[Colchester] Linux Install party in Colchester

[Sam Tuke]

Phill,

Great, thanks for your support! I look forward to hearing your ideas on monday.

Best wishes,

Sam.
----------------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:13:14 +0000
> From: phillip.sacre at gmail.com
> To: colchester at mailman.lug.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [Colchester] Linux Install party in Colchester
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Assuming I'm free on the date I would love to help out with this!
> 
> I'll try and be on IRC next Monday @ 7.
> 
> Cheers,
> Phill
> 
> On 14/02/2008, 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 18th 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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>>
> 
> 
> -- 
> web: http://phillsacre.me.uk
> msn: phill at mooseofming.co.uk

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