Home, Events, and Ubuntu :-)

A bit of the summary of things since my last Blog Post - :-/


Home

To say I have been busy the last few weeks is an understatement at best. However, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, unless I don't stop to smell the roses in my life - my family, and they are awesome! My husband has traveled continuously for the last 5 weeks, stopping at home long enough to repack a bag, have meal with us and back out - we've missed him. My kids, they are awesome. There have been a few days I had appointments for various things and gotten home after they did, (They are teenagers so old enough to home for a few hours alone) and on those occasions, I have returned home to find they worked together to straighten up whatever it was I had missed doing that day. Gotta luv it when teenagers clean without being told - that is so awesome.

I've been spending more time with the kids after they get home from school, and after their homework has been completed taking time to laugh, watch a movie, talk about the day, play a game . I am not sure why but the kids were even more humorous than usual. I love laughing with them. Of Course they still throw in the occasional joke about "Ubuntu stole my Mom" or teasing me about "fine then I am installing " depending on the point they trying to convey it can range from other Linux distros to windows. That should be in the book of how kids of geeky Linux parents rebel. :-/

So I've been stepping away from my computer for a few hours, especially when they are home from school in the evenings and trying really hard not be on at night while they are still awake. This past weekend I took the kids out to eat, then to the mall, and to the movies. I was doing more than just smelling the roses I was attending to my garden. The fragrance is so much sweeter, when care is taken in the nurturing of them and yes they are in those teenage years so we still have some thorns that snag us everyone once in a while. We laughed, and talked about all the things that are on the calendar and they even added a few more things. In short we had fun!

We are still remodeling the house and due to the weather conditions our Kitchen installation had to be postponed a couple of weeks until the ground could dry out enough for the delivery trucks to make it up to the house without tearing up the driveway. Painting the living room, Kitchen, and dining room will get completed this week.


Events

SCaLE 8x
I have been working with the SCaLE 8x coordinators, and the CA Loco Team for the Ubucon event at SCaLE. I am giving a talk at the WIOS event at SCaLE - A Year NTEU the Ubuntu Community and the FLOSS World. I will also be giving one at the Ubucon at SCaLE - Every NTEU is someone's Guru - How to encourage the NTEU* in your organization. I'm also trying to see how many ubuntu community folks will be there and see if we can't grab a picture while there. I am looking forward to seeing the CA LoCo team members, Akkana Peck, Emma Jane Hogbin, and many many more folks in about 10 days or so.

(NTEU - Pronounced like In-To - stands for Non-Technical End User)

Southeast Linux Fest
I have also been working helping with the Southeast Linux Fest, as there will be an Ubucon there this year as well. The Call for Papers is still open so I don't know if I have been selected for the main event at SELF yet, but regardless it will be a great event and the Ubucon should rock. There will be an Ubuntu Booth at this event as well, any Ubuntu LoCo team who are planning on attending please feel free to volunteer your time to help staff the booth or help with the Ubucon. Please feel free to email suggestions for topics or submit a session for the Ubucon. Please include SELF Ubucon in the the subject line.

Atlanta Linux Fest
I have also been busy with Atlanta Linux Fest planning. There should be an announcement shortly as to the date and location of this event. The numbers from last year have pushed ALF beyond the capacity of all donated space we had. Good problem to have right. :-)

FOSSevents
I have also joined in on FOSScon, and FOSSevents discussions and planning. Though I can't claim to contribute much to these, but I am enjoying participating where I can. More on this in a separate post.

Did I mention I love event planning! :-)


Blogging

Not nearly enough. Though several posts are in some form progression I really need to polish them and get them added to both this blog , which is my personal one, and my You-in-Ubuntu blog, as there are several interviews in need of posting for my - People, Personalities, and Planners: Who's behind your FOSS events? series, Not to mention sending out questions for ongoing events. So you have events related to ubuntu, things that are happening in the community that Ubuntu Users can get involved in and contribute too - let me know let's get the word out. :-)

I enjoy blogging to, I really had know idea all the cool stuff you can find to talk about. Don't you just hate it when life interferes with all the fun stuff you like to do. (just kidding - well maybe)



Ubuntu Projects
Ubuntu Women Project
The Ubuntu Women Project is moving forward. As the team has defined that the "official " team member list will come from Launchpad. Subscribers to the mailing list and forums as well as those who are in the IRC channel are encouraged to join the LP team in order to participate in any voting issues. Also members on the Team on LP who are subscribed to the mailing list are encouraged to do so as well, this is another step ensuring communications of all current activities are disseminated to team members. Once the team defined who would vote, a condorcet vote was sent to the LP team members and a decision on the IRC channels was made. Almost all blueprint goals for the Lucid cycle have been meet and soon it will be time to look toward UDS-M.

