[ubuntu-za] [Proposal] Ubuntu-ZA participation: monthly themes

[Morgan Collett]

= Ubuntu-ZA Participation =

I'd like to propose that we pick an area of participation in Ubuntu
South Africa each month for six months, and during that month we put
as much as we can into discussing and moving that theme, or topic,
forwards.

The topics I have in mind are (in no specific order):
* Education
* Small Business
* Software Development
* System Administrators
* Spreading Ubuntu in South Africa
* [insert your idea here!]

== The Goal ==

By the end of that month, the goal would be to achieve the following:
* Identify those in our community who are active or interested in this
area - by introducing ourselves on the mailing list
* Identify the relevant needs and issues we face (e.g. skills in
administering a school network, or a small business server, etc)
* Identify people in the community who can meet those needs or offer
relevant services for a fee
* Nominate a person to act as the team leader for that area to
continue promoting relevant activities in our community
* Report back to Ubuntu South Africa and the global Ubuntu community
the results of the month's activities
(https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TeamReports)

After six months, we'll have Software Freedom Day in September, and
this year we'll be prepared in advance and coordinate activities with
relevant LUGs and see if we can't get some rockin' events happening
(with Karl to lead the way at Sandton Convention Centre)!

== Your Mission ==

Please contribute topic/theme ideas, and choose one to start with for
March. Here are more details on some of the topics I listed above to
show what I mean:

== Education ==

Within our community we have:
* Educators
* People running IT infrastructure for education
* Students and Learners
* Developers of educational software or content

Issues: Why use Ubuntu instead of Microsoft's educational pricing? How
to run a school network? How to convert to Ubuntu? Who are the experts
and service providers in Edubuntu / LTSP / thin client networks? Where
does Ubuntu not meet people's needs?

== Small Business ==

* Small business owners
* Small business IT people (often the same people)
* IT providers servicing small businesses

Issues: How to do X/Y/Z with Ubuntu? Setting up a small business
server? Integration with non-free software... Document format
compatibility... Who to call on if it breaks...

== Software Development ==

* Developing desktop software for/on Ubuntu
* Ubuntu as a development platform for the web