MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-02-02 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Free Software in Government
|
There is nothing like a good recession to focus the mind...
As a representitive of NYLXS in NYC which is a Free Software
advocacy group, which includes NY Fairuse, I have worked very
hard over the last few days in trying to figure the way to position
Free Software in the government, not in theory, but in fact.
My invovlement in these efforts currently starts with an email by
David Sugar about his efforts to go too Washington DC with Tony
Stanco, in efforts to educate High Level governmet officials in the
potential of Free Software. I was hoping that the meeting at LWE
between Tony, David, and myself, would clarify the road from
where we are now, which is pratically speaking nowhere, to a
position where Free Software Consultants and businesses can
place large numbers of desktops and services into government
facilities.
Frankly, my conversations on this front have been only partly
satifying, and I'm not sure why.
Tony tells me that the types of contacts he has can not be used
to actually fill Government contracts or to discover potential
Government needs which we can lobby for contract proposals
for open bidding. Further, the Washington DC Linux User Group
seems to be having such organizational problems, that they are
having trouble even finding space too meet.
Since NYLXS often holds meetings in a Bar in lower Manhattan, I find
this bizarre. Further, Tony raises the issue that he doesn't feel
that NYLXS, or any other group in the Linux/Free Software groups
is prepared to to fill a 100 million dollar installation
if we needed to. I found this assumption completely numbing.
On the other hand, David and Tony have mentioned that we can
start with the GSA, and learn to take bids etc, from our membership.
Thios would be a good start, and I want to ask that ANYONE familiar
with this process come to NY and train us in this matter, so that we can
help in the birthing process for Free Software enterprises trying to
do business with the Federal Government.
Also, we have had great success in training and advocacy here in NYC
using the NYLXS model. And we want to help the DC area get up to
speed.
It's time for Free Software to takes it's place in Government and
Business by using the resources of our community in providing the
kind of agency services commonly used in Businesses. This is a
different model than a traditional business, but the entire Free
Software model of development is none such different. We need to
start being serious about providing corperate training, government
liason services, education and sophisticated and agressive marketing.
My group is ANXIOUS to fill these needs so that we can all reap the
rewards.
So while it's nice that Tony and David can talk the Department of the
Treasury, about the value of Free Software, they need REAL working
complete solutions to their computing problems, and we are ready to
put those solutions together and deliver them in mass.
My gut is telling me that those involved with these government contacts
are holding back, and not allowing us to better place software into
government. I almost get the feeling this is some sort of turf thing
going on. I have too many hunger FS sysadmins and programmers
up here to allow this to continue.
If this is indeed the case, we need to cultivate more people
down there. And we need to do so now.
Lead, Follow, or get out of the way...
We request a meeting in NYC in the next week, if possible, to
discuss this matter, and to arrainge training for cultivating
government contracts and contacts.
Ruben
--
__________________________
Brooklyn Linux Solutions
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____________________________
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