEPXWZ95a5XK > =zBhG > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > >

Sept. 24, 2012

Re: [SFD-discuss] SFD team packs a little late to Tasmania

by Pockey Lam

Dear Josh, Thanks for your update and comment. The banners were folded by the supplier and unfortunately it seems that they were folded before the ink could dry. We will definitely pay more attention next year. Regards, Pockey On 09/24/2012 10:15 AM, Josh (Cheese) Bush wrote: > Hi all > > Our SFI package showed up today (Monday 24th of September). Thankfully everything looks great, (with the exception of the banner), is reusable, and will be of value next year, but I thought I'd give some feedback in the hopes it might help for future mailouts :) > > In the interests of keeping positive, I'm thinking of it as being a year early than a week late. > > > On a side note, the banner print was had gone a bit sticky and came away from the vinyl in places as I unfolded it - something I've seen happen with 2011 banners as well. Not sure if this is a process issue or something that happens during shipping, but it's a bit disappointing to see such a nice banner damaged before I could show it off. > > Cheese > > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss >

Sept. 24, 2012

Software Freedom Day in Melbourne, AU

by Lev Lafayette

Software Freedom Day in Melbourne, AU Software freedom day was held in Melbourne with a series of lectures, a games room operated by Free Software Melbourne, 3D printer demonstration courtesy of the Melbourne Community Hackerspace, movies (Revolution OS, FreeBSD, Hope Conference '94), stalls from the Free Software Foundation, Raspberry Jam, One Laptop per Child, and Linux Users of Victoria, along with a free lunch with open sauce. About eighty-five people turned up during the day, with a height of around 75 just before noon. The day was opened by Dr. Alison Parkes, a lecturer from the University of Melbourne and candidate for Lord Mayor. Other speakers included Lev Lafayette on free software and business logic, Chris Samuel, from the Victorian Life Sciences Initiative discussing, "Free Software in Supercomputers and Science", Tony Forster from OLPC discussing that project, Alec Clews on the Raspberry Pi, Andy Gleme on 3D printing technologies, Daniel Jitnah on free software in the education sector, and Andrew Pam from Electronic Frontiers Australia on data retention legislation. (Next year we'll get our team together in time and actually receive the SFD pack - that's twice we've missed out!) All the best, -- Lev Lafayette, mobile: 0432 255 208 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

Sept. 24, 2012

SFD team packs a little late to Tasmania

by Josh (Cheese) Bush

Hi all Our SFI package showed up today (Monday 24th of September). Thankfully everything looks great, (with the exception of the banner), is reusable, and will be of value next year, but I thought I'd give some feedback in the hopes it might help for future mailouts :) In the interests of keeping positive, I'm thinking of it as being a year early than a week late. On a side note, the banner print was had gone a bit sticky and came away from the vinyl in places as I unfolded it - something I've seen happen with 2011 banners as well. Not sure if this is a process issue or something that happens during shipping, but it's a bit disappointing to see such a nice banner damaged before I could show it off. Cheese