The International Women's Day Competition will end in just a few weeks. February 22, 2010. If you are a women or know a who uses Ubuntu encourage them participate in this Competition. There's a great prize pack, sponsored by Canonical, Linux Pro Magazine and Ubuntu User Magazine also included in Jono Bacon's newest book, The Art of Community.

If you a woman in the Ubuntu Community and not a member of the Ubuntu Women Project please consider joining. There are women who's skills range from the highly technical to the just installed ubuntu and everything in between. So whether it's spring boarding into community contribution, developing a talk for an event, planning events, advice on dealing with sexism, or how to encourage women to get involved in Ubuntu and Open Source and more - the Project aims to provide an opportunity for women who want to be involved in the Ubuntu community thereby increasing the diversity in Ubuntu-Linux. Go here to learn more.




LoCo Leadership Series
At UDS-L, the idea for a LoCo Leadership Series was rolled out. It was The goal is to have Chapters 1-3 completed by UDS-M. Chapter 2 has been written now Chapters 1 and 3 need to completed. If you want to help with that email me.

USTeams
Ubuntu USTeams - New interview series targeting approved LoCo teams. These interviews will be posted on the USTeams Website, and the goal is to have the 1st one completed and ready fr March 1st. Looking for a place to help out and like to getting to know people in the community interviewing them is a great way and I already have some questions to start with if you are worried about how to start.

NC LoCo Team
Luv it - Ubuntu on a local level. The team is really working hard on becoming an approved LoCo team. There are now Ubuntu Hours in Winston Salem and a regular basis, and the folks in the Asheville area are looking at setting up regular Ubuntu Hours. Members of the LoCo team are working on building up the wnclug group as well. Right now it has an IRC channel on freenode (wnclug) and a mailing list. If you are in NC and you are interested in all things ubuntu please considering joining the team.

Ubuntu Weekly News
This is my Saturday/Sunday activity. It's fun seeing all the stories folks find to add to the newsletter and helping summarize them. The news team rocks! If you have links to articles or blog posts you would like to see included please send email to: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/Ubuntu-news-team

Oh I am sure there is something else I've been working on but it escapes me at the moment :-) Here's to another awesome week!

International Women's Day - Competition!

Ok all women who use Ubuntu it's time to tell the Ubuntu Women's Project your story of how you discovered Ubuntu. I'll post the links to the announcement and other various places it has been announced below.

If you are a woman who uses Ubuntu then here's what you are asking you to do:

1) Write down your story and email it to us (email address in the announcement)

2) In Late February the community votes on the stories and we pick one winner from the group to receive a prize package. This winner will be announced on March 8th, 2008.

3) Jono Bacon, the Ubuntu Community Manager, will select a name at random from the entries to receive a prize package. Jono will pick the winner from "the hat" live via his videocast.

4) The winners will be featured on The Fridge and Ubuntu User - You in Ubuntu site. All submissions will be posted so people can see how women discover ubuntu.

***Prize packages are being sponsored by: Canonical, Linux Pro Magazine and Ubuntu-User Magazine. Package includes but not limited to: Ubuntu backpack, Ladies T-shirt, Ubuntu Key Chain, 1 year digital subscription to Linux Pro Magazine or a 1 year print subscription to Ubuntu User Magazine, and a copy of The Art of Community. Thank you all so much for your gracious support and sponsorship.

Below is the 1st announcement from the Mailing List in it's entirety:

Firstly, some introductory reading for those who are not familiar with
International Women's Day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day and
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Ubuntu-Women has tried in the past to find some way to celebrate this
event, but as far as I can remember it has never really amounted to much
other than some chattering on IRC. So let us try a bit harder for 2010!

We have all come to Ubuntu in our own special ways -- every single one
of us differently to the next. Yet one of the most common questions we
get asked is "How can I get $woman to use Ubuntu?".

Obviously we cannot really answer that question, but we would dearly
love to have a collection of stories by women about how they discovered
Ubuntu. Such a repository would allow us to demonstrate that there's no
one definitive answer, and at the same time maybe provide the gift of
inspiration to women who are interested -- showing them that it's really
not so unusual to be Ubuntu fans after all.

We are not expecting any particular length, but do remember that these
stories should be suited to perusal at leisure and not require someone
to allocate hours of their day to read. Anywhere between a few
paragraphs and a OO.o Write page is ideal.

