[Colchester] Linux Install party in Colchester

[Tom Robbins]

Blimey, that's all very organized.

One idea that I had to make it easy for people installing is, if we have 
a favored distribution (or two) we could mirror a repository. Perhaps 
Ubuntu, since it's fairly user friendly. It would certainly save 
enormous amounts of bandwidth, and with a small Ethernet hub and a few 
cables it would be easy to organize without making people worry about 
wireless drivers.

Tom


jack spratt wrote:
>
> *Plans for Colchester public install party*
>
> By Sam Tuke on 13.02.08
>
> *
> * Contents:
> 1. Whom this concerns
> 2. Summary of planned activities
> 3. Abbreviated minutes of relevant material from Colchester LUG 
> meeting 07.02.08
> 4. Progress since LUG meeting
> 5. Summary of current situation and next steps
> 6. Meeting of those concerned
>
> *
> 1.
> *
> This email concerns those associated with the Colchester LUG and Linux 
> users in general who have shown and now wish to show an interest in 
> the organisation of a local 'Install Party' of Linux on the machines 
> of those who attend.
>
> Members of the LUG who are not interested in the promotion of Linux 
> amongst the public need have no part in the proceeding described 
> below, and should not feel any compulsion to get involved.
>
> This is an open project, not exclusive to attendees of LUG meetings, 
> and an attempt will be made to make use of the help of anyone who 
> volunteers themselves.
>
> The more diversity of skill, opinion and experience we have in the 
> organisational team the better!
>
>
> *2.*
>
> The primary purpose of holding the 'install party' is to increase 
> awareness and use of the Linux Operating system amongst the general 
> public of Colchester. All details of the install party are designed 
> with this in mind.
>
> Loosely then, we intend to hold an install party:
> -that is at a public location
> -that is open to the public
> -that promotes Linux and free software
> -that provides an opportunity for the public and their computer to be 
> introduced to Linux by 'experts'
> -that is completely free for the public, where possible
> -that is entirely run and organised voluntarily by free software 
> enthusiasts
>
> Hopefully the above points are basic and uncontentious. They are 
> nonetheless open to revision.
>
>
> *3.*
>
> Having established the foundational conception of the 'install party', 
> discussion and commentary about this event which occurred at the 
> latest CLUG meeting will now be reproduced. Talk and note taking at 
> this event was not in any particular order, I'll try and group 
> together points of a similar nature.
>
> Abbreviated, (Unattributed) Minutes:
>
> ~ The meeting should be held in a 'public' place because of i. legal 
> implications and responsibilities (health and safety etc.); ii. easy 
> public access, problems locating the premises etc.; public 
> acceptability and image/presentation of the group/'party'
>
> ~ The chosen meeting location will ideally be well known to the 
> public, or at least be easily findable (have its own website with map 
> possibly, e.g. Colchester Central Library)
>
> ~The premises needs to be low cost (ideally free) due to the 'party's' 
> voluntary nature
>
> ~The premises must be open at times suitable to the 'install party's' 
> requirements
>    -Suitable times for the 'party' will primarily need to meet the 
> needs of the 'installers', with the secondary goal of coinciding with 
> periods outside of common working hours to encourage public 
> participation. Evenings or weekends may be preferable
>
> ~ The premises needs to provide the opportunity for Internet 
> connectivity because of the need for:
>     - Problem solving, and
>     - Downloading (additional) software packages, such as drivers and 
> other user specific material
>
> =
>
> ~ Prepared (pre-downloaded) software should be brought to the 'party' 
> by installers because this will:
>     - Speed up the installation and configuration progress; no wait 
> and search for software online during the 'party' itself
>     - Minimise bandwidth requirements of on-site Internet connection
>
> ~ These 'pre-cached' packages could be chosen and organised in a 
> variety of ways:
>     -Likely critical updates and commonly used packages for the 
> primary supported distro could simply be downloaded and stored before hand
>     - A simple server machine could be set up to host packages, and/or 
> auto cache any packages downloaded on the day, possibly via a python 
