[plug] Opportunity for PLUG and Linux?

[Bret Busby]

I wonder whether PLUG could do anything with the following?

In the local newspaper that came yesterday, was an advertisement with the
title, "Copy and paste your computer skills throughout the community".

The text of the advertisement, is:
"If someone in your community has basic computer skills like sending email
or setting up documents, your group can apply for a grant to pass these
skills on to others.

The State Governement has a $1 million fund to help make Western
Australians more computer literate. This programme is called First Click
and we're looking for community groups who want to get involved to make
submisions before November 23, 2001.

Call 1800 155 508 or email ict at royalst.training.wa.gov.au to find how to
make a submission or download an application from
www.contracting.wa.gov.au and help people make their First Click."

It sounds to me like the potential for a government funded exercise, to
get computer illiterate people introduced to, and, familiar with Linux,
especially for using facilities like basic email applications such as
pine, etc, and, the text editors that come with Linux, or, applications
such as Star Office and Netscape on Linux, etc.

What do you think, Matt, Tony, etc?

It could pay for a second, even more publicised
installfest/workshop/introductory tutorial type event, for Linux, via
PLUG, and, depending on funding obtained, could provide for more, and,
more local events (eg, in nothern suburbs - up around Joondalup, and in
Midland, or somewhere out that way, one around Freo, one around
Armadale/Gosnells/Maddington, maybe one in Bunbury, Geraldton, etc...).

And, it could be a good way to get computer illiterate people introduced
to all the benefits of Linux (free operating system, that can run on
cheaper hardware than Windows *, a safer way to access the Internet,
etc...)

Bret Busby
..........