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Hi.

I've literally _just_ found out about Debian-NP, and am extremely interested in the project. I volunteer with a local non-profit organization's board, helping them develop and implement a comprehensive IT plan.

Interestingly enough, a Microsoft employee is also on the board, and on the IT committee. It's been an eye-opening, but very rewarding, experience so far.

The Microsoft employee, quite obviously, recommends MS solutions. What I've found most surprising, though, is the introduction of an organization called TechSoup (www.techsoup.org) as the vendor for said MS software. TechSoup offers _remarkably_ inexpensive MS software to non-profits:
http://www.techsoup.org/stock/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=TechSoupMain&category%5Fname=Servers+MS&Page=1&Cat1=Microsoft&CatCount=1
http://www.techsoup.org/stock/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=TechSoupMain&category%5Fname=Office+Tools+MS&Page=1&Cat1=Microsoft&CatCount=1

I am a little dismayed at how easy it is for unsuspecting non-profit organizations to lock themselves into an all-MS future with these prices.

Are there any tips or suggestions for more effectively advocating Free Software to non-profits? I've penned an advocacy piece here:
http://charitychannel.com/articles/article_11060.shtml
but it's far too general to help many organizations deal with the realities of day-to-day computing.

Cheers,
Scott



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