Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Future Meetings

[Andy Halsall]

Very briefly;

I am busy as sin at the moment so excuse my silence - a brief response to the 
general tone of the last few mails as its getting interesting:

As to our group:

I see the FSUK as UK focused, sub-divided into regional groups like 
FSUK-Manchester.  At present FSUK-Manchester is pretty much all there is, 
however the aim as I see it is to use FSUK-Manchester as a base and use it to 
try and grow throughout the UK (eventually).

We need to get it right in Manchester, if it works here, then this group will 
be usable as a model for others and as and when the time comes we can look at 
how to deal with a larger organisation, essentially made up of (hopefully) 
many independent cells each working toward the same goals, and how to use 
that organisation most effectively within the UK (and over the long term, in 
a EU and global context)

As to other groups:

The FSF is not UK focused (although its remit does cover the UK), therefore it 
would be useful to have contact with the FSF, to adopt what we see is 
beneficial from the FSF and feed back into the FSF as much as possible where 
appropriate whilst maintaining independence.

The FSFE is also not UK focused (again its remit does cover the UK) so again 
it is a useful organisation to have a relationship with and make use of what 
support or other benefits that it can provide whilst maintaining 
independence.

There are other groups that we should also have contact and relationships with 
groups like the EFF, FFII, BCS, CWU, TUC, NUT, NAHT, MCUG, the list goes on.  
What we should not do is become a sub group of any of these, our focus should 
be Free Software / Software Freedom in the UK, not an alliance with any 
particular other group.  Many of us are already members of some of the 
aforementioned groups - why duplicate the effort?

Lastly, as a group, our direction, specific aims and actions should not come 
from other groups, regardless of how good or right they are.  Our direction 
should come from our members.

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Now, I am trying to clear my desk so that I can focus on a few things over the 
easter period so please excuse the fact that I am largely and intentionally 
out of contact.

Cheers

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