USA/Akademy2012BoF

Notes

• A list of things of what is going on
  • Conferences, who is going to what, whats in the area
• We're somehow not reaching other people
  • Only four developers came to Akademy 2012.
  • There are more, but we can't find them.
  • Two Akronites came to the 4.5 release party, not counting tdfischer
• Why is it popular in europe?
  • Parties in bars? Probably not. We should have 100 by now.
• At Linux Fests, people talk about Linux. We should be a grassroots movement by going to all the fests (all of them) and finding people.
• Fests/Conventions
  • LinuxCon - We have a booth every year!
  • Oscon - Maybe have a BoF?

What are we trying to do?

Grow KDE in the USA

• Impossible!?
• Outreach, yes. Talking to people, yes.
  • Linux Action Show
• No way to gauge involvement success
• "If you want to do amazing stuff with this amazing organization, KDE is the place for you."
• Somehow encourage people to get involved after we meet them at the conventions.
• Come to our parties. Srsly.
• Have a sign up. Do you use KDE? Do you know C++? "What better place could you volunteer than KDE?!"
• LUGS??? (answer: yes.)
• "Its not a puzzle what we're trying to do. We want users, developers, and companies who are using KDE and are open to something about it."
  • We need goals for this ^
  • Developers: Want to make a difference in your life? Know about bugfixes or C++? DO YOU LIKE TO PARTY AND/OR ROCK? Contribute to KDE.
  • Are you sick of the tea party? Join KDE!
• The KDE tracks are usually full at conventions.
  • Who goes to them?!
• Until we figure this out, making a non-profit organization is a waste of time.
  • We need an elevator pitch. See Multimedia/PR Notes for notes from the Akademy/2012/PRWorkshop
  • Some would give us money if we were a non-profit.
  • Advertising expenses are something sorta tax deductable
  • Maybe talk to Thiago about funding KDE-USA
  • It would be awesome to the KDE e.V. if KDE-USA paid for USA trips

TODO

• Elevator pitch
  • Our strong points:
    • There's a real face behind the software
    • Strong, tight-knit community
    • High quality, made in the open
    • Free as in beer and freedom
  • "<ABC> is the <special or best> <thing> for <certain kinds of people> who want <something awesome>, <in the way they want to do it>."
  • "KDE is the amazing community for people who want powerful software, made by real human beings."
• Banner design
• Next convention: OSCON July 16-20th
• Promo people: get business cards
• Check whats left in the booth box
  • Get some kubuntu/fedora/suse/mint/chakra cds
• Put together some words, Carl can wordsmith.
• Secret cabal of poster designers. WHO ARE THEY HOW DO WE FIND THEM?
• Soandso and Soandso have $500 of KDE USA cashmonies floating around. Its in a fire safe somewhere maybe hopefully. Ask Blauzahl.