Herefordshire Linux and Open Source User Group

The HLUG SFD team realised a couple of weeks ago that along with the linux distro CD's we have to give away on the day we would need some cross platform Open Source application discs - as the main ISO images on the web for download are DVD's and we have limited funds we decided to create our own CD with all our favourite applications plus some educational applications.

Our monthly meeting for August was somewhat dominated by discussion of our effort for the International Software Freedom Day Event. This is building up a considerable head of steam!

We now have our very own Facebook and Twitter accounts, so please follow #Hfd_LUG on Twitter http://twitter.com/Hfd_LUG, or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Herefordshire-Linux-Users-Group/1338385199...

I spent a damp hour this afternoon running round Leominster distributing posters for our ISFD event, and was amazed at the number of people I spoke to that "got it" straight away. One or two shops asked for a bit of cash, but when I explained the vitally free nature of what it is all about, they came round - welcome to the open source paradigm :-)

I just wanted to take a moment to share my new found enthusiasm for the PiratePad online collaborative workspace.

http://piratepad.net/

It's been a joy to use for developing our effort for ISFD, especially those times when several of us have been online simultaneously working up the content. Also, it's facility to leave chatty comment in a side bar keeps the main area clear for working.

Lots of work has been going on with HLUG members preparing for the IFSD event in Hereford. We've been using the collaborative open source tool Pirate Pad to work together to organise the event and flyers, posters and a leaflet have been created using Scribus. We've now got one more main meeting to go before the event and with exhibition boards to prepare, publicity to get out into the community and the local media so there's still lots to do but the event is gathering momentum and it should be an interesting day.

HLUG is hosting our 2010 International Software Freedom Day event with space kindly donated by All Saints, Hereford

It's a free Drop-in event so just call in to experience how easy Open Source Software is to install and use.

The day is focusing on Open Source software with special emphasis on Business, Education and Home Users. We have lots of free software and distro discs to give away and will be running demonstrations of high quality OS cross platform software for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus demonstrations of specific Linux distro's.

We will be meeting again at the 'The Point 4's terraced cafe/bar, next to the National College for the Blind in Venn's Lane, not far from the centre of Hereford. With free wifi and their own good sized car park nearby, and food and drink available, its a great place for our meetings !

For our June meeting we will be discussing ideas and suggestions for Software Freedom Day which will be held 18th September this year.

So please come along and talk Linux and Open Source ! We're a friendly, welcoming group of both sexes and all ages

Our April HLUG meeting will be held in a new location we will be trying for the first time.

The meeting will be held at the recently opened new venue 'The Point 4' near the centre of Hereford, http://www.thepoint4.info, owned and used mainly by the Blind College but open to all. It's a very smart place, with excellent facilities but unknown as yet to many Herefordians.

You can see more pictures of the venue here http://www.thepoint4.co.uk/socialise.html