> script, to make the process more efficient.
>     - For distros with smaller repositories, the repositories could be 
> downloaded before hand for optimum package availability (say, for 
> those which would fit on DL-DVD)
>
> =
>
> ~ A variety of distributions on liveCD should be brought in case 
> demonstration is required for intermediate users or those with 
> specific tastes/requirements (say five or six?)
>
> ~ Demo machines should be provided for those completely unfamiliar 
> with Linux/KDE/GNOME to dispense with their fears. Ideally a selection 
> of Distros would be available to try on these demo machines
>
> =
>
> ~ Whilst all types of prospective Linux user should be catered for, 
> thought needs to be given to the party's specific target audience. 
> Advanced/capable windows users curious about the 'unknown' of other 
> operating systems may be a good and receptive demographic to target in 
> this way in advertising and distro selection etc.. Narrowing our focus 
> in this way can make our advertising material more effective, and 
> appealing to too wide an audience presents several problems.
>
> ~ Advertising of the event will be key to its success or failure, good 
> material needs to be distributed widely (and in strategic places?)
>
> ~ Should the event have an associated website? This would present the 
> opportunity to:
>    - Submit requests for help in advance of the meeting, guaranteeing 
> time slots etc.
>    - Submit hardware information in advance of the 'party' to allow 
> better preparation; specific drivers downloaded, compatibility 
> researched etc.
>    - Download a script to quickly retrieve the client's crucial 
> hardware and diagnostic information (this idea has potential problems 
> - suspicious software to prospective attendee, too much effort for 
> attendee, etc. etc.)
>
> =
>
> ~ Liability policies need to be resolved before the 'party' - will 
> attendees need to agree to a waiver? Paper or verbal?
>
> ~ An external USB hard disk drive should be available to backup 
> attendees data before any dangerous procedures proceed. USB = wide 
> compatibility, external = mobile. Either one large or several smaller 
> HDDs could be used. The funding/sourcing of such a device was 
> unresolved. Alternatively attendees could be requested to backup all 
> data before attending, although some may not be able.
>
> ~ Attendees may be requested to partition their drives before 
> attending to speed up the installation process and minimise liability 
> of the 'installers'
>
> =
>
> ~ Activity at the 'party' should always be present: this provides an 
> encouraging and professional atmosphere for those arriving. In this 
> regard, the activity in question going on is not so critical as that 
> there /is /activity going on. Installers will thus appear occupied and 
> receptive to newcomers.
>
> ~ A certain level of presentability should be reached by 'installers' 
> and 'party' representatives - this helps ensure respect and trust from 
> attendees ("no beer stained shirts")
>
> =
>
> ~ Should help with any other operating systems that Linux be offered?
>    - Benefits: potentially attracts greater interest and numbers; 
> attending is more desirable to public
>    - Negative effects: may inspire antagonism from local IT firms, 
> potentially sidetracks interest away from free software, requires 
> skills irrelevant to CLUG
>
> End of Minutes
>
>
> *4. *
>
> I have made some inquiries regarding the location of the 'install 
> party' I mentioned no dates, and listed requirements as i. Power 
> points (several); ii. Space for 20-30 people (intended to represent 
> need for equipment space), and; iii. Internet access if possible. I 
> have contacted:
>
> 1. Colchester Central Library
> 2. Hole in the Wall Pub
> 3. Colchester campus/institute
> 4. Community and volunteers centre
> 5. Greenstead Community Centre
>
> 1. In a message left on my voicemail a library representative said 
> they would be happy to host us, but were very busy with book festivals 
> etc. and said availability before April would be unlikely.
>
> 2. The Hole in the wall were also very receptive, I spoke to the 
> manager about the hire of their small lower seating area in the rear 
> right corner of the pub facing its direction from the town centre (the 
> same place we were sat at the last CLUG meeting). He said that either 
> evenings or Saturdays would be fine, Saturdays they are open from 
> 12-12. He gave the impression that we could use the area for as long 
