non-profit does NOT mean each course should be run on a break even basis. most non-profit organisations make a profit on one line of business to subsidise another. for example "op shops" run by the churches.
"non-profit" means that none of the members are entitled to any of the excess income over expenditure, and that such excess must be either accumulated or spent on the trust's aims. For example the profit on teaching a professional course might be used for education of the masses about open source, but cannot be paid out to the members or trustees. I believe that the trust should not operate courses on an uneconomic basis, it should strive to make a reasonable profit on commercial ventures (like teaching a commercial professional qualification), and use those funds for promoting its aims. As an ancillary point, all costs have to be taken into account, indirect as well as direct. That includes depreciation (those computers and desks wil need replacing some day), rent, power, and probably many more overheads. If we are well below market rates it may mean someone is not doing the sums right. so, theres my 2 cents. On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 10:43:51 +1200 Christopher Sawtell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 10:11, you wrote: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > >We need to have 6 students minimum for it to be a possibility at that > > >price. > > >If we cannot find the necessary 6 people then it would be possible to go > > >with > > >fewer students paying more. > > >1 - $1800 > > >2 - $900 > > >3 - $600 > > >4 - $450 > > >5 - $360 > > >6 - $300 > > > > Considering the eight letters I currently have after my name cost me over > > $10,000 this is a pretty good price. > So much so that I am sometimes left wondering about our sanity, but remember > that OSTC is a non-profit. We don't have a horde of avaricious share-holders > to placate every moment of the day. We'll see how the numbers balance out at > the end of the exercise. I would not like to promise to repeat at the same > price. So be in fellows. For example compare the above to the number > ( $2,500us ) mentioned at:- > http://www.sgi.com/support/custeducation/courses/linux/intro.html > Which, at first sight anyway, does not appear to be offering quite as much as > we are. > > > It may be a good idea to look into > > including the textbook in the course costs, perhaps it might be possible > > to get some kind of discount on the text if we buy 6 at a time. Or I could > > just be cheap. > Minimum order of 10 copies to get a disc. > > > >You should also budget for a copy of the RUTE book, by Paul Sheer. > > >While its typesetting and general layout is idiosyncratic to say the > > >least, > > >it's by _far_ the best Linux admin book on the market. At approx $80 it > > >is > > >really pretty good value for money too. You could have a look at my copy > > >at > > >the next CLUG club night next week if you want. > > > -- > Sincerely etc., > Christopher Sawtell >
