[Linux-aus] The Ada Initiative - Should Linux Australia support it?

[Silvia Pfeiffer]

Hi all,

now that we have heard quite a number of opinions on list about the
donation and the perception of what the Ada Initiative is about, I'd
actually like to see something from the Ada Initiative themselves.

Don't get me wrong: I am not asking for a justification of their work,
nor am I asking to do due diligence for the donation process, nor am I
in any way shape or form implying that they should have spoken up
earlier. In fact, I thought it was very considerate of them to leave
the community to their own devices on this discussion.

However, seeing as at least one founder of the Ada Initiative is a
member of this community and is even a member on the council, it is
probably time to share some of the thoughts and intentions behind the
AI with the other members. It's better than some others on this list
guessing what you may be doing and interpreting what you have written
on the Website.

I would concretely like to avoid copying things from the website (as
we can all read) and rather provide information that is more concrete
to this community. Answers to questions such as:
* what motivated you to create the AI?
* what concrete activities are you considering in your first year?
* what are you in particular trying to do in Australia?
* are you going to do statistics and questionnaires, too, or are you
relying on other people's analysis/research work to identify
opportunities to make a difference?
* what concretely are you intending to do for this community?

I know that at least Mary will see this email and I would like to ask
her to regard this as questions of a journalistic nature - simply to
satisfy the curiosity of this community to find out more about your
aims and where people in this community could even help.

Cheers,
Silvia.


On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 9:46 AM, Donna Benjamin <donna at cc.com.au> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> The council has decided to support the Ada Initiative with a donation of
> $5000.00  (http://adainitiative.org)
>
> First let me say I reckon that's fantastic - but then I wholeheartedly
> support the aims and ambition of the Ada Initiative and it's founders
> Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora. I have provided support by way of a
> little graphic design, and I have agreed to sit on the advisory board.
>
> However, I also support AJ's suggestion that the LA council should
> operate a little more transparently when it comes to dispersal of funds,
> and that the membership might wish to scrutinise the decision.
>
> So - is it appropriate for LA to support the initiative?
>
> If yes, then given the project is calling for cash, that support would
> best be delivered in the form of a donation. What level of donation
> would be appropriate?
>
> Is $5,000 too much or too little?
>
> If no, why not?
>
> cheers
> Donna
> --
> Donna Benjamin - Executive Director
> Creative Contingencies - http://cc.com.au
> ph +61 3 9326 9985 - mob +61 418 310 414
> Campaigning to http://digitisethedawn.org
>
>
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