[FreeGeek] complete minutes, 1st meeting WED NOV 1/06

[Dustin Harriman]

Hi all,

Here are my three cents about funding, sponsorship, and publicity:

One possible source of funding might be Ubuntu themselves (ie.
Canonical).  If you are going to be installing Ubuntu on the
Freekboxen you create, maybe you could get a tiny royalty per box or
something, since you will be effectively acting as
embassadors/marketers for Ubuntu.  Mark ShuttleWorth is a very
with-it, very rich guy who might actually dig an idea like that if
pitched carefully.  At least maybe you could get some nice Ubuntu swag
or something (to be used in conjunction with promoting FreeGeek?).
Since Ubuntu is much more a household name than Freegeek (or OS X for
that matter, see http://www.google.com/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+os+x), you
might want to carefully piggyback on that name recognition.

I also think it would be wise to try to get Ubuntu to acknowledge
Freegeek somehow in the News section of their website.  This would
introduce Freegeek to a much wider audience of pro-Ubuntu folks,
attracting more local linux geeks to your cause (who may mave
connections to more potential sponsors, cheap office space, etc), who
will no doubt love to help you however they can.

Also, announcing your efforts on the vanlug mailing list, or even
making a well-polished 50-minute presentation at a Vanlug meeting will
also attract more Vancouver pro-linux people to you.

I also think it would be wise to post a "wishlist" on the web
somewhere, like Freegeek Portland does.  Then people will more easily
find you, see your current needs, and contribute what they can:
rackspace, office space, free legal advice, etc.

PS: I agree approaching IBM would be a good idea for sponsorship.  IBM
is very pro-linux, and is pro-Ubuntu (they were basically the first
corporate partner of Ubuntu with their certification of DB2 for use on
Ubuntu).  Yes, IBM is big and corporate, but they have lots of the
thing you need to start: money.  As long as you carefully stay away
from any confining, ideal-compromising agreements with IBM, then why
not go for it?

BTW: writing a formal business case will no doubt be very helpful (if
not essential) in securing funding from larger corporations like
banks, etc.

Cheers,
Dustin Harriman

My Blog: http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/dustinharriman
RSS Feed: http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/rss-RkGSoVA1brWtXrVH9Gr5CzgVujwwGg--?cq=1

"Freedom is not the capacity to do whatever we please; freedom is the
capacity to make intelligent choices"  -Francis Moore Lappé