[Wylug-discuss] 'Pathetic' FLOSS Advocacy - Put it to the test?

[Mike Goodman]

On Thu, 2007-01-25 at 17:27 +0000, shaun laughey wrote:
> On Thursday 25 January 2007 17:07, Mike Goodman wrote:
> > , wearing my FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) hat, I have been
> > asked to sit on the committee of the Yorkshire & Humber Assembly,
> > responsible for advising how best grant funding to businesses for ICT
> > should be prioritised, among other policy matters. I would appreciate
> > the opportunity to discuss this with any interested WYLUG participants.
> > Most of our membership don't have the expertise and as I am, as with
> > everything I undertake, intending to keep the OS sword drawn during my
> > participation, any help I can get in formulating the arguments for
> > keeping large vested interests from taking over at each and every
> > opportunity will be very much appreciated.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Mike
> 
> Nice,
> 
> Count me in on any advice/recommendations you need Mike.
> 
> I'm helping large broadcasters move into the world of the free and it would be 
> nice to help the little companies too.
> 
> Server hosting, backup and DR would be the ones I'd be interested in helping 
> with as so many companies are crippled by the loss of a server or a website 
> or email when it could be a matter of pounds to get a cheap DR setup.

Thanks, Shaun. The first meeting in which I will be involved will be
next Tuesday, 30th Jan, so probably not enough time to do very much
between now and then. However, to get the ball rolling (anyone else
interested please chip in here or at least make yourselves known to us),
how do you think we should proceed? I can say what the agenda items of
interest are as they come up. Email info to be followed up by phone in
the first instance? That plus occasional meetings to kick some ideas
around?

I can't perceive any conflicts of interest, but please do bear in mind
that my motivator and driving force has to remain the interests of small
businesses and my input has to be from that and an ICT provider
perspective. Because I openly advocate OS, Open Standards and secure
implementations with costs of ownership considerations in those arenas,
that leaves a fairly open agenda as far as I can see.

Best,

Mike