Re: Deer in the Headlights

Argh, did it again. My bad.

Taran Rampersad wrote:

> Shachar Shemesh wrote:
>
>> Taran Rampersad wrote:
>>
>>>> A formal body is a catch 22, as many people know.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I don't.
>> We have even formed one, just to prove the point. 
>
>
> Fair enough; I didn't clarify. We have about 100 TTLUG members. About 
> 10 are quite active, and are active on many mailing lists in Trinidad 
> and Tobago. In fact, when you miss us on one - it's because we're on 
> another. We even have 2 local Microsoft folks who troll now and then 
> just to make things interesting.
>
> Aside from these 10 vocal people, we have maybe 20 'part timers'.
>
> The population of Trinidad and Tobago is about 1.6 million. We had a 
> conference - the FLOS Caribbean conference - and we did get government 
> involved. However, we didn't get the Decision Makers involved, 
> apparently. Aside from buying flare guns...
>
> So we need to look at a new approach. The TTLUG, for some reason, is 
> resistant to becoming formal. Creation of a formal organization is 
> *necessary*, but creation of a formal organization costs $$$ - and can 
> take 3 months here in Trinidad and Tobago. It's unfortunate that many 
> of us lack the $$$ to do this. It's also unfortunate that those of us 
> who do have the $$$ aren't interested in formalizing.
>
> A larger corporation has adopted 'Linux' as a product - Computers and 
> Controls, I think... But that fell off the radar quickly. Probably teh 
> same problem - decision makers.
>
>> In Israel, there is now an NPO called "hamakor" (which translates to 
>> "the source", but also to "the beak") which tries to promote foss, 
>> with some success (we are meeting the most technologies minister on 
>> Sunday, maybe our moderate success will be better then). It was, by 
>> and large, a welcome move by both community and most of the 
>> commercial market (i.e. - they took it for granted that such a body 
>> exist), to the point where noone today is likely to believe that we 
>> were only formally founded in January 1st (we already have 81 members).
>>
>> Web site is at http://hamakor.org.il (mostly in Hebrew, though). 
>
>
> Congratulations. :)
>
>
> <snip>Good Stuff</snip>
>
>>>> There is a problem with Microsoft, yes, but the problem isn't 
>>>> Microsoft here as far as I can tell. It's about reaching the people 
>>>> who make decisions.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> The thing we are trying to do on Sunday is pass a decision mandating 
>> open standards in all governmental communications with the public. We 
>> are trying to say "give us a chance". If you want, I can fill you in 
>> as to how it went.
>
>
> Unfortunately, we're not there yet.
>
> Taran
>