MESSAGE
| DATE | 2008-04-19 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] Mission Statement: Spring Reminder
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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
institutions.
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.
--
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 attached at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt. I guess you missed that one."
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