Introduction
I just learned about this mailing list a few days ago via an e-mail
newsletter that deals with IT and charities. I'd like to introduce
myself and ask a few newcomer-style questions.
My experience with computer technology covers 25 years, mostly in
software development, but also in infrastructure support, R&D.... My
roles have been everywhere from hands-on developer to manager (and
back!). On the non-profit side, my interest developed second-hand by
taking note of the problems faced by organizations that my wife
encountered in her business. She consults on non-profit governance,
among other things.
Over the past few months, I've been thinking more about what can be
done to support technology in non-profits. On one side, proprietary
software is clearly too expensive and too limiting; on the other, free
software is scary in the "ThereAintNoSuchThingAsAFreeLunch" sense.
This leads me to believe that the social "selling" of Open Source among
non-profits is much more important than the technology aspect. To that
end, having a distribution that tells the sector that someone cares
about their special interests must be a good idea.
Is there any kind of jump-start information for someone new to the list?
For example: one of the ideas I've been kicking around is an extension
to -- or a customization of -- the Open For Business project
<http://www.ofbiz.org/>. It would be nice to know if that's already
being considered.
I'm also interested in basic information about the project's timetable
and organization.
........................
Phillip Mills
Multi-platform software development
(416) 224-0714
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