<div dir="auto">Hi everyone</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Hope you are all keeping well. Please see the email below from Darren to source some sponsors/donations for Slackware UK.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Cheers</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Becky</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Darren 'Tadgy' Austin</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:lists@afterdark.org.uk">lists@afterdark.org.uk</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2021 at 22:10<br>Subject: [lugmaster] Seeking new sponsors and donations for Slackware UK.<br>To: A closed discussion list for UK LUGMasters. <<a href="mailto:lugmaster@mailman.lug.org.uk">lugmaster@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>><br></div><br><br>I'd appreciate it if you could forward this onto your LUGs - thanks!<br>
<br>
Hi,<br>
Some of you in the Slackware Linux community may know me already, but others <br>
may not - I'm Darren 'Tadgy' Austin and I operate the Slackware UK <br>
[<a href="https://slackware.uk/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://slackware.uk/</a>] mirror and hosting service specifically targeted at <br>
the Slackware Linux [<a href="https://slackware.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://slackware.com/</a>] community.<br>
<br>
The service has been running for over 10 years now, with sponsorship and <br>
support from a private company in the UK, File Away Limited <br>
[<a href="https://www.file-away.co.uk/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.file-away.co.uk/</a>], who I have to thank for their unwavering <br>
support over this time - I couldn't have continued the service without their <br>
help.<br>
<br>
File Away's support has allowed the service to grow and grow to what it is <br>
today. From simply offering a mirror of Slackware Linux at the end of a 2MB <br>
SDSL connection, to also offering free hosting of projects on dedicated <br>
servers with Gigabit connectivity for all things Slackware!<br>
<br>
I would like to think Slackware UK has grown to be one of the largest <br>
repositories of Slackware related projects and files on the internet - in <br>
fact, I cannot think of anywhere else that provides access to so many <br>
resources in one location.<br>
<br>
But Slackware UK isn't just about mirroring software that you can find <br>
elsewhere on the internet - I offer free full file hosting to Slackware <br>
related projects, distributions and package maintainers. There are several <br>
projects which utilise Slackware UK as their primary hosting solution; <br>
including SlackwareARM [<a href="https://arm.slackware.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://arm.slackware.com/</a>] and SlackwareARM for the <br>
Raspberry Pi (SARPi) [<a href="https://sarpi.penthux.net/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://sarpi.penthux.net/</a>], Absolute Linux <br>
[<a href="https://www.absolutelinux.org/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.absolutelinux.org/</a>], Freeslack [<a href="http://freeslack.net/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://freeslack.net/</a>], Slint <br>
[<a href="https://slint.fr/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://slint.fr/</a>], Cinnamon SlackBuild (CSB) <br>
[<a href="https://cinnamonslackbuilds.github.io/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://cinnamonslackbuilds.github.io/</a>] and MATE SlackBuild (MSB) <br>
[<a href="https://mateslackbuilds.github.io/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://mateslackbuilds.github.io/</a>], to name but a few. I also offer a <br>
mirror of the entire Slackware Linux trees as well as packages provided by the <br>
Slackware core dev team members alienBOB (Eric Hameleers) and rworkman (Robby <br>
Workman). I also maintain an in-house cumulative archive (thanks to alienBOB <br>
for the bootstrap) of all packages distributed since the very first release of <br>
Slackware64.<br>
<br>
As I mentioned before, the service has been supported for many years by File <br>
Away Limited. However, recently and unfortunately, I have had word from File <br>
Away that they may no longer be able to continue funding (paying the bills!) <br>
of the main Slackware UK server after this years contract with the dedicated <br>
server provider ends. Obviously this could be a blow to the continued <br>
availability of the service going forward.<br>
<br>
So, why am I reaching out to the community?<br>
<br>
The primary reason is to try and find sponsors who may like to provide funding <br>
for the Slackware UK services in order to keep this valuable and widely used <br>
project operational. If you know of, or perhaps work for, a company who may <br>
be inclined to support a project like Slackware UK with sponsorship or <br>
donations to the cause, please, please either pass their details to me so I <br>
can make a direct approach, or facilitate an introduction between us yourself?<br>
<br>
Finding new sponsors who can financially support the project would be <br>
fantastic - especially if those sponsors already have something to do with <br>
Slackware (using it in their products or company, or regularly use one of the <br>
projects hosted on Slackware UK, perhaps?).<br>
<br>
However, If you cannot help by providing a contact or introduction, that <br>
brings me onto the second objective of this approach: donations or patronage.<br>
<br>
If you would like to contribute to the cause but don't have any contacts to <br>
offer, please consider a donation, if you have the means?<br>
I currently have a GoFundMe fundraiser [<a href="https://gofund.me/87934ce3" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://gofund.me/87934ce3</a>] running, <br>
with the goal of bringing in enough donations to see the project through the <br>
next 3 years of operation. But I do understand this may be a lofty goal and <br>
you may wish to show your support with a one off PayPal payment <br>
[<a href="https://paypal.me/DonateToSlackwareUK" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://paypal.me/DonateToSlackwareUK</a>] or a continuing patronage through <br>
Patreon [<a href="https://patreon.com/SlackwareUK" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/SlackwareUK</a>]. Any donations are gratefully <br>
received and every little bit helps :)<br>
<br>
Finally, I would appreciate it if you could spread this message through your <br>
circle of contacts, be that a group you are involved with (a LUG, Facebook <br>
group, etc.) a mailing list, or any other personal contacts far and wide.<br>
<br>
Please note that all donations and sponsorship are kept strictly for the use <br>
of services provided by Slackware UK, in a seperate bank account. I do not <br>
profit or take any sort of payment for running the service.<br>
<br>
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any bit of support you can <br>
offer!<br>
<br>
Darren Austin.<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
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