UDS: Improving Diversity

The Ubuntu community embraces and encourages diversity.

It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one. We expect members of the Ubuntu community to be respectful when dealing with other contributors as well as with people outside the Ubuntu project and with users of Ubuntu.  ~ from the Ubuntu Code of Conduct

At UDS-N there was a call to take additional steps to help further encourage diversity at UDS. One of the ideas was to create an anti-harassment policy. I offered to draft a potential policy for UDS. Doing so involved reading existing policies from other conferences and getting a better of idea of what kinds of harassment exists at tech conferences.  I have been gathering policies for the last four weeks, but put off reading them and the associated stories until today.

I am disgusted with what I have read about taking place at other conferences. Given my positive experience at UDS-N it is inconceivable to me that this behavior is not only present, but tacitly allowed, at other conferences. While these incidents happened at conferences other than UDS, they do show a need for UDS to lead by example and have an anti-harassment policy.

The Ubuntu community has always been a place I felt comfortable in and the experience I had at UDS was a fantastic and open one. Due to the positive nature of UDS I am currently reflecting on if an anti-harassment policy or an inclusion policy should be created that includes an anti-harassment policy Certainly there still needs to be negative results for those that misbehave, but perhaps seeking positive behavior in-line with the Ubuntu Code of Conduct would work to better meet the goal of a community open to all. UDS was a very positive experience for me and I would like to help ensure that it is for all future attendees as well.

FOSSCON 2010 @ RIT is just over a month away

The inaugural FOSSCON is just over a month away. The slate of speakers is set and our very own Jorge Castro will be in attendance. I am also very pleased to see a fantastic turnout by FOSS women amongst the ranks of speakers. I hope to finally meet some of the folks I know only by their IRC handles.

LUGOR Logo Part 5

I think I am nearing the end… this last logo I almost like enough to be satisfied.

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This could be paired with the non-badge county shape as well (see below)

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I think the pair are pretty good… it is time to sleep on this and let the LUG members vote.

LUGOR Logo part 4

This is getting worse than the Rocky movies!

Here is another attempt at a logo for my LUG.

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the outline is from the county and the ‘structure’ is from one of the landmark buildings.

LUGOR logo part 3

I have started playing with a slightly different style for the third part.

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New Logo for LUGOR

I am in the midst of trying to design a new logo for my LUG. Here are the first two attempts.

I would love to get feedback about these and even links to LUG logos that people like.

Back to design mode.

Nine new Ubuntu users converted today!!

Now there will be nine more PCs for the pretty model, from the recent Apple ads, to pick when the Windows computers are banished by the Mac hipster! Today the New York State Ubuntu Local Community Team co-sponsored an install fest with LUGOR (Linux User Group of Rochester) and RCSI (Rocehster Computer Society Inc). There were originally eight people signed up for install slots and seven of those users showed up. There were also two unregistered attendees who converted to Ubuntu as well. Several current Ubuntu users were also seeking help tweaking certains parts of their install.

The days was a huge success with all participants leaving happy with their Ubuntu installs and all three Linux groups having worked together to provide the community a service. (more)

Jaunty Launch Party: Waterloo

First let me warn the ABBA fans that they have not put out a new album called Jaunty. Jaunty Jackalope is the latest release of ubuntu (more on what ubuntu means later). Ubuntu is a simple, powerful, elegant, and secure alternate to Windows or OS X and like ABBA is not the product of the Unites States. I would suggest to all ABBA fans that fate brought you to to this blog for a purpose; please check out ubuntu.

The event was planned by Jeremy (ausimage) and Landen (slick666) as both a release party and a public information session. There were roughly 30 people in attendance with about 65% of the audience already using Linux. The event was the first multi-region, multi-LUG event planned and executed by the New York State ubuntu local team. In attendance were people from Albany (180+ miles away), Binghamton, Syracuse, Utica, Rocheser and Ithaca.

I gave a presentation focuse on potential new users titled: “The Ubuntu Experience”. The presentation covered the meaning of ubuntu and why that focus makes the ubuntu community a good choice for end users. Also covered were the four freedoms and how an end users daily computing needs can be met with the thousands of titles in the ubuntu repositories. The session concluded with a rather lengthy question and answer session while Big Buck Bunny was playing.

The New York State ubuntu local community truly practiced ubuntu; we gave the travelers food, drink and entertained them.

Thank you to Jeremy and Landen for putting together such a solid event in just under a month!

The New York State ubuntu local community is now looking toward planning similar launch events and how to best advocate for Linux use amongst non-Linux users.

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LUG: Gaming Night

I just read a post by Eric Lake about the Blue Grass Linux User Group holding a gaming night. This post came at just the right time as I am looking for possible ‘fill-in’ activities for Linux User Group of Rochester (LUGOR). Thanks to Eric and Planet Ubuntu I now have one! Woot!

Taking on Lugor

Lugor is one of the oldest Linux User Groups in existenace (some claim they are the oldest, but I am not sure how to verify that so I will not make the claim). The gentleman that ran Lugor for the last seventeen years has become ‘busy’ and sent a message out asking for volunteers to take over. I offered to assit and expected more established members to do the same so it came as a surprise when I was called this weekend and asked to take the reins.

I only hope I can do the same fine job as the previous person. I am off to read several emails that arrived from him today with bits and pieces of the information on ‘running’ the group.