-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- I just got email from Warren Agin, of Swiggart and Agin, this afternoon. Swiggart and Agin has offered to be the first partial sponsor of the EFF fundraiser we've been kicking around on the DCSB list recently, a direct result of discussions on the cypherpunks list, and other places, about contributing money to EFF's DeCSS legal effort. This fit in nicely with previous discussions we've had on the DCSB list about doing a regular series of fund-raisers by the Boston digital commerce community for worthy internet causes. Obviously, we're looking for more sponsorship money to cover the rest of the event's costs, but for now it looks like we're really going to do this thing on some Friday evening to be announced later. Once we get the rest of the sponsorship money organized, anyway... However, on the strength of Swiggart and Agin's sponsorhip alone, I'm going to talk to the catering office after the DCSB lunch tomorrow about scheduling and arrangements for this event. Assuming that more sponsorship money's on the way (and soon, I hope; I'd like to get money to EFF as soon as possible) we're now recruiting speakers, preferrably those with internet name recognition or, better, those who have a stake in the case itself, for the fundraiser's program. Suggestions would be welcome, but actual commitments from people to speak would be even better. So, if you, or someone you know of, would like to speak to the issue of internet source-code as freedom of speech, the right to reengineer code as basic requirement of internet software engineering, and the other very important issues that EFF is fighting for in this DeCSS court case, please contact me directly, in email, and I'll get you on to the program. The fundraiser itself will be held on a Friday evening, when the dress code at the Downtown Harvard Club of Boston doesn't require a jacket and tie, which should come as a relief to some folks out there. The "price" of admission to this event will be a check, payable to the EFF, for a suggested donation of $35. Obviously, the more money, the merrier, but we figure that your donation should at least be the price of a normal DCSB luncheon, since that's a number the Society membership is immediately comfortable with. In addition to a cash bar, there will be complementary hors d'oeuvres. Those, and the room rental and staffing is what the sponsorship money's for, so your contributions can go directly to EFF and nowhere else. The Society is hoping that this event will raise at least $10,000 for the EFF, maybe more. That means, ultimately, that a lot of people, and their companies, should be doing quite a bit more than just show up with the minimum donation in hand to make this work the way we hope. Fortunately, we also believe that that contribution goal is entirely within reach of the Boston digital commerce community, or the Society wouldn't be committing to do these new fundraisers to begin with. Again, we'll say more later, like the actual date and time, as we get it worked out -- and, of course, as the rest of the sponsors sign up. In addition, if you, your organization, or an organization you know of, is a candidate for future fundraisers like this one, please let me know directly so we can see if there's something we can do to help. Finally, Warren, on behalf of the DCSB membership, I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank you and Swiggart and Agin for being the very first sponsors of the very first of what we hope will be many DCSB internet fundraisers to come. Cheers, Robert A. Hettinga, Moderator, The Digital Commerce Society of Boston -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.1 iQEVAwUBOHD0e8UCGwxmWcHhAQEZNAf/f7cT5j2bF+BxEutpHIDHdzrKhI6TyHii 5h5hcn3UL+JTVvRou2V18NzEcgu42J3O+hs+3U03/CfuuLeNF330jJuaOYf5vU8+ XQBgUsVTFUyagvzpFcAqr3dOdIv3Pux0kgUB8QurYzfOh91DIHpcFkrwKHjQc0Or 6Fujoj9qaR3pc4gPnwFz3WnZ8xIUCfZHXIqWC/kp1dPKwOJSGqnk6vYhRqFK/qI6 9/EAsWpvKdq1Sb3MgivSDUEzf/IDE4VTx2AdRuWQplrOu4pr1nbnsvUQJqgDnNMx 55PlXK5LRSm0jEnp3CRTu8vRlRql0v4fh2nYuRtKTdiC2yZECaq93Q== =qn2L -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'
