MESSAGE
| DATE | 2001-10-24 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] NYLXS Starting Agenda
|
Hello all:
Yesterdays 1st meeting of NYLXS drew a nice crowd, more than my
expectation, which resulted in a number of unfinished points being made.
I thought the meeting was very productive, in that it served it's purpose
as a coming out and getting to know you affair.
First, I hope that we can get Sunny's notes of the meeting on line
quickly, but until then let me cover a little bit of ground, hopefully
to ease us into our next meeting, and to develop a sound foundation for
the next meeting.
Let me put out upon Ruth's request, the goals that I envision for NYLXS,
so that everyone has a chance to openly comment on them and revise them.
As you're aware, I've said repeatedly, that I do not want NYLXS to become
a LUG, in the tradition sense, of being driven by a dog and pony show,
free meetings, and minimal commitment on 'membership'.
NYLXS is to have a clearly defined membership from which it derives it's
Democratic authority from. It exists first, and primarily to servce the
free software needs of it's membership, within the confines of approved
chater activities.
This is my list of goals for NYLXS, some more easily obtainable than
others.
1 - NYLXS is to support Leadership Development in the Open Source
community. Leadership development includes technical development,
personal development, and political development. In a world, NYLXS
needs to develop a steady stream of excellent Free Software citizens.
2 - Training - NYLXS is to develop training programs for both membership
and the public. Some space has already been made available in this
regard. More should be developed. There are two aspects to training.
One is that we want to have traditional training for membership, such
as one might obtain in a classroom setting. And we would like to extend
such training to the virtual classroom, and with one line workshops.
But secondly, we should develop training with which we can leverage for
fundraising and for support of the Linux/OS users as a whole, in business
and education. Modeled on typical corporate training, we need to develop
proficiency in training OTHERS in the use of the Desktop enviorment, Star
Office, Applixware, evolution, the gimp, etc. Ideally we can be the first
source for training in businesses and organizations. they needs such a
support mechanism in order to adopt Linux broadly and on the Desktop.
Greater adaptation of Linux in business and education is a major goal
of NYLXS. I'm hoping we can work with with the new desktop Linux Users
Group in support of this goal.
3 - Education - The adoption of Free Software by the educational system,
the NYC Board of Ed, CUNY, and SUNY, and public libraries,is slower
than we would like to see. The true disadvantage of using proprietary
software in education is not easy to see by educators and administrators.
There are a number of reasons for this. And I will skip over them at
this point. Others are more informed than myself on this issue, and
can speak clearer on the topic. However, we can do several things for
schools to help enhance the adoption rates. These include tech support,
petitioning, and networking. Current efforts to get free software into
schools have been admirable. I would like us to organize this a little
more by having an online tech support ticketing system. This would
allow educators to request technical support, and log in an open way our
commitment to resolving technical issues in our educational instiutions.
And a large write up of the benefits of free software in schools is
also planned for the the nylxs site, a case report, as you will.
And we will develop some marketing material as well. :) We can also
have a team of tech support people for schools, and liaisons between
NYLXS and the educational system.
4 - Installfeasts.. Oh what fun these things are. I have come to learn
I can install any Free Software or Open Source software with sufficient
scotch.
Next install feast is in Brooklyn, in two weeks on a Sunday, November
11th, 3PM to 10PM, at 1600 East 17th street.
5 - Lobbying. Free Software can exist only long as it is legally
protected. I know this seems strange, but indeed, this IS the case.
Congress is being constantly lobbied by industry, especially publishers,
to legally end garage shop computing and hot-rod operating systems.
And strangely enough, the majority of the pressure to stop the Free-OS
is not Microsoft, but the MPAA and RIAA.
Large companies and and entire industries, such as the American
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of America, spend huge amounts
of money and time lobbying. One of the reasons that Free Software has
been resistant to business tactics is because, obviously, Linux is not
a business. BUT, that works both ways, and businesses are adapting to our
presence by lobbying for bills which either make free software illegal,
or impractical. They are using legal requirements of physical barriers
to free software, and using monopoly powers and trust positions to make
fee software inoperatable with the broad publicly available Internet.
It is time for the Free Software movement to adapt. While we do
not have corporate lawyers and high priced lobbyist on the payroll,
we are not without political power and the ability to lobby. Just as
our Software development model spring from grass roots associations,
so will our lobbying efforts. It will take some funding, but it will
take even more leadership and grass roots movement. We can do this,
and we must do this if we want to survive as more than a fringe group.
6 - Technical Lectures - I hope that once a month members will present
technical lectures on new developments in computing and software.
This is not a request to get Alan Cox to come speak about the Kernel
Development process today. Instead, we want members to present their
own personal research into a new area of Free Software development,
and to create a write up, and do a public presentation of the research,
with a question and answer session to follow.
I'm always shocked that this is not current standard practice. Computing
careers are research and education intensive...similar to Medicine.
In order to remain competent in your field, research and presentation
is essential. As part of a leadership development function, we hope
establish a regular peer review program in this regard.
7 - Create a NY Linux Scene Journal, both on line and in print
8 - Create a regular resource library and lab.
9 - Develop a Consultant's Network and a Jobs network
10 - Make digital online resources available.
11 - Support all NY area Lugs in their goals with man and material.
12 - Rent/Purchase/buy a real physical home for computers, books and
even people.
--
Brooklyn Linux Solutions
http://www.mrbrklyn.com
http://www.brooklynonline.com
http://www.nylxs.com
http://www.nyfairuse.org
1-718-382-5752
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/mp3/brooklyn_national_antheum.mp3
For Jim ---
____________________________
New Yorker Linux Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
|
|
