Re: So, what's next? (reply 3)

[markelkins]

		  Paddy

I have posted an item on the news page about the SG Assembly. Some interesting info was given out in the afternoon about available finance and the media. On publicity it might be worth contacting Christopher Webb, BCS Press & PR Manager. Christopher may also be able to help OSSG contact potential speakers.

Conrad has been in contact with some MEPS about Patents and has had some written replies from some of them about the proposed European Union (EU) Patent Directive. I suggested to him that it would be a great idea to try and get some of them to speak at an OSSG event about this. It would definitely attract widespread interest. An article on the EU Directive I put in Discussions is getting a good steady increase in viewing and some interesting replies. At both the SG Assembly and the OSSG meeting on 14th March 2005 this appeared to be a hot topic amongst people I was speaking too.

An outside go at an event might be to try and get Tim Berners-Lee who has recently taken up a research post at Southampton University to give a talk about Patents. From an article I read in Computer Weekly I do not think he is too keen on the general increase in the use of Patenting.

On speakers Richard Moore of the IBM Linux Response Team is willing to give a talk on various Open Source topics. 

There is also a BCS Hants member who works for Sun who is in to Open Source who I think I can get to give a speak.

I would have no difficulty using Southampton Institute as a venue and might also be able to get some refreshments like biscuits and tea for free. As a venue Southampton Institute is close to the main railway station, which has good links with many parts of the UK. One idea might be to have a speaker then invite people to say have a play on a Linux machine afterwards. I reckon I could make quite a few machines available for this. Local business people as well as Open Source and BCS people could be encouraged to attend such an event.

I might also be able to supply a venue in Bournemouth through BCS Dorset.

Also I have some contacts in the Requirements Specialist Group who might be able to help supply venues. Milton Keynes and Lancaster are two possibilities. 

Neil Pellinacci who is one of our members, an active BCS Essex Branch member, and an Internet SG Delegate at the SG Assembly told me at the Assembly on 07/04/05 that he was interested in hosting a joint OSSG and Essex Branch event. He said he can use Anglia Polytechnic University in Colchester as a venue. I think he was looking to do this in either September, October, or November, but he might be able to get OSSG the venue before then.

When I get time I will try and place some of this in the events folder.

Mark Elkins