There will be two (2) prizes up for grabs. One (1) prize pack will be
given to the story that the community votes is their favourite. One (1)
prize pack will be given to a randomly drawn entrant. Jono Bacon, the
Ubuntu Community Manager will be drawing this entrant in a videocast,
and announcing both winners to the world on March 8th.

Please email your stories to ubuntuwomen.competition@gmail.com by UTC
23:59 22nd February 2010.

By submitting a story, you acknowledge that it will be posted on the
Ubuntu Women website under the Creative Commons Attribution
No-Derivatives licence. If you prefer that your story be posted
under a less restrictive licence such as Creative Commons Attribution
or Public Domain, then feel free to let us know when you submit.
All stories are to be non-fiction and of a family-friendly nature. The
organisers also reserve the right to interview prospective winners over
the phone or other voice chat at their discretion.

We will celebrate International Women's Day by announcing the winners,
who will receive gift packs (which are still in negotiation -- we will
announce when it is confirmed!).***

Good Luck!

p.s: Please pass this along to *any* women you know who *use* Ubuntu --
the more the merrier!

Also take a look at Melissa Draper's post, she does a great job of explaining the steps involved as well. Thanks Melissa for initiating and being the driving force behind this competition. You rock! :-)

The Fridge and You-in-Ubuntu has also featured the International Women's Day - Competition.

So what are you waiting for - Women using Ubuntu send in your "How I discovered Ubuntu" stories today! :-)

--

Ubuntu Weekly News #176

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue #176 for the week of January 10th – January 16th, 2010 is now available here


In this issue we cover:
* Ubuntu 10.4
* Lucid Lynx Alpha 2,
* Ubuntu Developer Week,
* Ubuntu User Day, new Ubuntu
* Women leadership
* Free Culture Showcase.
* Ubuntu Stats
* The Planet
* In the Press & Blogosphere
* Community and Ubuntu Live Videocast
* Ubuntu Women project growing in Strength
* Upcoming Meetings & Events
* Updates & Security

* And much, much more!

This issue of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter is brought to you by:

* John Crawford
* Craig A. Eddy
* Dave Bush
* Amber Graner
* Liraz Siri
* And many others

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki!

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License BY SA Creative Commons License.

Linux Journal editor, Shawn Powers, Loses Home and Pets in Fire Today.

Linux Journal has set up a ChipIn page for the Powers' Family. Below is the 1st post on the site in it's entirety:

Help Shawn Powers' Family

Everyone's beloved, crazy, big-hearted Linux Journal editor and Indian Lakes school district system administrator Shawn Powers, has lost his family home today to a fire. We have limited data about the extent of damages at this time, but can report that all people (his amazing wife, Donna and three girls) are all ok. Unfortunately his animals were all lost in the fire.

We'll report more as we hear it, but in the meanwhile wanted to set up a fund to help the Powers' family get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Please, if you can, every dollar will help. Computer equipment donations, we know, would also be greatly appreciated and the folks at Linux Journal will help coordinate any equipment donations (e-mail publisher Carlie Fairchild, carlie@linuxjournal.com for details).

And in the meanwhile... all the thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the Powers family.

The site has links to where updates are being posted, where the money goes and the link to where you can donate to the family. If you can help please click here.

Southeast Linux Fest - UbuCon, Overnight Rooms and Registration

Register for the Southeast Linux Fest today. SELF is scheduled to be held on June 12-13, 2009 at the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park in Spartanburg, SC.

The Marriott Renaissance Park is holding a block of rooms for those attending SELF and they are going quickly. Over 700+ people are projected to attend SELF this year, so what are you waiting for? Register for SELF today and make your over night reservations today by clicking here or call the Marriott at 1-800-327-6465, the group code is: slxslxa

The SouthEast LinuxFest is a community event for anyone who wants to learn more about Linux and Free & Open Source software. It is part educational conference, and part social gathering. Like Linux itself, it is shared with attendees of all skill levels to communicate tips and ideas, and to benefit all who use Linux/Free and Open Source Software. LinuxFest is the place to learn, to make new friends, to network with new business partners, and most importantly, to have fun!

Recently confirmed is an UbuCon at the Southeast Linux Fest! The UbuCon at SELF will be split up just a little. There will UbuCon events on Friday and Sunday and will be FREE to all who want to attend. We are still ironing out the details of speakers, so stay tuned I'll post the information as it happens.

UbuCon events, Friday, June 11, 2010, from 2-6pm in the SELF conference area
UbuCon events, Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 9am-Noon in the SELF conference are

Have you thought about a topic. SELF has opened the request for papers - If you are already planning on attending, think about submitting a talk for SELF.

