[Linux-aus] Goodbye AUUG, hello phoenix

[Silvia Pfeiffer]

On 9/17/06, Jeff Waugh <jdub at perkypants.org> wrote:
> Note, again, that I haven't suggested "one org to bind them all". I've just
> suggested that we rename our organisation and conference *TO REPRESENT WHAT
> THEY ALREADY ARE* (apologies for shouting, but most of the arguments against
> this assume 'change', which I've made the point about numerous times).

That's not quite true. If you rename it to include any open source
development, then all of a sudden people who develop open source
software for non-Linux *purely* - say, e.g. a open source backup
solution for Windows XP, or an open source QuickTime component for
windows media for the Mac, would also be included. This means, you
will not only include people who already are part of LA or LCA (even
though they don't do Linux, but e.g. Apache or Gnome or Annodex or you
name it), but you will include others as well, whom you might not
necessarily want to attract.

Also, actions against proprietary solutions or proprietary activites
are then much more difficult to justify, since there will be people
who don't favor open source over proprietary and would hate to see you
slash Vista for example.

Renaming always shifts expectations and audience, no matter how
carefully you will do the transition.

But there is also a problem about naming. This whole discussion
depends on what the name of the new organisation will be. Without
actually knowing what the next thing is, you can only expect criticism
for moving away from the old and working one. I don't think Phoenix or
Glasnost (the latter because of political implications) are the right
ways to go. You/we have to come up with something better, that really
implies what you want to express.

Cheers,
Silvia.