[NTLUG:Discuss] Texas Legislature considering pro-open source bill.

[pac@fortuitous.com]

 Texas Senator Corona has sponsored a pro Open Source Software bill.
 This is very important for our economy and Texas.

 Here is the slashdot article:
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/03/03/16/0030247.shtml?tid=103&tid=98

 It is extremely important that the community supports this bill
so that it has any chance to pass. To do this you must contact
your senators and Representatives and let them know you care.
 Here are some things to consider:

1. Write a hand written letter to your senator and Representative.
   They claim a letter is worth 20 emails. You can mail your Senator/Rep
   at both their Austin address and their district.
   
   To find out your representative's mailing address:

   a. Goto http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.htm
   b. put in your zipcode, click through to display
   c. Get all addresses and email addresses you can.
   d. Write a personal letter to them.

2. Email your senator/rep. It never hurts to follow up a letter with
   an email.

3. Call your senator/rep. It always helps to followup letters with 
   phone calls.

4. Try to meet with your senator/rep.

5. Tell your friends to consider steps 1-4 above.

6. Pass this on to a local organization that is friendly to this idea.

7. Share your ideas with us of what else we can do beyond this.

8. The actual bill can be tracked here:
   http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/db2www/tlo/billhist/billhist.d2w/report?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01579

  If you are aware of any pending action on this bill, please let everyone
 know that of the dates and times. We can then coordiate a time-sensitive
 plan including phone calls and emails. Click on the "Actions" link
 to see the current actions on the bills.

9. Please, Someone come up with a 7 point bullet list of why Open Source is 
   good for Texas, so we can incorporate that into our letters.

  Thanks,

-Phil Carinhas
--
 .--------------------------------------------------------.
 | Dr. Philip A. Carinhas       | pac at fortuitous.com      |
 | Fortuitous Technologies Inc. | http://fortuitous.com   |
 | Linux Consulting & Training  | Tel : 1-512-218-9561    |
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