MESSAGE
| DATE | 2007-05-31 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] NYLXS Goals
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NYLXS Mission Statement (p1 of 3)
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.
NYLXS Mission Statement (p3 of 3)
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.
--
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
http://fairuse.nylxs.com DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002
"Yeah - I write Free Software...so SUE ME"
"The tremendous problem we face is that we are becoming sharecroppers to our own cultural heritage -- we need the ability to participate in our own society."
"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attacted at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt. I guess you missed that one."
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