[Linux-aus] LA member services / multi-tiered membership

[Jonathan Oxer]

On Mon, 2007-05-21 at 13:43 +1000, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> <quote who="Michael Still">
> 
> > (Oh, and does LA really need more money? What would that extra money be
> > used for?)
> 
> I think this is a reflection on previous discussion about the diversity of
> Linux Australia income, rather than the amount of it.

Yes, that's correct. Mostly.

For the benefit of those who may have missed previous discussion (or had
it flushed from your wetware cache) the problem is that in terms of
income we're a one-trick pony: linux.conf.au generates a surplus, which
is then used to cover general LA expenses and fund things like the
Grants Scheme. The danger is that one day an LCA could tank financially
or perhaps just break even and the organisation would be left without
operational revenue and would have to start dipping into savings.

So having a diversified income would be good, even if just to make sure
the organisation is assured of continuing operational funds if there is
ever a Bad LCA Year.

Mikal's question about whether LA needs more money and what it would be
used for is still relevant though. There's no point raising money just
for the sake of it, but there are a bunch of things we could do if we
had more available. Just off the top of my head and not making any
comment on whether these would be worthwhile or not, we could do things
like: 

 * Participate in more trade shows and events.
 * Burn and distribute lots of copies of The Open CD.
 * Deploy FOSS vending machines to universities / libraries / shopping
centers.
 * Pay people to work on specific issues such as AUS-US FTA and the
Copyright Amendment Act as they arise.
 * Build more infrastructure to offer hosting/lists etc to LUGs.
 * Run a FOSS roadshow.
 * Run a FOSS user conference.
 * Send good speakers (local or otherwise) on tours of LUGs and, perhaps
more importantly, non-FOSS ICT groups such as Melbourne PC User Group.

So we don't *need* more money, but it would be useful to have.

Cheers   :-)
-- 
Jonathan Oxer
Ph +61 3 9723 9399
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