Sept. 24, 2012

SFD 2012 for Mufulira, Zambia

by misheck mutuzana

Dear Colleagues, This year we did not participate in the SFD activities. The place or venue we wanted to use for demonstration purpose with hands on practice with the community was fully utilised by the owners. The community here understands better when a demonstration is been done. We are therefore asking for anyone in this community to donate some computers so that we can have our own place where the community can betaught with open source application programs. It seems a lot of people are used to the proprietary software. We want to make a difference in the community of Mufulira, Zambia. Looking forward to hearing from you soonest. Regards Misheck Mutuzana Email: mutuzana(a)yahoo.com, mutuzana(a)gmail.com http://wikieducator.org/User:Mutuzana Skype: misheckmutuzana Twitter: mutuzana +260 955-418926 /966-418926/977-418926 ________________________________ From: "sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org" <sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org> To: sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 2:00 PM Subject: SFD-discuss Digest, Vol 64, Issue 29 Send SFD-discuss mailing list submissions to sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to sfd-discuss-request(a)sf-day.org You can reach the person managing the list at sfd-discuss-owner(a)sf-day.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of SFD-discuss digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Montreal/Quebec city report (Canada) for SFD 2012 (Fabian Rodriguez) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:20:58 -0400 From: Fabian Rodriguez <magicfab(a)member.fsf.org> Subject: [SFD-discuss] Montreal/Quebec city report (Canada) for SFD 2012 To: sfd-discuss(a)sf-day.org Cc: libreplanet-ca-qc(a)libreplanet.org Message-ID: <505C69BA.7060200(a)member.fsf.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 (BCC: Gabriel Cossette, SFD 2012 organizer in Quebec city / CC: LibrePlanet QC mailing list) Hello, This year we had exceptionally low participation at SFD 2012 in Montreal and Quebec city. In Montreal we had a full day of activities on Friday Sept. 14: http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Montreal/LPQC In Quebec we had a smaller event, "happy hour" in a bar on Saturday, Sept. 15: http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Quebec/LinuQ I was leading the Montreal event while another free software activist here, Gabriel Cossette was leading the Quebec city event. This was advertised only a couple of weeks before the events, although it's not unusual in our context (lots of events in Quebec, last-minute volunteer organization). In Montreal very few showed up, two were presenters. One of them was a blind, long-time GNU/Linux user. Instead of following the schedule we made the best of our time, trying to liberate an Android phone, testing Trisquel for accessibility, testing new USB keys I had created with multisystem (http://liveusb.info/dotclear/) and generally talking about community reinforcement and advocacy ( a new local Mozilla community is coming up ). The venue for Montreal was graciously offered by the /Consulado General de la Rep?blica Bolivariana de Venezuela en Montreal//,/ they have a beautiful place equiped with multimedia equipment and Internet. While a bit disappointing in attendance, low numbers meant we had lots of time to discuss one-on-one and experiment / test / exchange. On the positive side, I reviewed past year's communications, updated a few wiki resources, and kept open that important contact for the venue - free (as in beer), "compatible" venues for free open source software events are not easily found. In Quebec city something similar happened. I am told by Gabriel their meetup there started at 6 PM and lasted until 11PM, lots of informal discussion and exchanges: few people showed up but a great time was had :) I blame the low turn out on lack of proper planning beforehand - but specifically on my choice of Friday for the main event. The venue we had available for Montreal on such short notice was only available on Friday so I took a bet (and lost). The Quebec event wasn't coordinated with Montreal's - although I know Gabriel well the usual cooperation didn't happen. We missed the deadline for registrations too so promo material wasn't available other than what I produced on my own. This serves as a reminder we can't improvise, and we also need to coordinate better events between different locations. Last year we had prepared for over a month and the event was on a Saturday, very different (great) results. Keeping all the above in mind, I hope I ( or anyone else doing this in Quebec province next year) can avoid such mistakes for next year. tldr; lack of preparation and coordination resulted in low turnout, hopefully we learn from this and nail it next year Happy Hacking, Fabi?n Rodr?guez http://fsf.magicfab.ca -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux) Comment: PGP/Mime available upon request Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://www.enigmail.net/ iEYEARECAAYFAlBcabYACgkQfUcTXFrypNVjUgCg1UUfQB/fRHDL+ylwR3HZyiml y+AAoMjBXSSPtW6zU01jYEPXWZ95a5XK =zBhG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Sept. 22, 2012

