[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Expo

[Dennis Rice]

Leroy Tennison wrote:
I want to suggest a different direction for the "Expo" than I've been 
hearing.  My suggestion is to not put on our own "Expo" but rather be a 
part of a bigger event that someone else is hosting.   There are various 
events held in Dallas and Fort Worth that are "street" events meaning 
that various booths are set up along a few streets where the event is 
held.  We would be one of those booths.  The advantages I see are:

We don't bear the burden of organizing, staging and advertizing the 
event - "they" do.
We don't have to ask people to take their time and go out of their way 
to come to our event - they "come to us".
We expose people to Linux who aren't even looking for it.
We don't have to have as fancy a presentation because we are not bearing 
the brunt of being the whole motivation for attracting people.
We might have to put out some money but Novell is willing to help with 
that.

What we would face is some logistics (electricity, maybe some shade) 
but, again, a little money would go a long way in this regard (offer a 
local business $25-50 to plug into their electrical outlet).  Surely 
among us someone has a tarp or tent-like device we could set up along 
with a couple of tables and chairs.  Our theme could be simple, 
something like "Why pay big bucks for software when there's a good 
alternative?".  If we showed off a GUI, Open Office, games, maybe email 
and the Internet we would have presented everything 90 percent of the 
people passing by would want.  In cooperation with Novell let them know 
that, if they don't want to go to the effort to get it for free, they 
can have not only the OS but the Office Suite and games and a lot more 
for about $80.  Compared to Microsoft where you have to work to pay less 
than that just for a legal OS, it's a great deal.  We can also point out 
that there are none of the licensing gotcha's which come with OEM 
Windows (but I preach to the choir).
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Being able to work with another group is great, although it seems that 
such events are no longer happening here or they are not being 
advertised to where I am listening.

I agree that there will be a lot of work to organize, and that is why we 
need a strong leader for the action.  Even the coordination with another 
group will require strong leadership to coordinate all activities.

I am willing to work with a team to organize, but I definately can not lead.

Dennis