Are you interested in volunteer opportunities at SELF or the UbuCon the drop me a line with you name, phone number, and IRC nick also include which network you are on if it is other that Freenode, to akgraner [AT] gmail [DOT] com.


More information on SELF and Southeast Linux soon!

Many Thanks! - Ubuntu Women Project - Leader Appointed

Earlier today Lyz Krumbach sent an email to the Ubuntu Women Project mailing list announcing that the Ubuntu Community Council had appointed me as the interim leader of the Project. I was speechless! I appreciate those of you who gave testimonials for not only me but for Melissa Draper and Penelope Stowe as well. Melissa and Penelope both have some amazing goals and vision for the team and I can't wait to see the team adopt and incorporate all these as we update and follow the roadmap to a successful growing Ubuntu Women Project.

The great thing about a team is that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, talents and time, technical abilities, interests and opinions. That is the greatness of effective teams - demonstrating and articulating how all those differences come together to form a cohesive unit. Does this mean that it's always sunshine and roses - nope. However, it means that we all are working toward the same goals.

The next 6 months are all about building a solid project on the corner stone that was set in 2005, the footers that were poured in 2006, and framework that as been added to date. The tools are there: IRC, Forums, Wiki's, Website, and the planet, but the real support comes from the team! More importantly it is the people who make up the team. Having the best tools, and ideas are nothing without motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic people to use those tools and implement the ideas - and the Ubuntu Women's Project has amazing people on the team.

With the team working together obstacles become opportunities, stress becomes success, and mountains are moved. We have already seen this happening since UDS, more discussion in the Channel, more activity on the mailing list, more incentives being rolled out, participation in the meetings is increasing and the excitement and buzz for the Project is growing.

Lyz's post does a great job of summing up the next 6 months. She writes,

Amber will be holding this position for the next 6 months to help guide us through our Lucid Cycle RoadMap and we will work to establish a formal voting team for the project. After 6 months the leadership position will be re-evaluated and with the voting team in place the team we will work toward a formal election as we determine the best leadership structure for the team moving forward.

Thanks again everyone, and I can't wait to see where the Ubuntu Women's Project goes from here. :-)

What a way to start off a year! Slashdotted, SCaLE talk submission, and UW Leadship Process WOW!

My "You-in-Ubuntu" blog on Ubuntu User Magazine Online was slashdotted, ok so the poster got the facts a little wrong :-/ but it's all good (they changed the title and added a note to denote the main fact they left out) . (Thanks Lyz for letting me know!)

Then I was looking for something from a post back in February '09 (seems like so long ago now), when I started this exploration of FOSS via Ubuntu, where I jokingly said in a blog post, "I know, I know, Linux should just naturally come before ANYTHING (right?), but I haven't gotten there yet. :)" Well I am still not hacking code, but I am to the point where the whole family (including Pete) will leave the room if I say "Ubuntu, Community, Blog, Ubucon, or LoCo Team" :-/ Wow what a difference time makes! I was so nervous when I started blogging, then getting involved in the community. There are still moments, but the community is still so welcoming and inviting that whatever nervousness I am feeling it goes away quickly.

I submitted a talk for SCaLE 8x WIOS event - I hope it gets picked up. Though I still get nervous when I am doing stuff in the Greater Open Source Community. I decided in 2010 I was going to try some new things and that the only way to learn was to do.

Speaking of doing things myself, and Melissa Draper, and Penelope Stowe all nominated ourselves to be the leader of the Ubuntu Women Project. On January 9, 2010 at 0001 UTC the Ubuntu-Women Project Leadership nominee wiki's were handed to the Community Council. The Testimonial phase ended - thank you so much to everyone who gave testimonials to not only me but to all of us. The Community Council will review the nominees from January 9-15, then appoint the interim leader of the group. (this appointment is for an initial term of 6 months)

After 6 months, so sometime in July 2010, the team will decide to either keep the appointed leader, or call for nominations and cast a vote for another leader (s) as the team will have established the procedures for both the election process and voting.

Wanna join the team stop by the #ubuntu-women channel on freenode, visit the website, or if one of the Ubuntu-Women team members belongs to your LoCo team ask them to tell people about the Project at your next LoCo meeting. :-)

It's great to see the Ubuntu-Women Project team getting energized, and moving the project to the next level. Good Luck to Melissa and Penelope, and me :-) as we watch our inboxes for the CC's decision on or before January 15!

Here's to a great weekend... :-D! And even better next week!