[ubuntu-za] Ubuntu and LO in NPO sector

[Frans de waal]

On Aug 2, 2013 3:26 PM, "Errol Goetsch" <errol at xe4.org> wrote:
>
> Frans, the potential is huge. There are some 110 259 registered NPO's in
SA, almost all using XP / MS office / outlook, judging by the thousands of
NPO's in SA over the years I've audited and trained.
> Each one exists by submitting proposals and budgeting, capturing data and
issuing progress reports. The contact list is available by province at
www.dsd.gov.za/npo/
> The value is great. NPO's are struggling. The climb is steep though.
Current penetration is close to 0.
>
> There is no hostility towards Opensource, just
> 1) ignorance, lethargy and habit on the side of NPO's (ie human stuff,
not laws)
> 2) the unconscious push and pull by the corporates who fund NPO's who
make MS the standard for receiving proposals and reports etc (with no open
option)
> 3) no champion at sectoral level (SANGONET is the closest the sector
comes to a representative association. It's captured by MS - it gets a cut
for selling MS and has no opensource initiaitive)
> 4) no champion at Government level (the office overseeing the sector is
the NPO Directorate, based in the DSD in Pretoria. It has no IT oversight
office)
>
> Listers can help by
> - if your firm has a CSI programme, approach a CSI officer to promote
ubuntu/LibreOffice, to the point of specifying opensource in the funding
agreements
> - if your firm has a volunteer programme, offer installation and training
to the NPO's the firm already sponsors
> - spreading the word when you meet a pastor/director/fund raiser etc or
if you sit on the Board
> - inviting donors and NPO's to the next conference (there are about 50
decision makers that sway the sector)
>
> First prize is a law in the NPO Act. The Act governs NPO and their
reporting requirements. A clause that requires that NPO's use and vendors
supply open source - primarily OS and office suite - would give opensource
a single point of entry into the sector.
> Govt is busy on the next draft, so any lawyer able to phrase the
submission could save the sector millions in fees.
>
>
>
>
> On 2013/08/02 02:34 PM, Frans de waal wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Aug 2, 2013 2:08 PM, "Errol Goetsch" <errol at xe4.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi
>> >
>> > Anyone working | planning | caring to shift NPO's in SA to Opensource?
It burns me to see struggling NPO's wasting $ and SANGONET's pushing MS.
>> >
>> > regards
>> > --
>> >
>> > --
>> > ubuntu-za mailing list
>> > ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com
>> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-za
>> >
>>
>> Would we care to do it? ...Yes
>>
>> Planning and doing atm...not yet.
>>
>> It would help if you / anyone one list have more info...which programs
do they use, doe you have a specific area in mind etc.
>
>
>
> --
>
>
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>

I know only to good what You're talking about... in the end it's the
decition makers that have to be swayed... there are interest,  but no real
skills to talk about...  I know of one npo working with a exel template and
having nothing but problems each month.
I think someone there phoned my assistant to help simplify things.

I am proudly displaying my Ubuntu Laptop wherever I go. Still looking for a
way to save timed presenter files in libre office to video files... easily.

I'm always willing to give computer support and also to teach what I can...
My main work though are not computer anymore as I'm an Evangelist these
days. So not always available but always willing. :-P

This is a oppotunity that we have been waiting for though... wonder were's
the rest of the comunity?
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