Re: [Fsfe-uk] affs strategy [long]

[MJ Ray]

Simon Waters <address@hidden> wrote:
> Already you are perceived as a 'GNU group' of 'FSF group', by
> dint of the name, and resources used to form the group. I don't
> think this is a problem, not least due to GNU relatively low
> profile, but it is how perceptions are made early on.

Well, we need to strike a balance here, as shown in the early process.  We
use a FSFE mailing list, but we are not yet even associated with FSFE
(expect some of this at the meeting).  Most of the early discussions took
place including some FSFE, some academics and some company people (bad
descriptions R me tonight).  We were formed at an event of a LUG and a
Business Link branch.  It's a rich and varied tapestry which brings together
this broad alliance.  We must try to present that diversity.

> Do we need to consider which of us makes the best spokesperson for media
> events? Who looks best on camera - not prettiest but that helps - but who
> is least phased by difficult questions, who portrays the message most
> clearly.

I'm not sure about the portrayal bit, as I've never really considered how I
look, but I have slithered my way across most media except television.  I
have quite a bit of training about radio and some about print.  Websites....
well, let's not go there until I get the next great public work out of the
door, eh?

I'm always willing to dress smartly and go talk to people.  I've had the
ordeal of lecturing to a large class, I try not to go nuts too often and
when I'm awake I can avoid "errrrrrrrrrr"ing too much, even if I err
occasionally.  I've also had to live through putting my foot right through
it more than once.  The (major?) downside is occasionally I've put my foot
right through certain people on the way, mostly by accident, and some of
them really do harbour frothing grudges and aren't willing to accept
apologies.

Ahem.  I'll stop selling myself now, shall I?

> Similarly style of websites, domain names, e-mail signatures

These are all changing... again.

> I got the feeling RedHat people have really bought into the ideas as well
> as the technology, but I think it safe to assume their profile is bigger
> than their bank balance.

Where do RH stand on FS/OS anyway?

> I agree we should do stuff here..... I found even getting into the fringes
> of Free Software development quite tough. It would have been really useful
> to have someone available to say do this, speak to him......

Are you further on now?

> The LUGs seem to form the basis of an ad-hoc network of people, but many
> of these are quite literally "GNU/Linux Users" rather than developers.

I guess Anglian LUG is odd then... even most of the users get sucked into
hacking stuff around when they have a problem they want to solve.

> People need a relationship (mentoring?), so that they know they can ask a
> quick question by ICQ or e-mail, and not be "bugging someone", or at least
> at the level where the "bugged" person can say rtfm without offending.

Now this is an interesting idea.  A "mentors" system may be a very good
idea.

> I think people may be interested in training courses in this area, but
> cost will be an issue. They are also probably interested in meeting each
> other.

I'm quite interested in holding a Free Software web services workshop before
long.  I know there are a few other web developers already on this list. 
Nothing grand: just a chance to get together, present some ideas, talk about
some of the issues in real time for a day and then have a bit of fun in the
evening.  As some know, I've too much else on immediately, but I think we
could fill a large meeting room quite easily...

-- 
MJR ,----------------------------------------------------
    | Q. Do you need a net-based application developing, 
    |    or advice and training about web technology?
    | A. I suggest you try http://www.luminas.co.uk/