> as we liked, and that attendees and installers not consuming alcohol 
> would not be a problem (I said tea and coffees would likely be 
> consumed). The manager also said that wireless internet could be made 
> available as they have their own network there, which is not usually 
> available for public use. This can be discussed with the team there at 
> a later date. /The above is all available for free/. However, for 
> those that haven't seen this seating area, I'll try and explain its 
> limitations. Firstly, its obviously in a pub, which is not necessarily 
> a good image for the meet and may turn off many potential attendees, 
> also children may not be very welcome. It is a small space, currently 
> with four fairly large wooden tables occupying it, and the management 
> may not be willing to change its layout at all. If we could rearrange 
> the furniture the space may prove sufficient. There is only one 
> electric point from what I could see, that appeared to have been 
> installed 40 years ago or more. Granted multi-sockets and extension 
> cables can be used, but its not an ideal situation by any means - 
> pushing into several kilowatts may not be a good idea on an old socket 
> like this. The suitability of The Hole in the Wall clearly needs more 
> discussion.
>
> 3. I was referred to the Colchester Venues dept., who quoted a variety 
> of venues. The facilities I was offered were not however aimed at 
> community projects - meetings, but seemed designed to cater largely 
> for business and other commercial customers. I was offered loan of 
> lecture theatres, hotel 'function' suites (with included food) and 
> conference halls. The university facilities were priced at £81.90 per 
> day plus £63 for computer facilities and C.£50 per hour for a 
> technician to 'enable' the computer facilities. Alternatively hotel 
> prices started at £40 per person attending. None of the facilities 
> offered seemed suitable. However, I tried to make contact with the 
> 'Departmental Administrator of Computing and Electronics' who might be 
> help to offer other options or support, possibly as an education event.
>
> 4. This community centre is located near the Castle on Colchester high 
> street. They were quite receptive to my enquiries, but had 
> reservations about the capacity of the room they had to offer. No 
> specific answer was given to my inquiries about internet availability. 
> Hire it not available in at weekends (unless with 'CEO's' permission), 
> or in the evenings. The rate for the hire of the room by a voluntary 
> organisation is £20. I was invited to go and inspect the room in 
> question to judge the suitability for myself, which I have yet to do.
>
> 5. I received no reply from here on separate occasions on a Friday, 
> and left a message stating my interest. I have yet to hear back from 
> them.
>
>
> *5.*
>
> Currently it seems we have no obvious choice of venue. Questions such 
> as dates, default distro, key installers, finance methods and others 
> remain. Assembling a list of individuals definitely wishing to 
> participate in this event would be a useful activity, and so I ask 
> that such people make themselves known either to me or to the 
> recipients of the mailinglist generally. We'll have a better idea of 
> where we stand once this is accomplished.
>
> Scouting of alternative venues should continue, and any suggestions 
> would be appreciated. Centrality and public awareness, as well as 
> times of availability are critical in this regard.
>
> Work on promotional material can begin immediately (posters, fliers). 
> I intend to do this as soon as I have time, and welcome any 
> submissions from others. I'm also happy to hand the project of poster 
> design to anyone sufficiently skilled (I'm a novice using svg) – 
> again, let me know what you have to offer.
>
>
> *6.*
>
>
> *I suggest that those wishing to participate in any way with this 
> event, and those who don't but have something to say about it, join 
> together on the CLUG IRC channel this Monday 18^th at 7pm to further 
> discuss the contents of this communication and the upcoming 'install 
> party'. If anyone has a problem with this suggestion email me to let 
> me know.*
>
> Many thanks for reading this mail, and supporting the 'install party' 
> – together we can have a big impact on Linux awareness and usership in 
> this fine county!
>
> Contact me direct: samtuke [at] hotmail [dot] com
>
>
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