[Linux-aus] [Grant Application] Kids Tracks at BuzzConf

Thu Sep 21 16:32:32 AEST 2017

Thanks for the additional information Ben.

We received a sponsorship prospectus from Fruit Bowl productions on
behalf of Buzzconf which we politely declined on 17th August.

I'll send you the email trail,

Best,
Kathy

On 21/09/17 16:02, Ben Dechrai wrote:
> Thanks Kathy, and LA members, for considering this request.
>
> On the topic of open source and BuzzConf, I'd argue that less than 10%
> of our content touches on proprietary technologies.
>
> Deakin University's talk will no doubt cover encumbered technology, as
> university product so often is; and AusPost's talk on emerging
> technologies will touch on products such as Google Home; but all
> presentations are theoretical, with aspirations and predictions being
> the take-aways, which apply equally to all technologists, regardless
> of philosophy.
>
> The kids workshops use Arduinos, Makey Makeys, MIT's Scratch game
> development project, paper, conductive ink, and so on. One of the
> workshops uses Minecraft.
>
> The main workshops use Blender3D, Arduinos, Python and packages. The
> Deep Learning workshop uses exclusively FLOSS tools. The workshops on
> Augmented and Virtual Reality use proprietary hardware (such as the
> HoloLens and HTC Vibe), but based on development in open source
> technologies. Some applications might connect to cloud services, which
> might be proprietary.
>
> I'm also a bit confused about the comment on the declined sponsorship
> request earlier this month. Neither Rick nor I have ever formally
> requested funding from LA. In early 2016, I was encouraged to
> investigate the possibility, and I spoke with Hugh Blemings by email
> about that, but the matter died off at some point, and I didn't pursue
> it. If someone else is applying for funding in BuzzConf's name, I'd
> love to know more. If my memory is failing, I'd like to know that too :)
>
> Cheers,
> Ben
>
>
> On 21/09/17 14:29, Linux Australia President wrote:
>>
>> This is a courtesy note to acknowledge receipt of this Grant
>> application. Community feedback is welcomed on this request up to 2nd
>> October, and this Grant Request will be considered at Council meeting
>> 12th October.
>>
>> The 2017 Grants program ends on 30 September, and the funds allocated
>> here are all spent. However, what I'd like to recommend is that we
>> simply follow the established process for Grants to consider this
>> request, until we formally open the 2018 Grants program.
>>
>> The 2018 Grants program has $AUD 35k allocated, so the $1000 amount
>> request is 1/35th of this. The larger amount requested as an event
>> partner - $5000 - is 1/7th of our total Grant and sponsorship pool
>> for 2017/2018.
>>
>> For transparency, Linux Australia declined a sponsorship request for
>> BuzzConf earlier this month given that the conference covers
>> primarily proprietary, not open, technologies.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> Kathy Reid
>>
>>
>> On 18/09/17 20:19, Ben Dechrai via linux-aus wrote:
>>> Dear LA council and members,
>>>
>>> You may have heard about BuzzConf <https://buzzconf.io/>. It's an
>>> annual technology festival that's about to see its third event run
>>> from Dec 1st to 3rd. Take liberal portions of tech conference, mix
>>> in a family friendly atmosphere, a strong focus on diversity, and
>>> the party atmosphere of a music festival, and you're on the right track.
>>>
>>> This year, we've had a fantastic number of submissions to the kids
>>> track <https://buzzconf.io/kids-track/>, and have enough to run two
>>> tracks for them! Some of them require the supply of hardware, in
>>> particular:
>>>
>>>> *Nightmare Light*
>>>>
>>>> In this workshop we will help you design, build and program a
>>>> nightmare-light. We’ll have sensors available for those who want to
>>>> detect ambient light for an extra challenge. The workshop is geared
>>>> towards children but those young-at-heart are welcome to join too!
>>>> Younger children can participate too if they have an overseeing
>>>> parent to help them.
>>>>