Montreal/Quebec city report (Canada) for SFD 2012

by Fabian Rodriguez

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 (BCC: Gabriel Cossette, SFD 2012 organizer in Quebec city / CC: LibrePlanet QC mailing list) Hello, This year we had exceptionally low participation at SFD 2012 in Montreal and Quebec city. In Montreal we had a full day of activities on Friday Sept. 14: http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Montreal/LPQC In Quebec we had a smaller event, "happy hour" in a bar on Saturday, Sept. 15: http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2012/Canada/Quebec/LinuQ I was leading the Montreal event while another free software activist here, Gabriel Cossette was leading the Quebec city event. This was advertised only a couple of weeks before the events, although it's not unusual in our context (lots of events in Quebec, last-minute volunteer organization). In Montreal very few showed up, two were presenters. One of them was a blind, long-time GNU/Linux user. Instead of following the schedule we made the best of our time, trying to liberate an Android phone, testing Trisquel for accessibility, testing new USB keys I had created with multisystem (http://liveusb.info/dotclear/) and generally talking about community reinforcement and advocacy ( a new local Mozilla community is coming up ). The venue for Montreal was graciously offered by the /Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Montreal//,/ they have a beautiful place equiped with multimedia equipment and Internet. While a bit disappointing in attendance, low numbers meant we had lots of time to discuss one-on-one and experiment / test / exchange. On the positive side, I reviewed past year's communications, updated a few wiki resources, and kept open that important contact for the venue - free (as in beer), "compatible" venues for free open source software events are not easily found. In Quebec city something similar happened. I am told by Gabriel their meetup there started at 6 PM and lasted until 11PM, lots of informal discussion and exchanges: few people showed up but a great time was had :) I blame the low turn out on lack of proper planning beforehand - but specifically on my choice of Friday for the main event. The venue we had available for Montreal on such short notice was only available on Friday so I took a bet (and lost). The Quebec event wasn't coordinated with Montreal's - although I know Gabriel well the usual cooperation didn't happen. We missed the deadline for registrations too so promo material wasn't available other than what I produced on my own. This serves as a reminder we can't improvise, and we also need to coordinate better events between different locations. Last year we had prepared for over a month and the event was on a Saturday, very different (great) results. Keeping all the above in mind, I hope I ( or anyone else doing this in Quebec province next year) can avoid such mistakes for next year. tldr; lack of preparation and coordination resulted in low turnout, hopefully we learn from this and nail it next year Happy Hacking, Fabián Rodríguez http://fsf.magicfab.ca -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux) Comment: PGP/Mime available upon request Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://www.enigmail.net/ iEYEARECAAYFAlBcabYACgkQfUcTXFrypNVjUgCg1UUfQB/fRHDL+ylwR3HZyiml y+AAoMjBXSSPtW6zU01jYEPXWZ95a5XK =zBhG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Sept. 21, 2012

Re: [SFD-discuss] Now that it is over (not for all of us)

by Marcos Marado

Hi there, On Thursday 20 September 2012 15:21:43 mike bader wrote: > Well we came into this a bit late. > Missed getting the kit and had about a week to do this. > So time and manpower was, and still is a bit limited. > We are just starting up and do not have a large membership or dues etc. > The economy in Michigan/Detroit MI is severely down. > I assume that is why we were the only one in Michigan to have an event. > And other local computer groups I approached did not join in. > (many which I am also a member). > Our group is all volunteer. > It was the effort of two people to get this done. > A few others helped a little as the event got closer. > We have all of these goals you mentioned. > My idea was to keep it free and not charge but ask for donations. > That did not work. > We will start earlier next year and hope to have a lot of these points > covered. > Growing membership, getting sponsors and local support. > It would be nice to have a budget to set :-) Starting low may be a good option. If you decide to make a "social event" (you know: food and drinks and talk...) you can gather a nice number of folks in a public place (a bar, a restaurant?) in which each attendant pays whatever he drinks or eats, and so you end up with an event with budget 0, and still build a community. Everything is possible, as long as you have the imagination to do it! Also: while local computer groups didn't join in, maybe some of them would let use their space for an event, or use their resources (a projector, computers, tables and chairs... whatever they have). Even if you don't find monetary sponsors, you might find sponsorship in other ways (the place where SFD Lisbon was in 2012 "sponsored" us power plugs, the place where SFD Lisbon was last year "sponsored" us their space in exclusivity for the day, ...). > > We are lucky enough to have enough of them, even if some are > > rather cheap and would never give money to any other events than their > > own. One of the important aspect of this is to build relationships over > > time and not only contacting them for money. True enough: in SFD Lisbon 2011 we were publicly asking for finantial sponsors and also privately, directed to some companies and entities. One of the entities we contacted is an "Open Source Companies Association", which we invited to both give a talk and (seperately) to sponsor. They did a talk and didn't sponsor, but on the other hand one of associated companies found out about that sponsoring possibility from that contact, and ended up finantially sponsoring us. > > Of course as I mentioned previously on this mailing list you can always > > find local sponsors who are not in the tech industry but who will > > happily support you because they are interested in your demographics. > > You just need to highlight those to them, look like "puss in boots" when > > asking and usually that does the trick. Yeah: the space we got for SFD 2011 has everything to do with culture, but nothing to do with software. We asked them 'cause we like the place: asking a lot usually brings us results. In other events we have contacted, for instance, a company that does all kinds of printing - nothing to do with technology, but they did offer us the events' t-shirts, which kind of worked for them too - a way to let new people know that they exist and print stuff and you might one day need those kinds of services and remembering them... -- Marcos Marado

