[Linux-aus] Grant Application #2

[Pia Smith]

Hi all,

As per our new Grant Scheme here is application number two :) Please see
bottom of email for committee comments:

-----Forwarded Message-----

From: Kimberly Shelt <kim at linmagau.org>
To: committee at linux.org.au, pia at linux.org.au
Subject: [LACTTE] Application
Date: 08 May 2003 15:59:54 +1000

As per the guidelines please find below an application for
contributioni/supporting funds from LA to LinMagAU.

***
Date:				7th March 2003

Project Name:			LinmagAU.org

Aim of Project:

:Continue on line magazine production (currently monthly edition)
:Investigate ability to move to fortnightly editions
:Create proto-type hard copy for distribution throughout LUGS (within 3 months)

General Aims:

:Promote various Linux/OSS/Community related projects/people within Australia
:Encourage penetration of both Linux/OSS knowledge and usage within the computing community.
					
Person Responsible for Request:		Kimberly Shelt (kim at linmagau.org)

Request:
:	$200 per month
:	$? per click through (Upper limit per month) 
(On line)
On going hosting and bandwidth charges. 
Associated costs (ie telephone) for contact with vendors/advertisers, authors and other contributors.

(Hard Copy)
Purchase of paper, printing needs, industrial stapler etc (for inhouse build)
Printing costs for front page (professional cover)
Associated costs (ie telephone, postage) for contact with LUGS/distribution, advertisers, authors and other contributors.
		---------------------------------------

Currently the magazine is running banner advertising for many organisations at no cost..
the suggestion of $? being paid per click through on the banners has been raised.

Stats for the current edition 
Linux Australia	home page		Views  3644     Clicks 12
Linux Australia	users groups page	Views  3770     Clicks 12

This month has been the busiest so far, 300% improvement on last month, with many stories being taken up by large on line news sites, including the on line IT spaces of SMH & The Age.

We have been approached by several LUGS, organisations and companies with regards to banner advertising, and general support and in the coming weeks will be investigating either "charged advertising" or  "tiered sponsorship"
Currently we received consistent support (by way of links to articles) from the following :	
LinuxToday, LWN, SMH & The Age (on line) and usually something in Slashdot.
Some sites that have linked to the mag over the last few months::debian, osnews, (several) KDE sites,  pclinuxonline, openbsd sites,  whist many of these sites are  "overseas" based,  the number of members (with .au or .nz mailing addresses) joining the site  outweighs  others.
It is obvious we are reaching a fair proportion of users, a small group of "small business" etc, however I do not think we have as yet tapped the vendor area :). which of course is my next foray :)

**
Thanks
Kimberly Shelt
--
http://www.linmagau.org
_______________________________________________


The committee have discussed this and we'd like to go ahead for several
reasons:
	- linmagau fills the community newspaper role. It provides a service
and a community focused hub of information. We believe with a little
more support it will prove to be an excellent resource.
	- Linux Australia benefits directly, as we have a banner on linmagau
that receives click throughs every month. We should support those that
support us.

Ammendments:
	- $200 per month only (click-through incentive encourages Linux
Australia banners all over the place :) so we're not as keen on this)

If anyone disagrees with this then please post within the next two weeks, 
or we will assume it is accepted by the membership, and go ahead. Positive
comments are welcome too :)

Thanks and regards,
Pia

-- 
Pia Smith <president at linux.org.au>
Linux Australia