[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Expo

[Leroy Tennison]

Stan Gatchel wrote:

> I think it's  good idea but the event sould probably be focused on 
> technology. Do you have some events in mind, as an example?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Stan
>
> Dennis Rice wrote:
>
>> 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).
>> ========================================
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>
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>
Actually I was thinking of a non-technology event hosted by a 
non-technology group.  My perspective (and I could be wrong) is that 
most technologists are aware of Linux and just need to decide to take 
the initiative to do something with it.  I'm not sure a little education 
or exposure is going to overcome inherent inertia.  This is what I'm 
seeing where I work, we have new upper management that is bringing in 
current solutions (some of which are Linux-based) and then we have 
middle management and too many technologists who haven't thought about 
"new" or "different" in so long that they have forgotten the definition 
of the terms.

I wish I could remember the names of the events but one was hosted in 
downtown Fort Worth and another in Addison.  They were both 
"festival/fair" type events intended to draw people to a theme-based 
"crafts and activities" type attraction.  Although this may seem 
strange, I have an underlying assumption in my goal: Expose those who 
have never heard (or barely heard) of Linux to what all it can do.

This brings us to some important questions we probably need to ask in 
order to be effective at whatever we do:  "What is our goal?",  "What 
kind of audience would best help us reach that goal?",  "Where can we 
get that audience?",  "What do we need to present once we have them?"

Where I'm coming from is this:

"What is our goal?"    Expose/educate the vast end-user base who could 
take advantage of Linux and save significant money doing so.
"What kind of audience would best help us reach that goal?"    One 
consisting mainly of Joe and Jane Average.
"Where can we get that audience?"    A larger general interest event.
"What do we need to present once we have them?"    The basic things they 
use: An office suite, games, email and the Internet.

Now you (the reading audience) may have different ideas.  If so, why 
don't you post your answers to the four questions above or post a 
different set of questions/answers if you feel there is a fundamenbtally 
different approach to this issue.