[ILUG-Social] Intersocs 99 (Was Linux Courses ???)

[Owen Kelly]

Hi,

Id like to make a formal statement regarding Intersocs 99.  Im proposing
that this year it be held in Cork, specifically in the Cork Institute of
Technology.  The CIT is proposing to add Linux to the curriculum of many
courses, and would be eager to promote the annual Linux festivities. 
The college also boasts the new IT lecture halls with seating for around
140, overhead VGA projectors, good sound quality and is about as far
away from the City centre as UCG was from Galway.

Im also proposing that we add a new section to the Intersocs (Perhaps we
could start calling Linux Ireland Day?  Its more corporatly friendly),
namely Workshops.  Kenn Humborgs excellent talk regarding IP
masquerading last year was received very well, and we should continue to
go this direction.  We should have more then our usual 3 talks, and
cater for more than the usual Linux.ie crowd.  It would be a good idea
to invite computer shops from around Cork and further afield, aswell as
those involved in the IT sector, and devote an hour to showing them what
a well featured Linux machine can do for their own networks.  It would
be easy to impress with Star Office and Gnome/KDE, and show a Windoze
box talking to the Linux one aswell.  Im recommending Donncha O' Caoimh
for that task as he maintains a Network along the same lines.  If
corporations install, they will be looking for support, and thats where
we can make a few pounds in our own spare time, aswell as promote Linux
as a viable alternative to the MS giant.

We should also strive to promote newbies to the Clan.  I would like to
take an hour out of the day myself and introduce the basics of Linux to
those coming across from Win 95/NT that might not have the best of
technical backgrounds.  The more members we can gain on that day, the
better.

Publicity is not a problem either.  Fiachra O' Macraigh in the Irish
Times will mention the day, just as he did last year, and so will the
Examiner.  TechTV, if they are running again this year, also expressed
their interest in promoting our User Group.  We should perhaps contact
Eric Nolan of RedHat and ask if he would be willing to send over some
promo material such as 5.2 distros for handing out, and Tshirts or the
like.  With the money from the IUUG, we could also take out an Ad on the
Times, or if we are feeling really bold, perhaps the Television. 
Remember that Indigo will also be keen to support us.

The proposed date is sometime in November, obviously on a Saturday.  The
social aspect of the day will not be ignored either.  Rest assured that
we will come up with something as entertaining as the Galway clan
provided for us last year.

Thoughts, flames, etc can be directed to me and cc'd to the list.

Owen