Paul, On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 11:09 AM, Paul Flint <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dear Bradley, > > Do you all understand now why I want us to combine activities like the > cruise? As Vermont citizens and tax payers we are ***entitled*** to > participate in a state funded software development organization. It is > practically a responsibility. This is a tricky one. If I wanted our company to join vtSDA we'd have to pay $250 (based on our company size). Should membership be free because they receive state funding? I can see the argument either way (assuming they're not 100% state funded - and I'd include volunteer time as a form of "funding"). However, it would be very wise of vtSDA to focus on outreach to organizations such as VAGUE so that these conversations can happen and they can have a chance to explain their point-of-view. > > On Mon, 20 Oct 2008, Bradley Holt wrote: > > Well, there it is. I asked, and you guys came through with the facts :-) >> >> For sure, as a state funded organization they have a greater >> responsibility >> than a completely private organization. Does that include following email >> marketing best practices? >> >> Got my vote! > > Probably. However, is that the real issue or are >> you not happy with them receiving state funding in general? >> >> No, I am not happy with Vague not getting a place at the trough? That was not what I was asking. I think the discontent you are expressing is much more nuanced and I was *not* suggesting that you were unhappy about not getting a hand-out. In fact, I'd be very surprised if VAGUE ever accepted any sort of government funding unless there were very clear guidelines on how this benefited the community at large. > > It sounds more like there's general discontent with state money going >> towards business-focused organizations >> >> Are you suggesting that VAGUE members are not business focused? The > difference here is vtSTA is about Microsoft based systems and VAGUE is not. Nope, I was not suggesting that VAGUE members are not business focused. However, I think that VAGUE focuses on technology (and values such as freedom) first and business second. vtSDA seems to be focused on business first and technology second. There is no value judgment intended here and this is a broad oversimplification but I hope you see my point. I haven't seen anything that indicates that vtSDA is MS-based (but then I didn't know they were state funded either). In fact, I know at least one of their founding members uses quite a bit of free/open source software. I don't think this is really the issue. Again, I think the issue is much more vague (pun intended). If vtSDA doesn't reach out to VAGUE, it might be worthwhile to reach out to them to see if they have answers to the concerns you've raised. Otherwise I fear that the criticism is rather one-sided. > > with no love for the "grassroots" organizations like VAGUE. Or, maybe I'm >> way off-base here. >> >> I suppose none of the members of VAGUE vote eh? I vote and I'm sure many members do as (I think) we're a freedom-loving bunch. Government money goes to all sorts of things (for better or for worse) that you normally don't even hear about. To critisize this one organization without asking them for their perspective is somewhat unfair. > > The big question is, why are we marginalized? I think Josh Sled had a good response to this question. Thanks, Bradley > > > Kindest Regards, > > > > Paul Flint > (802) 479-2360 > > > /************************************ > Based upon email reliability concerns, > please send an acknowledgment in response to this note. > > Paul Flint > Barre Open Systems Institute > 17 Averill Street > Barre, VT > 05641 > > http://www.bosivt.org > http://www.flint.com/home > skype: flintinfotech > Work: (202) 537-0480 > Fax: (703) 852-7089 > > Consilium > gratuitum .~. > valet /V\ > quanti /( )\ > numerantur ^^-^^ > -- http://bradley-holt.blogspot.com/
