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On Sunday 27 October 2002 11:34, Peter E. Williams wrote:
> I don't know the answers to all your questions because there is now
> new management and a new location for CRS and TechnoTrash. I won't
> tie up the mailing list with the long answers to those I do know. A
> visit to CRS and TechnoTrash is worth a thousand words. I also have
> no intention of evading your questions. Please do not perceive any of
> my responses as a defense or attack when addressing your questions.
> At this stage of setting up an Installfest with CRS, I think it
> would be easy to make a big issue from any of the questions you all
> have made.

it is not my intention to make a big issue, either. i simply wish to 
understand who the CRS and their affiliates are, what their goals and aims 
are, what my participating in a cooperation with them would result in for all 
involved and what they would like to see out of this.

if it is simply that they want to donate space and in return get a few 
firewalls for their use, great. if they want some systems to give away to 
charities, great. if they wish to sell systems we build, then i would need to 
know where those proceeds go and how they are used before i personally would 
join in.

now, seeing as you don't know many of the answers i (and apparently others) 
are looking for, perhaps the best thing would be if the CRS people could 
communicate directly with us. perhaps at a CLUG meeting, or on this list, or 
through you. 

but i, at least, require answers before doing anything. and no, i won't show 
up for an installfest there under the auspice of getting answers then, as 
then it becomes very awkward should i decide not to participate once i'm 
already there. i really don't want to sound stubborn or uncooperative, but i 
don't want to support something i don't know anything about. i hope that is 
understandable.

i would also have a hard time getting behind making it an official CLUG 
activity under those circumstances.

> I ask for the moment, for members to imagine setting up another
> Installfest. I will now attempt to tell CLUG members what they would
> be getting themselves into.
>
> CLUG has an opportunity to have monthly Installfests in a space
> with donated electricity and computer tables.

we already have two such places at our disposal. SAIT requires lead time and 
is not guarenteed, Nexus is pretty much always available and very open to us 
being there.

> The ideas that have
> been talked about so far on this thread are all valid. However, CLUG
> members need not be concerned with being used by a business
> (TechnoTrash) because CLUG members will have many options and choices.

such as?

> We don't have to do anything CRS or TechnoTrash tells us. One choice

and what would they want, exactly?

> after the next Installfest that CLUG members can make is to donate
> their time to CRS activities and the societies they help. Another

the question is: what will occur during the initial installfest there? this 
shouldn't be a difficult question =) this question arises because it was said 
that they would like to take their equipment and make systems out of them; if 
so, then what happens to those systems? i'm not going to show up, do a bunch 
of stuff, only to see the results of my efforts used in a way i don't agree 
with.

> choice is to just keep on showing up for more Installfests to learn
> how to fix your own computer issues or someone else's. Yet another

we can do this at the CRS or elsewhere. we are not in dire need of space.

> choice is to help promote Linux through workshops and Installfests
> to anyone who chooses to go to the donated CRS space.

until i understand what the CRS wants, how can i as an individual make such a 
decision? perhaps the CRS's goals are directly in line with my own. perhaps 
they have no needs/desires/wants from the group. perhaps they do and they are 
perfectly reasonable. i don't know. but until i do, and especially when 
questions are asked and then not answered, i can not in good faith make any 
sort of decision or committment.

> The CRS isn't forcing us to do anything in accepting their space.
> They want their volunteers to learn Linux. What they do with Linux
> is up to them. TechnoTrash is a business whose staff is concerned
> with the raw materials from used computers. They only want a Linux
> firewall for their Internet access. The CRS wants two of them.

this is fine ... they can show up to an installfest (There or elsewhere) and 
participate, just like everyone else.

again: the point is that the idea of CLUG helping them build systems was 
brought up as part of the concept. that is the issue that needs 
clarification.

> The CRS is a Not-For-Profit society that does what it can to make
> the best use of donated computers. If it can't find a use, they
> place it on the TechnoTrash pile.

which doesn't tell me anything. i still don't know what happens with those 
systems.

> CRS was thinking of selling Linux firewalls with the computers which
> cannot be used by the societies it helps.

and this is what needs clarification: where does CLUG come into this?

> It seems that societies
> don't have much use for firewalls, but businesses certainly do.

what makes societies different from businesses? they don't have internet 
connections?

> Selling a firewall to a business would only supplement the CRS
> operations.

which are?

> I would suggest that any unanswered questions pertaining to the
> operations of CRS and TechnoTrash be addressed at the next
> Installfest. 

then i would suggest that we hold the next installfest elsewhere and they can 
attend and we can use that time to discuss an installfest there.

> firewalls, LTSP, computer building for your charity, etc.) Remember
> also, they can decide if they want to keep on inviting us to use
> their donated space and electricity for more Installfests.

remember that we have two other locations for that already =)

> computers to CLUG when a relationship develops. He sees working with
> CLUG as a positive means to work with the community and as a learning
> tool for CRS and CLUG. An Installfest and other shared projects would
> allow us to help each other achieve our separate goals. I would tend
> to agree.

that's all well and good. but once again: what are their goals, and how do 
they plan on achieving them?

- -- 
Aaron J. Seigo
GPG Fingerprint: 8B8B 2209 0C6F 7C47 B1EA  EE75 D6B7 2EB1 A7F1 DB43

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler"
    - Albert Einstein
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