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<p>Hi everyone, <br>
</p>
<p>Hoping that this note finds you and your loved ones well, and
that the laws of mathematics still apply wherever you are ;-) <br>
</p>
<p>We've got a jam-packed update for you today, covering a wide
range of activities that the Linux Australia Council and
Subcommittees are involved in. As always, your comments and
feedback are warmly welcomed, and if you'd like to become more
involved in any of these activities, please do make contact. <br>
</p>
<h4>Inaugural #VALATechCamp - 12th-14th July -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.vala.org.au/events/1116-vala-tech-camp">https://www.vala.org.au/events/1116-vala-tech-camp</a><br>
</h4>
<p>Sae Ra Germaine (Secretary) and I represented Linux Australia at
the inaugural #VALATechCamp last week, which saw nearly 120
library technologists come together to get hands-on learning about
emerging technologies in the library space. <br>
</p>
<p>Linux Australia sponsored the Diversity Scholarship for this
event, which after a rigourous selection process was awarded to <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://twitter.com/SayWhatNathan">Nathan
Sentance</a>, a proud Wiradjuri man who works for the Australian
Museum. Nathan will be able to share learnings from the event with
his community. <br>
</p>
<p>A big shout out to Gala Camacho and Noon van der Silk who
delivered the double-length Introduction to Python workshop,
providing an introduction to variables, functions and data types
to budding new programmers.<br>
</p>
<p>You can follow the Twitter discussion at <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%23VALATechCamp&src=tyah">#VALATechCamp</a>
or read my <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://blog.kathyreid.id.au/2017/07/16/valatechcamp-2017-libraries-as-the-vanguard-of-digital-literacy/">blog
post</a> about it. <br>
</p>
<h4>WordCamp Brisbane - 22nd-23rd July -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://2017.brisbane.wordcamp.org/">https://2017.brisbane.wordcamp.org/</a><br>
</h4>
<p>WordCamp BNE has SOLD OUT! <br>
</p>
<p>Excellent job, Dion Hulse, Cameron Jones, Ricky Blacker, Hannah
Malcolm, Robert Wilde and Peter Bui.</p>
<p>You can follow all the Twitter action at <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://twitter.com/wordcampbne">@WordCampBNE</a>,
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCBNE?src=hash">#WCBNE</a> or
on <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/WordCampBrisbane">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>In other WordPress / WordCamp news, we have finalised wording on
a Memorandum of Understanding with WordCamp Central, and when this
is signed a further update will be made. Huge thanks to Josepha
Haden from Wordcamp Central and Dee Teal from the Australian
WordPress community for their efforts here. <br>
</p>
<h4>GovHack 28th-30th July - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://govhack.org">https://govhack.org</a></h4>
<p>Spots are filling up for the CBD locations, if you want to go and
haven't registered, do it quick. Oh, and we're a Gold Sponsor :D<br>
</p>
<h4>linux.conf.au CfP is open until 6th August -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://linux.conf.au/proposals/">https://linux.conf.au/proposals/</a></h4>
<p>CfP will NOT be extended this year. *In the voice of Mikal*
Proposey proposey!!</p>
<p>Big thanks to Michael Davies and Michael Still for chairing
Papers Ctte again this year, and to Bruce Crawley and James Polley
and the LCA2018 for their stellar efforts to date. <br>
</p>
<p>Bids for linux.conf.au 2020 will open shortly. <br>
</p>
<h4>Pycon AU - 3rd-8th August - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://pycon-au.org/">https://pycon-au.org/</a></h4>
<p>Tickets are now on sale! Get yours! It will be awesome!</p>
<p>Richard Jones and the team are doing a brilliant job - thank you.
<br>
</p>
<p>Follow Pycon-AU on <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/pyconau">Twitter</a>, or <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/PyConAustralia/">Facebook</a>. <br>
</p>
<h4>Joining the Dots data visualisation symposium 18th August -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://joiningthedots.github.io/">https://joiningthedots.github.io/</a><br>
</h4>
<p>Linux Australia has sponsored the Joining the Dots data
visualisation symposium at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute,
enabling costs to participants to be reduced, thus minimising
barriers to entry. </p>
<p>Run by Dr Fiona Tweedie (prev. GovHack Melbourne, Open Knowledge
Foundation, and convener of RezBaz) and Dr Alan Rubin (prev
Bioinformatics Miniconf Organiser at LCA2016), the one-day
symposium will cover many aspects of data visualisation, including
a range of open source tools, such as Python, d3.js and so on. <br>
</p>
<p>CfP closes July 31. <br>
</p>
<h4>Council doing another Face to Face meeting in Melbourne 5th-6th
August</h4>
<p>Council have resolved to do a second Face to Face meeting in
Melbourne over 5th-6th August. F2F meetings are a key way that
Council can work on key tasks, and do forward planning for the
organisation. Given that most of Council this year is
Victoria-based, the costs of running a F2F are lower than usual,
and this has contributed to our decision to do a second F2F. Our
key tasks will be preparing the 2017-2018 Linux Australia budget
(financial year 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018), and planning
the rebrand and platform refresh (MemberDB and website). <br>
</p>
<h4>Beyond 2020 Alliance - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.beyond2020.net.au">http://www.beyond2020.net.au</a><br>
</h4>
<p>The Beyond 2020 Alliance has met again, and resolved to work on a
white paper outlining options and decision points for the future
of Australia's digital infrastructure. <br>
</p>
<p>You can follow the Alliance at @<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/Beyond2020All">Beyond2020All</a> on
Twitter or on <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/beyond2020all/">Facebook</a>.</p>
<h4>Signatory to the Secure the Internet petition -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.securetheinternet.org/">https://www.securetheinternet.org/</a></h4>
<p>Linux Australia has signed the Secure the Internet petition,
calling on governments worldwide to uphold security, privacy and
strong encryption. The laws of mathematics are universal. <br>
</p>
<h4>Rebranding activity - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://tobyansell.com.au/">http://tobyansell.com.au/</a></h4>
<p>After a competitive quote process, we have selected Toby Ansell,
Graphic Designer, to work with Linux Australia on our rebrand. The
rebrand work will be a foundation piece for platform refresh later
in the year. <br>
</p>
<h4>Data Governance Code of Practice -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://datagovernanceaus.com.au/dga-code-of-practice/">http://datagovernanceaus.com.au/dga-code-of-practice/</a></h4>
<p>Lastly, you may want to have a read of the recently released Data
Governance Australia draft Code of Practice. We're still not sure
what to make of Data Governance Australia, its independence and
proposed code of practice, and your input and thoughts will help
us in forming a position, and if required, responding to the draft
code of practice. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>With kind regards, <br>
</p>
<p>Kathy Reid, Cameron Tudball, Sae Ra Germaine, Russell Stuart,
Josh Stewart, David Bell and Hugh Blemings - Council 2017<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kathy Reid
President
Linux Australia
0418 130 636
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:president@linux.org.au">president@linux.org.au</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://linux.org.au">http://linux.org.au</a>
Linux Australia Inc
GPO Box 4788
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
ABN 56 987 117 479 </pre>
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