Group: Manchester/2008-03-18/Minutes

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Minutes of Meeting on 2008-03-18

No fixed agenda. The topic was a very general “what are we going to do and how?”

Attendees: Tim Dobson (TimD), Andy Halsall (AndyH), Alex Hudson (AlexH), Rob Kendric (RobK), Dave Page (DaveP), Simon Ward (SimonW), Jonathan (jonathanD), and others.

Minutes taken by SimonW.

Other Free Software Groups

  • AndyH mentioned getting a similar free software group going in Sheffield.
  • DaveP said there was a wider goal of getting more free software groups going around the country.

Free Software Groups vs other groups

  • Less technical, more about using and working with free software.
    • the consensus was that the other groups around, such as ManLUG, do a pretty good job of covering technical aspects of free software, even if they are not primarily free software groups.
  • Core Aim: Promote free software.
    • The main target was seen as the general public, the average computer user.
    • We also talk about businesses and free software. We would like to see more businesses involved with free software.

Venues

  • MDDA — hears in June about getting more funding. Otherwise we may need an alternate venue.
  • RobK said he would ask about a lecture room/theatre at MMU.
  • DaveP suggested town hall + Town Hall Tavern.

ACTION: RobK to ask about lecture room availability at MMU.

Speakers

  • Need to research. None felt “in” to the free software world enough to suggest who to ask.
  • AndyH suggested keeping a list of possible speakers.
    • DaveP later suggested a public wiki.

Topics

  • Free software (primary)
  • Media?
  • Culture?
  • DRM?
  • Specifically:
    • BBC iPlayer person.
    • Somebody from BBC about Dirac.

Free Software Group Tasks

  • Finding people [to speak/advocate]
  • Publicising
  • Getting people to listen

Advocacy

  • Examples: Software Freedom Day events, handing out leaflets
  • DaveP suggested getting together some bootable CDs or similar into the Central Library for Software Freedom Day. [This has already been suggested on list].
    • The aim is to get the public using free software.
    • Not necessarily setting up an organisation to support, but more a publicity stunt to keep visible.
  • AlexH: Get the low hanging, high impact fruit
  • AndyH: [things like leafletting, publicity stunts] not a good approach
  • AlexH: They are not the only things you do.
  • DaveP: Need to get people involved and keep them.
  • AndyH: How many people are interested in the first place?
  • AlexH: Two things needed:
    1. Enough mass.
    2. How many … ? [Illegible]

Free Software Foundation

  • Poor show in the UK so far.
  • Not getting involved with something just because of the name (or lack of. E.g. Linux, without GNU.) — something we might want to avoid.

Business

  • Get interest through Manchester Small Business
  • Where can I find a directory of businesses supporting or providing free software?
    • [name of a directory] — AndyH thought it was mostly London based
    • RobK suggests Manchester seems to prefer local business

Actions / Responsibilities

  • ACTION: RobK to ask about lecture room availability at MMU.
  • ACTION: SimonW to ask Matt about things currently organised.
  • AndyH — Speakers
  • TimD — Web site, announcements
  • DaveP — Venues, media relations


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