Re: [us-marketing] Re: Linuxfest help

On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 3:44 PM, drew <drew@baseanswers.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 2011-01-04 at 14:47 -0800, cocofan wrote:
> > > > On Sat, 2011-01-01 at 20:30 -0800, cocofan wrote:
> > > > > This is in response to getting help at Linuxfest. I'm using digest
> > > > > mode for this mailing list so I can't respond to the actual post
> > > > >
> > > > >    I may be able to help out as I'm in Portland, OR which is a ~7 hour
> > > > > ride to Bellingham via Greyhound or Amtrak. But I don't think I can do a
> > > > > talk or something as I'm pretty new to OpenOffice/LibreOffice.  I was
> > > > > Google Summer of Code student in 2009 but I haven't gotten back into
> > > > > doing anything for LibreOffice yet (I have trouble getting any spare
> > > > > time to do so).  But I can maybe help with setting up, manning a booth,
> > > > > passing information out, etc.
> > > > >
> > > > >                        Dona Hertel

Hello Dona,

A lot of people make the trip from Portland to Bellingham for the
Fest. I think that the best way to contact the likely suspects is at
http://www.pdxlinux.org/. They have a meeting tomorrow night. Several
of us make the roundtrip from Bellingham via Amtrak. Very nice.

One of the great things about LinuxFest Northwest (LFNW) is that
presenters don't have to be slick and polished. The main qualification
for presenting is to share the value and experiences you've had with
the subject. There are plenty of beginner presentations and a Tutorium
for people to try things out.

More below...

Carl Symons (one of several LFNW organizers)

> > > > Hello Dona,
> > > >
> > > > The NorthWest LinuxFest would be a very strong venue for our message.

It's a strong venue. The Fest will be in its 12th year. It's known as
the low-stress Fest. Free admission. Great exhibits and presentations.
Mixture of ubertechies and beginners, all enthused about open source,
community-developed technology. There are activities for young folks.
LFNW is hosted by the local Technical College and takes place on the
campus. Pleasant surroundings!

> > > > Non-profit tables are free, but do need to be reserved in advance. If
> > > > you feel more likely then not I will go ahead and take care of doing
> > > > just that. It doesn't need to happen right now, but I see that the list
> > > > of sponsors is filling up quickly.
> > > >
> > > > I don't think there is anyway that the group can help defray the cost of
> > > > your attending, to be frank.

The Fest is a good place to make contacts. At past Fests, quite a few
companies have done recruiting from the Pacific NW down to the Bay
Area.


> > > > What we can do is supply material:
> > > >
> > > > 1 LibreOffice Banner or Poster
> > > >
> > > > A few LibreOffice DVD's (for display on the table, and perhaps giveaway
> > > > at the end of the show)
> > > >
> > > > Some video clips that can be displayed on a laptop (I may be able to
> > > > swing a flat screen monitor for your use on the table from a local
> > > > contact..but you would have to bring your own laptop.)
> > > >
> > > > A printed copy of the book "Getting Started with LibreOffice 3.3" for
> > > > display. (I will commit to buying a copy for this purpose)

Please provide a contact for the book. One of my tasks is to work with
the bookseller (the College bookstore) to determine show inventory. If
possible, I'm sure that they would like to offer the book for sale.


> > > > [As a side note, I donated on behalf of OpenOffice.org [and thanks to
> > > > Jean Hollis-Weber] two volumes, "Getting Started" and "Writer Guide" to
> > > > the Ohio LinuxFest last year for use in their raffle - they where two of
> > > > the hottest items on the raffle table, to the pleasure of all involved]

If this is doable, we'd like to have raffle prizes as well. It's a way
to get the LibreOffice name up in lights.


> > > > I'm quite sure that list can be met. All the items could be drop shipped
> > > > to the show venue for your use - and then ship it back, or maybe ship it
> > > > to the next spot...don't know, but we can work that out.

Please don't ship to the venue. Bellingham Technical College (BTC) is
a Washington-state institution and they've got some issues about this.
We will provide a place where things can be shipped, but this is not
set yet.

> > > > Great to hear from you and hoping to get to know you more as time goes
> > > > on - and by all means think about some new hacking on the
> > > > code..*smile*..
> > > >
> > > > Best wishes,
> > > >
> > > > Drew
> >
> >    Actually I wasn't expecting reimbursement for the cost, just pointing
> > out it would be within reason for me to get to Bellingham, WA.
>
> Hi Dona,
>
> Thanks
>
> >    Barring any problems, I'm thinking I'm more likely to go.  So should
> > I go ahead and reserve a table?  I've haven't done this before.  Would
> > it be a problem to "cancel" (un-reserve?) the table if I (or anyone
> > else) can't make it?
>
> Well, it is common sense, if you think your going then go ahead and
> reserve the table. If there is a problem the show sponsors can be
> contacted.

Definitely sign up for a table. The sooner, the better. We haven't
gone live with a call for papers, but you can register at
www.linuxfestnorthwest.org. In the next few days, the look of the site
will change dramatically (the final dev walkthrough is tomorrow).
There's a limit to the number of exhibit spaces available.

> I noticed the email on the discussion list from a few days ago, that I
> suppose may have been the germ of this effort, from Carl. I am including
> his direct email address here.
>
> Given that it looks like at least two of you are involved here I think
> then yes let's get that table reserved and chat it up a bit - wouldn't
> surprise me if others step up tho help here either.
>
> Sound reasonable?
>
> Drew

We will have quite a number of volunteers. The BTC computer program
has scheduled the Fest days as class days to give the students
exposure to open source and the open source community. It would be
great if core, die-hard LibO folks could come to the Fest. However,
there are plenty of people around who support TDF and LibO. I'm pretty
sure that staffing won't be an issue.

I won't be available to work directly with the LibO booth and
presentations. As one of the Fest organizers, I'll be pulled in many
directions.

Thanks for your interest and support. I think that anyone who
participates in the Fest on behalf of TDF or LibO will be quite
pleased with the experience.

Please let me know how I can assist further. I just joined the
US-Marketing mailing list. On TDF-discuss, Italo requested that the
planning discussions be public on this list.

Thanks again,

Carl

-- 
Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+help@us.libreoffice.org
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/us/marketing/
*** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity ***