[Yhslug] Penguin Day DC details (April 7, 2007)

[Kevin Cole]

This just in from the DC Python/Zope/Plone list:

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Date: 	Tue, 6 Mar 2007 09:44:58 -0800

This is a good opportunity to rub shoulders with smart
nonprofit/open-source types and to promote Plone in the
NGO sector.  Gunner runs a fun "unconference" style event.

best,
jon

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Howdy Rider friends,

We invite you to join us for Penguin Day in DC, right after the
Nonprofit Technology Conference! We'll explore the potential and the
role of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in nonprofit organizations,
in sessions designed to answer your questions and curiosities.

Penguin Day DC is taking place Saturday, April 7th, from 9am to 5pm at:

        Josephine Butler Parks Center
        2437 Fifteenth Street, NW
        Washington, DC 20009

*Register now at www.penguinday.org <http://www.penguinday.org/>!

*The Parks Center is about 1/2 mile from the NTC at the Omni Hotel, and
a shuttle will be available from the NTC hotel to the Penguin Day venue.

See the latest Penguin Day DC Agenda at
http://penguinday.aspirationtech.org/index.php/Penguin_Day_Agenda, and
feel free to add your session ideas!

If you are going to the NTC, we encourage you to come to Penguin Day!

Penguin Day DC is organized by Aspiration <http://aspirationtech.org/>,
PICnet <http://picnet.net/>and NOSI <http://nosi.net/>. Additional
information is included below, and we're delighted to answer questions!

thanks & peace,
gunner

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*What in the world is a Penguin Day?

*Are you passionate or curious about the reality, the potential and the
role of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in nonprofit organizations?
Do you want to learn about latest free and open web publishing tools and
technologies? Would you like to meet other like-minded and passionate
participants, including developers, activists, and nonprofit "techies"?

Penguin Day DC will bring together nonprofit technology staff with free
and open source software (FOSS) developers for a day of learning and
conversation.

We'll explore and explain open source for nonprofits, frankly address
the challenges of developing open source tools for nonprofits, and
celebrate strengths and successes of open source in the nonprofit
sector. Leading open source innovators in the nonprofit sector will
share their stories and knowledge, and focus on answering your questions!

If you are curious about open source software for your nonprofit
organization, Penguin Days are for you!

Register at http://www.penguinday.org

<http://www.penguinday.org/>*Who is organizing Penguin Day in DC?

*Penguin Day DC is made possible with the help of Aspiration
<http://aspirationtech.org/>, PICnet <http://picnet.net/>and NOSI
<http://nosi.net/>, local partners and YOU!

*What will I take away from Penguin Day?

*Penguin Day features a packed agenda of interactive workshops, round
tables, and "speed geeks." Topics include:

    * Introduction to Free and Open Source Software for Nonprofits
    * Local resources and who’s-who in the Free/Open Source community
    * Helping techies and non-techies communicate
    * Overview of Free and Open Source desktop applications
    * e-Advocacy platforms
    * Making sense of Free and Open Source Content Management Systems
    * Healthy and Sustainable Free and Open Source Communities
    * How Users Can Influence FOSS Development
    * Business Models for FOSS developers and providers
    * Content Management System (CMS) Crash Courses -- Plone, Joomla,
      and Drupal
    * Creative Commons and Open Content
    * SpeedGeeking (a lively tour of projects and tools)

*What Are Others Saying About Penguin Days?

*"/I had a wonderful time at Penguin Day. It was one of the best IT
related conferences I've been to. I'm definitely in a position to help
my current and future non-profits with MUCH needed tools. I thank y'all
on their behalf. Keep up the good work and positive energy/." - Steve
Garrison, SolarBoy.org

"/Penguin Day was great - I had an excellent day - made new friends, put
a lot of faces to email addresses, had a whole load of fun - and got
introduced to some new applications and distributions! Thanks again to
everyone who organised the day, ran sessions etc - it made my 4,500 mile
trip worthwhile/!" - Ian, from London, UK

"/Penguin Days are a fantastic opportunity to get together with a wide
variety of people and understand more about the issues that surround
open source. Unlike a lot of conference/gatherings, the emphasis in
these is on meeting people and making connections that you carry out of
them room. And that works/." - Marnie from San Francisco

"/Now on to Penguin Day… Wow. For my part I was impressed by the
international scope of the audience, folks from Great Britain, Canada,
Kenya, Turkey, Ghana, Chicago and all points in between. The energy was
great and the range of topics on the agenda meant there was something
for everyone….suffice it to say Penguin Day set the mark against which
all other events will be measured in my mind/." - John from Chicago

*Background

*Since 2004, Penguin Days have been held in Philadelphia, Portland,
Oregon; London, England; Toronto, Canada, Chicago, San Francisco, New
York, Texas and Seattle.

Hundreds of nonprofit staff, programmers, and activists have attended
Penguin Days. Penguin Days feature humorous "SpeedGeeking" sessions
(playfully modeled after speed-dating) to bring programmers and
organizations together to learn more about each other and free and open
source software.

The Penguin is the symbol adopted in the early days of Linux as the
mascot of this growing software movement.

To register for an upcoming Penguin Day, go to http://www.penguinday.org
<http://www.penguinday.org/>.

About Aspiration: Aspiration, www.aspirationtech.org
<http://www.aspirationtech.org/>, connects nonprofit organizations with
software solutions that help them better carry out their work. We want
nonprofit organizations to obtain and use the best software to maximize
their effectiveness and impact so that they, in turn, can change the
world. We identify what is available and what is missing in NGO software
arena, and foster relationships, delivery systems, and sustainability
strategies between NGOs around the world.

About PICnet: PICnet, www.picnet.net <http://www.picnet.net/>, empowers
the missions of non-profits through the use of unique open source
software solutions. PICnet moves beyond the nuts and bolts of
technology, rising to find new and effective ways to assist
organizations in meeting their goals.

About NOSI: NOSI, www.nosi.net <http://www.nosi.net/>, was formed with
three goals: to facilitate and encourage the use of free and open source
software in the nonprofit sector, to bring nonprofit organizations
together with free and open source developers and projects in ways that
both can benefit, and to promote the understanding of the ways in which
the fundamental values of each are similar.

Allen Gunn
Executive Director, Aspiration
+1.415.216.7252
www.aspirationtech.org

<http://www.aspirationtech.org/>
Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World"