Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Future Meetings

[MJ Ray]

Tim Dobson <address@hidden> wrote: [...]
> TD: despite my affiliations, my personal point of view here, from the 
> point of view of unity and cooperation, I think we should try to remain 
> independent, but friendly with the fsf and fsfe until either of them 
> take a proactive role in the UK.

Well, the UK is in Europe, not America, and FSFE *have* taken an
proactive role in the UK, acting as a catalyst for the formation of
the Association For Free Software (AFFS) and looking at starting an
FSFE-UK chapter on at least two occasions that I'm aware of.  One is
mentioned at http://www.affs.org.uk/committee/minutes20040701.html
and I have a memory of another conversation in an atrium or something
at the NEC.

That was part of the reason that AFFS was closer to FSFE, but I felt
there was also a sticking point in AFFS-FSF relations: there seemed to
be some fear of democratic popular associations in the FSF (which is
self-perpetuating IIRC). I suspect that was because there is always a
chance, however small, that an autonomous body may choose not to agree
100% with FSF.  However, I feel the benefits of democratic member
participation and independence outweigh that possible drawback - I
mean, how much risk is it really?  Like, would a majority of
fsuk-manchester ever support SCO, for example?  Even where some AFFS
members disagreed with FSF, it tended to be silent on a topic, rather
than speak against FSF.

I'm not aware of AFFS events since I resigned in about May 2005.
www.affs.org.uk seems unmodified since 29-Dec-2005.  I feel it may be
a good time to check whether anyone is up-to-date with the annual
subscription (I'm not because I've had no payment request, unless
there's no subscription fee at present) and ask them whether they want
to elect a new Executive or invoke the dissolution clause and transfer
remaining assets to FSFE.  Would any fsuk-manchester members be
interested in reinvigorating AFFS?  Are any still paying subscriptions?

Regards,
-- 
MJ Ray (slef)
Webmaster for hire, statistician and online shop builder for a small
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