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<p>Hi everyone, <br>
</p>
<p>Firstly for those in our northern states, stay safe as the
weather heats up, and for all of us, stay well as we hit the end
of year rush and silly season. <br>
</p>
<p>A few updates on goings-on in the Linux Australia universe: <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Tickets for linux.conf.au 2018 Sydney are available. Go get 'em!</h4>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://linux.conf.au/attend">https://linux.conf.au/attend</a></p>
<p>It will be awesome. Early birds open until sold out. <br>
</p>
<p>Follow along at #<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23lca2018&src=typd">lca2018</a>
on Twitter or join the <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/linuxconferenceaustralia">Facebook</a>
page <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>DrupalSouth November 16-17th, Auckland, New Zealand</h4>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://drupalsouth2017.drupal.org.nz/conference/tickets">https://drupalsouth2017.drupal.org.nz/conference/tickets</a></p>
<p>Tickets are now available. It will also be awesome. <br>
</p>
<p>Follow along at @<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://twitter.com/DrupalSouth">DrupalSouth</a> or join
the <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.facebook.com/drupalsouth/">Facebook</a> page <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>We're sponsoring CiviCon Canberra October 23rd, Canberra<br>
</h4>
<p>We're delighted to be Bronze Sponsors of CiviCon Canberra, the
first CiviCon in Australia. CiviCRM is an opensource CRM platform,
and it's what we'll be moving to after the rebrand. Yes, it will
be awesome.<br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://civicrm.org/civicon/canberra-2017">https://civicrm.org/civicon/canberra-2017</a></p>
<p>As part of our sponsorship, we get a free ticket. If you're in
Canberra, or can travel to Canberra and are free on the 23rd,
please email Council. If there are multiple applicants we'll make
a call based on how active you've been in the Linux Aus community.
<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>LCA2020 Bids are open!!!!!!! 11111!!!!!</h4>
<p>Want LCA2020 in your city? You do? Reckon you can do a kick-arse
LCA? if (1) then submit an LCA2020 Bid!111!!!11</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2017-October/023216.html">http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2017-October/023216.html</a></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Warmly welcoming Linux Users Victoria as a subcommittee of Linux
Australia</h4>
<p>Linux Users Victoria have disincorporated as an incorporated
association in Victoria, and have reformed as a Subcommittee of
Linux Australia. Many thanks especially to Andrew Pam and Wen Lin
for all their professionalism and efforts during this transition.
Check them out at @linuxusersvic on Twitter or
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.luv.asn.au">https://www.luv.asn.au</a><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Rebrand update</h4>
<p>We've been through one draft of rebranding material, and have now
narrowed down options, and our graphic designer will now further
refine these. If you'd like to be involved, let me know. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Grants Program 2018</h4>
<p>Our end of financial year was September 30, which means that
we're now operating on the 2017/2018 budget, which was set at Face
to Face in August. It allocates $35k for Grants and Sponsorship
for the year. At Council meeting on 26th September, we resolved to
spend no more than $10k from this allocation before the new
Council is elected in January - basically so we don't spend money
that is really up to the new Council to administer. At some stage
we'd like to do a review of how the 2017 Grants Program went but
for now we'll operate under the same conditions / process /
expectations as the 2017 Grants Program, then "re-launch" if we
make changes to the process. <br>
</p>
<p>The next Grant up for discussion is BuzzConf Grant for Kids Track</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2017-September/023196.html">http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2017-September/023196.html</a></p>
<p>We will soon be chasing Grant reports from 2017 Grant
recipients. </p>
<p>If you've ever thought "Linux Australia should do more of X",
then Grants are your avenue to help make that happen. Want more
Indigenous reach out for open source? Submit a Grant so we can
fund you to make it happen. Want better UX in open source
products? Submit a Grant so we can fund you to make it happen.
Awesome things happen because awesome people make them happen. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Report from Nathan Sentance, Diversity Scholarship recipient for
VALATechCamp</h4>
<p>Nathan Sentance was awarded the Diversity Scholarship for
VALATechCamp, sponsored by Linux Australia. <br>
</p>
<p>Nathan has provided a conference report of his experience, with
an excerpt below - wise words indeed. Happy to provide the full
report if desired. <br>
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; line-height: 120%; text-align: left; }p.western { }</style>
"Winning the VALA/Linux Diversity Scholarship and attending VALA
Tech Camp was an invaluable experience for my career. I have
long had an interest in being part of something like the VALA
Tech Camp as I believe information technology presents exciting
opportunities for Aboriginal communities to access, revitalise
and disseminate our culture and knowledge. Just have a look at
the many language apps coming out. <br>
<br>
Libraries and similar memory institutions have long been
considered gatekeepers in regards to records relating to
Aboriginal culture and history, but in the digital space that
control can be handed back to community and potential access
barriers may be minimised. <br>
<br>
Because of this, VALA Tech Camp sessions such as the
introduction to Python were handy to my personal and
professional development as it can help increase of
understanding in regards to computer science which in turn I
will use to help increase access to cultural heritage
information for community as well as preserve it digitally.
Additionally, the more I increase my digital literacy skills the
more I will attempt to share those skills with my community and
in this digital age those are not just useful, they are
necessary. "</p>
<p><br>
</p>
</blockquote>
<h4>Are you awesome? Want to learn to be more awesome? Should you be
on Linux Australia Council?</h4>
<p>Linux Australia is awesome because we have many awesome people
doing many awesome things. Part of that awesome is making sure
that our legal requirements are fulfilled, running programs like
our Grants Program, running our finances, building relationships
with sponsors and grant recipients, building our digital presence,
maintaining membership records and generally getting stuff done. <br>
</p>
<p>Being a part of Council is a great professional development
activity, but does require a time commitment. <br>
</p>
<p>Start thinking about whether this is something you might be
interested in, as Council elections will open soon (TM). <br>
</p>
<p>Sae Ra Germaine, our longstanding Secretary, has compiled
Position Descriptions here -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://github.com/linuxaustralia/position-descriptions">https://github.com/linuxaustralia/position-descriptions</a><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Next actions</h4>
<p>Council is going to be pretty busy over the next couple of months
with running-an-incorporated-association-administrivia such as</p>
<ul>
<li>Doing the books for the 2017-2018 financial year and getting
these audited</li>
<li>Preparing reports for AGM in January - this year we'll be
doing a combined Annual Report</li>
<li>Submitting paperwork to relevant $AUTHORITIES</li>
<li>Preparing to open Council elections for 2018</li>
<li>Ensuring that our activities are in a good place for handover
to Council 2018</li>
</ul>
<h4>Parting thoughts<br>
</h4>
<p>On another note, many in our community will really enjoy the
latest episode of #QandA, which featured a mature discussion on
drones, artificial intelligence and their societal implications: <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/qanda/NC1703H033S00">http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/qanda/NC1703H033S00</a></p>
<p>On a more personal note, many in Australia will have already
voted in the postal survey on marriage equality, and many more are
yet to do so. My personal views on this are well known, but with
my President hat on, let me make one and only comment on the
issue. History, time and time again, has shown that the most
successful societies and organisations are also those that are the
most inclusive. Together we do better - and Linux Australia has
endeavoured - sometimes well, and sometimes not so well - to be
more inclusive over the years. My thoughts are especially with
those in our community who are experiencing increased levels of
anxiety, and psychological distress at this time. This debate is
difficult for many. <br>
</p>
<p>As always, your feedback, comments and concerns are warmly
welcomed. May your dashboards be green and your packets be fast.<br>
</p>
<p>Kind regards, <br>
</p>
<p>Kathy<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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