Sept. 20, 2012

Re: [SFD-discuss] Now that it is over (not for all of us)

by mike bader

Well we came into this a bit late. Missed getting the kit and had about a week to do this. So time and manpower was, and still is a bit limited. We are just starting up and do not have a large membership or dues etc. The economy in Michigan/Detroit MI is severely down. I assume that is why we were the only one in Michigan to have an event. And other local computer groups I approached did not join in. (many which I am also a member). Our group is all volunteer. It was the effort of two people to get this done. A few others helped a little as the event got closer. We have all of these goals you mentioned. My idea was to keep it free and not charge but ask for donations. That did not work. We will start earlier next year and hope to have a lot of these points covered. Growing membership, getting sponsors and local support. It would be nice to have a budget to set :-) thanks mike bader On 9/20/2012 1:30 AM, Frederic Muller - DFI wrote: > Dear all, > > I'm forwarding an email I received to the group as it specifically asks > about what others do: > > [quote] > We are debriefing and planning for next year. > We did not charge for admission, food, drinks, media or anything. > We lost our shirt :-) > I know computer people are cheap. > But we can't afford this kind of loss. > We asked for donations, it was pitiful. > > What do other groups do? > [/quote] > > While this is covered in the SFD StartUp guide here [1] and talks about > all the options maybe some of us can extend on the topic. In Beijing SFD > events tend to be larger than most other things we organize and > therefore we seek sponsorship from existing FOSS companies present in > our area. We are lucky enough to have enough of them, even if some are > rather cheap and would never give money to any other events than their > own. One of the important aspect of this is to build relationships over > time and not only contacting them for money. Your group has probably > other events where it is worth inviting them to participate and/or to > present what they are doing. Likewise you can also forward job offers > when they have some, thus helping both parties. > > For smaller events we tend to ask our own members for funding. Again > this is split into two different solution, where in both cases as > mentioned in the StartGuide we set a budget first. In both cases you > publish the budget and decide either to let people finance as they wish > (some with give $100 while others nothing) or split the cost among the > participants (you usually need to either do RSVP or "guesstimate" how > many people will attend). > > Of course as I mentioned previously on this mailing list you can always > find local sponsors who are not in the tech industry but who will > happily support you because they are interested in your demographics. > You just need to highlight those to them, look like "puss in boots" when > asking and usually that does the trick. > > So if you have similar or different experiences please go ahead and > share them with us. We could definitely extend the StartGuide and make > it more like a case study section on this topic. > > Thanks. > > Fred > > > [1] http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/StartGuide#Budgeting > > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list > SFD-discuss(a)sf-day.org > http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss >

Sept. 20, 2012

Now that it is over (not for all of us)

by Frederic Muller - DFI

Dear all, I'm forwarding an email I received to the group as it specifically asks about what others do: [quote] We are debriefing and planning for next year. We did not charge for admission, food, drinks, media or anything. We lost our shirt :-) I know computer people are cheap. But we can't afford this kind of loss. We asked for donations, it was pitiful. What do other groups do? [/quote] While this is covered in the SFD StartUp guide here [1] and talks about all the options maybe some of us can extend on the topic. In Beijing SFD events tend to be larger than most other things we organize and therefore we seek sponsorship from existing FOSS companies present in our area. We are lucky enough to have enough of them, even if some are rather cheap and would never give money to any other events than their own. One of the important aspect of this is to build relationships over time and not only contacting them for money. Your group has probably other events where it is worth inviting them to participate and/or to present what they are doing. Likewise you can also forward job offers when they have some, thus helping both parties. For smaller events we tend to ask our own members for funding. Again this is split into two different solution, where in both cases as mentioned in the StartGuide we set a budget first. In both cases you publish the budget and decide either to let people finance as they wish (some with give $100 while others nothing) or split the cost among the participants (you usually need to either do RSVP or "guesstimate" how many people will attend). Of course as I mentioned previously on this mailing list you can always find local sponsors who are not in the tech industry but who will happily support you because they are interested in your demographics. You just need to highlight those to them, look like "puss in boots" when asking and usually that does the trick. So if you have similar or different experiences please go ahead and share them with us. We could definitely extend the StartGuide and make it more like a case study section on this topic. Thanks. Fred [1] http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/StartGuide#Budgeting

Sept. 20, 2012