fellowship-uk July 2011

fellowship-uk@lists.fsfe.org

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[Fellowship-uk] Hunt down ads for non-Free PDF readers on 13th August
by Sam Tuke 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

The Free Software Foundation Europe's successful PDF Readers campaign comes to Manchester next month for a one day sprint at MadLab hackerspace on the 13th of August, 15.00-17.30. Cakes and pizza provided! *What:* We'll search out proprietary PDF reader adverts on UK Government funded websites, and contact the institutions by letter and email, requesting that they remove them. Currently there are only 41 reports of such adverts in the UK, only three of which have already been resolved by the advert being removed. Many more adverts on UK Government websites still exist however, and on 13th August we'll find them, and aim to get as many of them removed as possible. *Why:* Publicly funded institutions routinely advertise proprietary PDF reader applications on their websites, often stating that a particular vendor's product is "required" for completing basic civic tasks like paying tax or registering a vehicle. Yet Free Software PDF Readers exist for all major operating systems, which can be used to perform the same tasks without sacrificing the freedom of their users. Many institutions carry proprietary software adverts simply out of ignorance, not realising that there are alternatives which protect citizens' freedom. By contacting them we will be making them aware of the existence of Free Software alternatives, and encouraging them to think about the benefits of Free Software in general. *Can it work?:* Throughout Europe, Free Software advocates have already reported more than 2,000 adverts, and successfully removed nearly 500 of them. Many of the success stories involved high profile websites, such as the Belgian Prime Minister, The Mayor of London, and the Bank of Italy. Several adverts have been replaced with links to Free Software PDF Readers on the pdfreaders.org website. *Real progress has been made, now its time to make an impact in the UK!* *Links:* MadLad event page: http://madlab.org.uk/content/stamp-out-the-ads-free-software-pdf-reader- sprint/ Campaign homepage: http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders Report an advert from a UK website: http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/bug-report-uk.en.html List of UK adverts already reported: http://fsfe.org/campaigns/pdfreaders/buglist.en.html#GB Website about Free Software PDF Readers: http://pdfreaders.org/ See you there! Sam. -- Sam Tuke British Team Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke(a)jabber.fsfe.org Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

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[Fellowship-uk] Weekly report for Sam Tuke (week 28)
by Sam Tuke 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

I worked one and a half days for FSFE this week. I was ill most of the week with a stomach virus, and unable to attend RMLL to deliver my talk. = Summary = Most of my time was spent designing a new flyer specific to Manchester and working on getting the July Fellowship interview delivered in time for editing. = Detail = == Editors == - Worked with Fellowship interviewer to get the July interview delivered on time for editing and publication by interns == Design == - Designed draft of new "Free Software Groups in Manchester" flyer - Commented and edited design proposal for new Fellowship blogs theme == Preview == - Continue organising PDF Readers UK Sprint - Continue organising national UK Fellowship meeting -- Sam Tuke British Team Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke(a)jabber.fsfe.org Contact the British team: uk(a)fsfeurope.org

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[Fellowship-uk] Weekly report for Sam Tuke (week 27)
by Sam Tuke 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

I worked two days for FSFE this week, in anticipation of my trip to RMLL the following week. = Summary = Most of my time was spent arranging future events, preparing for my talk at RMLL in Strasbourg, working with Fellows to plan the PDF Readers UK Sprint, and reacting to news of a new UK Government Microsoft contract framework. = Detail = == Editors == - Discussed policies concerning interview candidates who also hold positions within FSFE with team and Chris Woolfrey - Sent Chris summary of interview web stats for interviews in recent months (8,464 and 9,559 unique visitors in May and June respectively) - Suggested to FTF Coordinator that FTF legal news reports get posted as news items on fsfe.org == Fellowship == - Emailed details of FSFE's Amazon Firefox donations plugin to members of OpenSpace (my office) - Encouraged Fellow to research steps required for FSFE to gain charity status in UK law - Oversaw Fellow who booked venue for UK PDF Readers sprint and collected event description == Policy == - Summarised news of proposed new pan-government Microsoft contract framework to UK Team - Emailed Open Forum Europe about the above news asking for their plans and perspectives (initial reply then no reply) == Community == - Chased up contact with London NGO FS deployment specialists FOSSBOX - Books FSFE booth at FLOSS UK unconference '11, added event entry - Submitted talk to FSCONS '11 on increasing usage of FS by third sector organisations - Added ContactCon '11 London event entry == Other == - Confirmed RMLL travel bookings - Booked RMLL accommodation - Discussed anti SaaS arguments with the Fellowship Coordinator - Wrote 1/3 of my presentation on FreedomBoxes for RMLL conference == Web == - Proposed use of PHPList for press mailing lists management -- Sam Tuke British Team Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke(a)jabber.fsfe.org Contact the British team: uk(a)fsfeurope.org

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[Fellowship-uk] Weekly report for Sam Tuke (week 24)
by Sam Tuke 07 Jul '11

