With apologies to Erik Rose and PACKT publishing, who really should be the next “winners” in my blog entry queue, please take a minute to read the following (I am overdue with a promised review of Erik’s Plone 3 for Education!)
Helping people help each other
I find myself in the unique position of being able to help raise money for four organizations I care a lot about:
Proven track record
In 2008, I raised (with the help of many others) approximately $13,000 USD for the Plone Foundation via Plone Conference 2008. In 2010, I raised over $2,000 for the Zope/Python Users Group of DC via a unique sponsorship program. I would like to continue doing this work, but I need your help!
The plan
Before I ask for the help, let me take a minute to explain “the plan”. I would like to operate an organization whose primary purpose is to perform the following:
- Educate people about Python software on a monthly basis via meetings featuring talks about Python software.
- Contribute money to the various Python software foundations on an annual basis.
This is the primary, not sole purpose. If we get those two things right we can do other things to expand on both #1 and #2. But I can’t do it alone.
The help
If you like this idea, you can help me right now (if you haven’t already) by helping me help someone very important to me. Confused? Read this: http://aclark.chipin.com/flowers-for-amy-part-ii
Wrap up
In short (and please forgive brevity), I think we are on to something here in DC, with both our consistent approach to running our user group activites, and attempts to expand our efforts for the greater good. We have received a lot of positive feedback and encouragement, and I’d like to keep going, but I have to convince everyone involved that there are people out there that care about these efforts. Hence, the chip-in.
If all the “Plone people” I know would contribute just a dollar, I think we would be in pretty good shape.
I hope you will consider helping!