Herefordshire Linux and Open Source User Group

Open Source Day - Overhead view: We had a great time at our HLUG Open Source Day - many thanks to AllSaints for allowing us to use their space - we had lots of HLUG members there at 8:30am to help set up but the Cafe was open so we had plenty of coffee on hand to keep us going.

The exhibition & disc display stand Pete's exhibition stand was in use once again to create a focal point with our Exhibition Posters about Open Source Software, the philosophy behind it and some practical tips on useful programs and how to load a Linux distro.

By 10am we had HLUG members arriving with their various machines plus members from Malvern and Worcester LUG's who lent their support and we were ready to open up for visitors.

Amazed by Linux As usual we were catering to a very mixed crowd - from HLUG members who keep an eye on our activities via the mailing list and just popped in to say hello to members of other LUG's, small business owners, teachers, students, general users and people who wandered in off the street and over from the cafe to see what we were up to.

Tony Sales shows the mayor VINUXThe mayor arrived in the early afternoon and told us not to worry as she was "half geek" and very interested in what we were doing - she was soon busy talking to HLUG members who were demonstrating various systems and software, we called her away to present the HOSS awards to the deserving winners, but she stayed on to hear Dr Wright speak and contribute to the discussion.

Dr Wright who had a terrible train journey from Bristol due to the football match did no more on arriving than take a swig of tea then started a very well received talk on his experience of Open Source in local government and what he hopes the future holds. There was then an interesting discussion - you can see the presentations, Dr Wright's talk and the Q&A as Paul (our custom disc creator) managed to video it all.

We finally closed the event at 4pm but as we were putting the last few bits and pieces away we had a final visitor - a small business start-up who wanted advice on PC's and software - which was duly given.

Pete enjoying the Cake selection It's always hard work putting on these events but we gave away plenty of both our custom discs and Linux distro's talked to lots of people about Open Source, hopefully raised it's profile in the county and enjoyed ourselves into the bargain some of us even managed to sample the cake selection in the cafe.

So next up is Software Freedom Day on Sept 17, 2011 - we'd better start planning.

Picture credits : Caroline Beaumont