>>>> Participation is $30 per person to cover hardware costs. Each
>>>> person will get a kit with:
>>>>
>>>> 1 x Arduino (will need a USB cable for programming)
>>>> 1 x Photo resistor
>>>> 1 x LED light pack
>>>> 1 x Battery
>>>> 1 x Set of wires (for electrical connection)
>>>
>>> Children attend BuzzConf for free and get their own educational
>>> track, because we want to make events like these as accessible as
>>> possible to families, especially single-parent families, who often
>>> can't get to conferences.
>>>
>>> In this spirit, we'd love to cover all workshop costs for children
>>> too. We currently have 37 child tickets sold, with 13 more
>>> available. With an anticipated 20-30 children making a nightmare
>>> light, the workshop organiser will be supplying $600 - $900 worth of
>>> hardware.
>>>
>>> CoderDojo Carlton are also running a number of workshops and, while
>>> they will be bringing hardware from their pool, they anticipate
>>> incurring costs of around $65 for the components that kids will be
>>> taking away (conductive tape, and LEDs).
>>>
>>> We are seeking funding to cover the cost to the organisers of
>>> running the children's workshops, estimated at no more than $1,000.
>>> Would LA be amenable to covering this cost? After the event, we
>>> would provide a detailed itinerary and costs of hardware that was
>>> given to the kids (we wouldn't expect workshop organisers to be
>>> reimbursed for hardware that they don't give away), so that LA's
>>> contribution is only for those costs. It may, in this scenario, be
>>> easier for this request to be that the organisers are paid directly
>>> by LA, and that we are seeking funding on their behalf.
>>>
>>> In acknowledgement of this support, we would including LA's logo on
>>> our website as a Festival Sponsor (a $1,000 value in our sponsor doc).
>>>
>>> On the off-chance that LA would consider a larger investment, in
>>> order to run the two tracks for children, we are needing to secure
>>> additional facilities, such as tables, tents, power, and projection
>>> facilities. If LA were to consider a $5,000 investment and become a
>>> Festival Partner, we would prioritise these funds to ensure the
>>> children's workshop cost outlined above are covered first and
>>> foremost. The remainder would help us with the increased costs of
>>> additional facilities. The Festival Partner support level also
>>> includes two festival tickets, which LA could use as they wish. (You
>>> might want to send some representatives of LA, or give them away to
>>> the community. We could help promote any activity around making
>>> these available to others.)
>>>
>>> Many thanks in advance for your consideration. I welcome any
>>> questions for clarification.
>>>
>>> Ben Dechrai
>>> Co-founder, BuzzConf Technology Festival
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>> -- 
>> Kathy Reid
>> President
>> Linux Australia
>>
>> 0418 130 636
>>
>> president at linux.org.au
>> http://linux.org.au
>>
>> Linux Australia Inc
>> GPO Box 4788
>> Sydney NSW 2001
>> Australia
>>
>> ABN 56 987 117 479 
>
> -- 
> Technologist, Strategist, Speaker
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>
> Tel: +61 415 127 120 <tel:+61415127120>
>
> Ben Dechrai: CTO for Hire <https://bendechrai.com/> 	Privacy Bastion
> <http://privacybastion.com/> 	BuzzConf Technology Festival
> <https://buzzconf.io/> 	The Art of Bullshit <https://bullshitart.ist/>
> 	Meetup Mixup Melbourne <https://melbourne.meetupmixup.com/>
> Need a Technical Consultant
> who also understands
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> Savourers of Civil Liberties.
> Defenders of Data Sovereignty. 	The Emerging Technology
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> mixer for the whole
> Melbourne tech community
>
>
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>
>

-- 
Kathy Reid
President
Linux Australia

0418 130 636

president at linux.org.au
http://linux.org.au

Linux Australia Inc
GPO Box 4788
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia

ABN 56 987 117 479 

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