Aim

When: May 1-2 2006

Web: http://connectingup.cisa.asn.au

The South Australian State Government runs a conference for people involved in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Not-for-profit and Community sector. The program emphasises the management and administration of ICT resources in these organisations.

Program

The program of speakers included:

• Hon Jay Weatherill, SA Minister for Families and Communities – The SA Government’s role in ICT in the delivery of community services
• Nicola Thompson, General Manager, ICT Hub, London

• Joe Baker, Executive Director, Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN http://www.nten.org ), US

• David Barnard, Executive Director, South African Non-Government Organisations Network (SANGONet) http://www.sangonet.org.za

• Dr Simon Davey, Managing Director, Omega Alpha Limited (http://www.omega-alpha.com), Managing Associate, preponderate network (http://www.preponderate.net).

• Amith Nagarajan, CEO, Aptify Corporation, US.

This was an ideal opportunty to promote Ubuntu and other related projects:

• Ubuntu
• Software Freedom Day - September
• Linux Australia

Actions

• [Done] Register for confernce and book booth.
• [Done] Requested 320 CDROMs from ShipIT. (26 Mar)
  • [Confirmed] Shipit CD's have been sent (29 Mar)
  • [Arrived] Wahoo! (8 Apr)

• [Done] Discuss at AustraliaTeam meeting (4 Apr 2006)

• [Done] Seeking sponsorship from Linux Australia sponsorship for booth/attendance.
  • [Done] Sponsorship confirmed (6 Apr)
  • [Done] Receive funds
  • [Done] Pay for registration and booth

• Report to AustralianTeam meeting on 11 Apr 2006 (AustraliaTeam/Meetings)

• [Done] Prepare an A4 promotional speil for conference handbook (was due two weeks before).
• Make contact with
  • Other FLOSS minded people who may be going, to let them know we'll be there.
  • [Done] Local volunteers through LinuxSA
  • [Not done] Conference Speakers (or their offices)
• Booth
  • [Done] Organise furnature.. card-table and monitor stand.
  • [Done] Prepare display material.

Observations

• This is an annual conference, and I only thought of going quite late. It would be good to think about what can be done for future years, and start planning. eg. Contacting the organisers about getting a speaker from Ubuntu/Canonical or Lunux Australia and the LUG's
• It costs AU$250 to put something into the delegate package... not in the budget, maybe next year.

Other Suggestions

• Have a visitors book at the booth.
  • Arrange for followups.
• Blog the event - particularly if it can be done live.
• Show how Free and Open Source software can save organisations real money. (Who in Adelaide had Ubuntu partner points?)
  • Case studies.
  • Examples of how Ubuntu can be used in an organisations ICT strategy.

Conclusions

• Overall, the conference was well worth attending.
• There was quite a bit of the 'not-ready-yet' message coming from the podium on using FLOSS software in not-for-profit and NGO organisations. The event did have major sponsorship from Microsoft, so this was not completely unexpected.

• Over half of the visitors to the booth were already using Open Office, and everyone went away with a Ubuntu 5.10 CD set, with instructions on how to install OpenOffice from the LiveCD. Over 100 CD set's were given away, with a conference attendance of 250 people.