07 Jul '11

= Summary = This week I was travelling back from the General Assembly in Slovenia, and my work for FSFE primarily constituted time dedicated to the AVM vs Cybits press release and backgroud article. = Detail = == Editors == - Assisted in drafting AVM vs Cybits press release - Edited multiple versions of AVM vs Cybits press release - Edited background info article on AVM vs Cybits case - Contacted British journalists with advance notice of AVM vs Cybits news, resulting in articles by Glynn Moody (http://l.fsfe.org/BaimoD) and Jennifer Baker (http://link.fsfe.org/BajZHo) - Coordinated receipt of June Fellowship interview transcript == Fellowship == - Sent email to fellowship-uk@ and manchester@ lists regarding collecting UK Free Software news stories - (Re)arranged vene for 30th June Manchester Fellowship meeting == Community == - Confirmed my talk at RMLL in Strasbourg == Other == - Added new contacts to press-release-uk@ list - Edited official notes taken at FSFE General Assembly and sent them to the GA report coordinator == Web == - Pursued configuration of potential FSFE YaCy Server == Preview == - Edit June Fellowship interview - Attend Open Rights Group annual community event in London - Book travel to DebConf '11 - Begin planning of UK Fellows meeting - Plan PDF Readers sprint, arrange venue, send notifications - Confirm travel arrangements to Strasbourg - Attend Manchester Free Software community event - Edit follow up news and PRs relating to AVM vs Cybits -- Sam Tuke British Team Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke(a)jabber.fsfe.org Contact the British team: uk(a)fsfeurope.org

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[Fellowship-uk] Weekly report for Sam Tuke (week 25)
by Sam Tuke 01 Jul '11

01 Jul '11

During three days working for FSFE I did the following: = Summary = This week my time was primarily spent publishing the June Fellowship interview, making travel arrangements to various upcoming events, and travelling to London to attend the Open Rights Group's (Re)Connect meeting. = Detail = == Editors == - Edited, formatted, published, and promoted June Fellowship interview - Wrote exhaustive guide to preparing and publishing Fellowship interviews for interns to use in future (internal SVN Fellowship/interviews/task_description) - Obtained access to Fellowship interview Wordpress account for interns and M. Kirschner == Fellowship == - Enquired on behalf of a UK Fellow about profile pages for each fellow on fellowship.fsfe.org (M. Kirschner referred me to http://wiki.fsfe.org/Fellows) - Sent UK Fellow instructions relating to FSFE team member GPG keys == Community == - Travelled to London to Open Rights Group (Re)Connect meeting (report below) - Attended Manchester Free Software talk on PostgresSQL by founder of 2ndQuadrant. I took the opportunity to make notes on the speaker's views and experience of Free Software business models and his attitude to public sector use - Arranged meeting with local Free Software advocate and Wikiversity founder - Sent notification of upcoming Manchester Fellowship meeting, including proposals for discussion topics - Researched Arts Council Digital R&D funding, arranged meeting with potential co-applicant - Made multiple travel plans for my attendance at DebConf 2011 before abandoning them due to problems with flights, changes to my conference registration, and time limitations == Other == - Added new contacts to press-release-uk@ list - Handled relay of Brussels based journalist's enquiry to M. Kirschner regarding AVM vs Cybits case == Web == - Proposed new solution to integration of join and donate buttons on every fsfe website page == Preview == - Take a day off to reflect extra hours recently worked - Run Manchester Fellowship Meeting - Create list of software related community groups in Manchester on wiki.fsfe.org - Add events for future Fellowship meetings to fsfe.org - Get leaflets printed - Follow up on contacts made at ORG event - [carried over] Begin planning of UK Fellows meeting - [carried over] Plan PDF Readers sprint, arrange venue, send notifications - [carried over] Confirm travel arrangements to Strasbourg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORG (Re)Connect report: On Friday 24th June I travelled from Manchester to Liverpool Street in London to attend an annual community event hosted by the UK based Open Rights Group (ORG). ORG is a prominent digital liberties group apparently similar to the EFF in their mission, with 27,000 members of one mailing list, four full time staff [1] and an advisory council including Cory Doctorow, Alan Cox, and Heather Brooke [2]. I engaged in three workshops discussing ways for ORG to improve its communication and campaigns, most of which was also relevant to FSFE, and engaged in particularly useful discussions and networking with the following attendees: - Jim Killock, Executive Director, Open Rights Group - Peter Bradwell, Campaign Officer, Open Rights Group - Nishma Doshi, Community and Events Officer, Open Rights Group - Dj Walker-Morgan, Editor in Chief, Heise Media UK Ltd. - Joe Pettersson, Founder & Creative Director, 8-bit - Rob McKinnon, Founder, whoslobbying.com Workshops: - Improving ORG's communication with its members - Methods of online activism - Technical tools ORG can use to highlight campaign issues I felt that I was able to provide useful ideas and information regarding Free Software tools and platforms (such as YaCy, status.net, Appleseed) and also using social media. I agreed to join the ORG-tech mailing list and have since provided feedback on ideas for Free Software that the organisation could use to further their goals and campaigns. It appeared to me that ORG has several shared goals with FSFE, and that any collaboration on projects and campaigns in future could be desirable for both parties. 1. http://www.openrightsgroup.org/people/staff 2. http://www.openrightsgroup.org/people/advisory -- Sam Tuke British Team Coordinator Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke(a)jabber.fsfe.org Contact the British team: uk(a)fsfeurope.org

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fellowship-uk July 2011