On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:24:00 +0000 Tom Chance wrote: > > Specifically, I think the free software developer community in this > > country is disparate and not well networked: while LUGs provide > > this to an extent, we still rely on things like Linux Expos for > > hackers to meet up. Google's recent Open Source Jams have had made > > it pretty clear to me, at least, that there is an appetite for more > > avenues in that area. > > What are the benefits of more networking for the free software > *contributor* communities in the UK? I'm sure there are some but, in > the spirit of Jason's very sensible email, it would be good to > clarify and discuss these. What happened at these jams, and why > haven't people spontaneously done more networking without the AFFS?
I think face-to-face meet-ups have tremendous value - and I'm not the only one, judging by the numbers at events from LUGRadioLive to FOSDEM. The problem is they take a fair bit of organising, and the community's natural organisers all seem too busy elsewhere. Perhaps given the right catalyst they can occur here. Indeed AFFS had a fair turn-out at its Annual Conference in Handsworth a few years ago. [1] > I think it might be good to survey contributors in the UK to find out > if there are any needs we could address, rather than second guessing > based upon personal experiences and patchy conversations. Is that > possible? Perhaps - though in many ways it would be easier to book a venue, announce an event, and set up a wiki for people to contribute these ideas to. It works for the LBW. [2] > On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:06:53 +0000, Alex Hudson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > And, as I said in the last e-mail, I think the voluntary sector > > take-up of free software has been pretty awful. Except in certain areas ;-) btw the Free Software strands running through this month's Circuit Riders Conference (the first year FOSS events weren't at a separate venue on a separate day) were very well received. In the next two months NCC [3] will be training more than 100 Circuit Riders up in installing and supporting the use of Free Software desktops by small VCOs. [4] There are strong moves within the third sector to improve Free Software take-up. We'd be delighted to hear what a revitalised AFFS could contribute :-) > Green Party Speaker on IP and Free Software Unfortunately they don't have a candidate in our area. But our local MP did back the recent Early Day Motion on Free Software and eduction :-) - Richard [0] oops, sorry Andrew ;-P [1] http://www.affs.org.uk/affsac-2004.html and the previous year in Aston of course: http://www.affs.org.uk/affsac-report.html I didn't make the London one in 05, and since then: http://www.affs.org.uk/affsac.html [2] http://www.lbw99.eu.org/ http://www.lbw2000.eu.org/ http://lbw2001.ynfonatic.de/ http://www.lbw2002.draiocht.net/ http://lbw2003.anteus.hu/ http://www.lbw2004.eu.org/ http://www.levkowetz.com/2005/lbw-killin/ http://www.mkuncaitis.com/lbw06/ http://lbw2007.hellug.gr/ [3] www.OpenITUp.org [4] Voluntary & Community Organisations. -- Richard Smedley, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Technical Director, www.M6-IT.org A PRINCE2 aware company Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector'' M6-IT is a Community Interest Company, limited by guarantee Registered in England & Wales, Registration No: 6040154 11 St Marks Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 7DT _______________________________________________ Fsfe-uk mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/fsfe-uk
