[HLUG] Letter to All Saints re Venue for SFD

[Julian Robbins]

Really good... I'll probably use it pretty much as is, Pete

Julian

On 4 July 2010 18:05, info at lifespacedesign.co.uk <info at lifespacedesign.co.uk
> wrote:

> Fellow HLUGers,
> here is a draft text for a letter to All Saints. May I ask anyone on the
> ball to
> convert relevant jargon and names into wikipedia links for the final
> version. So
> fire away, deadline looks likely to be lunchtime Monday...
>
> Pete H@
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> I am writing on behalf of Herefordshire Linux User Group to request
> permission
> to use a space in All Saints Church on Saturday 18th of September 2010 for
> a
> small display about Free Software, and to meet with members of the public
> to
> talk about our interest.
>
> The HLUG is an informal group which meets monthly to discuss Free and Open
> Source Software, to help each other overcome real life computer problems,
> and to
> share knowledge and other resources. This year we have chosen to take part
> in
> International Software Freedom Day; a global celebration of software
> created by
> and for communities across the globe which is shared free of charge, and
> fully
> disclosed ( Open Source) allowing anyone to adapt or improve it. This
> software
> is legally protected by a special lisence designed to prevent it's
> appropriation
> by greed or power driven interests.
>
> Open Source software is an important paradigm shift in sustainable
> community
> development worldwide as it shows that people can share skills and
> knowledge to
> achieve complex technical tasks without the driver of a profit motive. Some
> large corporations ( Cannonical, Novell) contribute much to these projects,
> but
> so do individuals like the founder of the Linux Operating System project,
> the
> Finnish student Linus Torvalds. It is open to anyone willing to contribute;
> but
> is also available for anyone to use free of charge and without legal
> limitations. It is especially important in less developed areas, and for
> educational uses of computers in a cash limited environment.
>
> We would like to use International Software Freedom Day to introduce a
> wider
> audience to software that we use every day in our normal lives, our work,
> our
> businesses. We hold that it is important for people to understand that
> computers
> are not tied to exploitative software models, that by sharing the
> contributions
> of the many; high quality applications and stable operating systems can
> meet the
> needs of any home, business, or other organisation. We believe it is
> important
> for younger users to know that ethical alternatives exist to using pirated
> copies of mainstream applications, and why they should use them !
>
> We would need:
>  a space to set up a trestle table, best against a wall where we could
> stand
> some display panels.
> Loan of a few chairs; but we could bring our own if needed.
> A mains electricity supply.We can supply electrical safety cut outs to
> protect
> out equipment. We accept all risks to our computers.
> We anticipate arriving to set up between 9 and 10 am, and to pack down by 4
> pm.
>
> We would use the space for;
> Displays about Free and Open Source Software.
> Running computer(s)as examples of the Linux Operating System(s) and
> applications, including live installation demonstrations.
> Give away CD's (under the GNU Public Lisence) loaded with FOSS.
>
> If any part of this letter is incomprehensible, please put the words into
> Google
> or Wikipedia for possible explanations :-)
> Written as a plain text file in KWrite on Mandriva Linux Free 2009
>
> Share and Enjoy :-)
> --
> Herefordshire LUG mailing list
> Web:  http://www.herefordshire.lug.org.uk
> List: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/herefordshire