Re: [school-discuss] convincing school ITs to try Linux

[cgregan@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Justin,
Great! I think a listing like this would offer a value to SchoolForge  
members. As for the details:

> * Gives website visitors a way to connect with someone that can answer
> questions and provide ideas to get started

Even more so, would give someone a reference for a similar project.  
Contacts outside their own region to others who have already gone  
through what they are about to.

> * Support is a source of income for many FLOSS software projects
> * For-profit support organizations are part of the FLOSS ecosystem

I think these are important, especially the projects themselves. We  
would not have all of this great software without the project people  
providing it. (In most cases, without making a dime) If a support  
network could somehow be leveraged to help the projects with a micro  
payment scheme, or something along those lines eventually, I think it  
would be a boon for education based developers. Schoolforge has a lot  
of combined knowledge, we should look to ways it can be used to its  
full potential.

> * Down the road, if SchoolForge becomes a non-profit organization,
> could this present any complications?

I'm not sure how. The legal aspects of running a non-profit would have  
to be worked out with a lawyer, but there is no law that says people  
cannot make a living working for a non-profit.

> * When the time comes that someone else is leading and working with
> SchoolForge, could this present any complications?

Leadership changes are always tough, but if the site is pulling it's  
own weight I don't see anyone fiddling with the foundation. The key  
with anything is establish a stable footing then build up. A new  
leader might expand the offerings, but no successful leader would  
consider undermining a working system on purpose.

> * Who's who?  What should be the threshold for presenting a support
> organization? Maybe an endorsement by either a school or a FLOSS
> project?

I think community reports are just great. An open referral service, if  
you will. I think anyone should be allowed to post their  
qualifications, but the more your services have been used and referred  
by X clients, the higher your rating will go on the site. Add  
endorsements from those who come to the group with specific questions,  
and you have a fairly robust way of promoting knowledgeable service  
providers that is self-policing. I'm not sure what tech could be used.  
The digg.com system works ok, or something like the Ebay seller  
ratings would work just fine.

--
Chris Gregan
cgregan@xxxxxxxxxxx
Open Source Migration Specialist/Founder
Aptenix Desktop Solutions
New Market, MD
(240)422-9224

"Open source, open minds."

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