[Linux-aus] [LACTTE] Grant Application: OLS speaker travel

[Nathan Bailey]

Whilst I can hear what you're saying, I don't think that's a good use of 
LA funds. The benefit is too limited and dispersed; if our goal was to 
raise the profile of Linux activity in Australia with overseas 
audiences, we should formulate projects along those lines and strategise 
the best way to achieve it. I'm sure we could come up with a range of 
effective approaches that didn't require the same level of funding.

For my part, I would like to see more grant proposals along the lines of 
"if you give me XXX, along with my investment of YYY, I can add new 
these new features to project ZZZ"

There are a whole range of projects that I'd be really happy to see us 
investing in, to fix bugs, improve user experience/design, improve 
documentation, implement new features, etc. Alternatively, we could be 
promoting the Linux experience (user, server, corporate, etc.) with 
specific marketing campaigns, case studies, research, etc. which would 
benefit both Linux usage in Australia and overseas (eg. like the Firefox 
videos).

And I think that either of these would also achieve the aim of raising 
the profile of Linux activity in Australia (eg. "These patches/bugs were 
sponsored in part by Linux Australia, see (url)"). Or "This promotion 
material was supported with a grant from Linux Australia, see (url)".

re,
N

Donna Benjamin wrote:
> On Sun, 2007-04-01 at 21:09 +1000, James Purser wrote:
>   
>> Ben, unfortunately the committee has voted not to approve your grant
>> request. It was felt that it did not meet the "benefit the community"
>> criteria in that while being beneficial to yourself, there was little
>> that could be brought to the community that couldn't be brought through
>> other much more cost effective means.
>>     
>
> I think this is unfortunate.
>
> Whilst the current grant scheme may not be able to accommodate such
> requests, I propose we need to consider something that does.
>
> The benefit to our community of Ben going to OLS as a speaker - is we
> can ask him to represent Linux Australia, raise our international
> mindshare, spruik LCA, talk about our community and what makes it
> special. In general, fly the tux-spangled flag of the southern-cross.
>