#acl AdminGroup:read,write,revert,admin -All:write = SFD Start Guide = <> This start guide is designed to introduce you to SFD and give you some tips and pointers for organizing your own SFD team event. If you have any questions please join and use the [[http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss|teams mailing list]] or email <>. You can also chat to us on #sfd on irc.freenode.net ([[irc://irc.freenode.net/sfd|link]]) if you want to bounce ideas around or get more advice. If you are on orkut join the [[http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=19449187|Software Freedom Day community]] to share your ideas. Forming a Local SFD Team can be a fun, effective community building experience for your local user group and community. Software Freedom Day is an outreach day where you can inspire newcomers with the values and quality of Free Software and communicate the broader issues of Software Freedom through a variety of activities of your choice. Is there something locally relevant to your country or region that you need to express? Is there some great local success story you want to tell? Software Freedom Day is your chance to stand united with the entire Free Software world with what you care about. Freedom. <> == How can I celebrate Software Freedom Day? == There are two primary ways to celebrate SFD: 1. Join a local SFD Team and help make their SFD event a success. 1. Make your own SFD team! SFD will be most effective if we keep some target groups in mind: * Families * Government * Small Business * Big Business == Steps to build your team == 1. Sign up for the [[http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-announce|SFD-announce mailing list]]. This is a low bandwidth announce mailing list only. Team discussions happen on [[http://mail.sf-day.org/lists/listinfo/sfd-discuss|the sfd-discuss list]] which you are also encouraged to join. 1. Create a team page on this wiki below your Continen/Country to prepare - you will need to [[StartGuide|sign up|&action=newaccount]] or log in to be able to edit pages. Please make sure you read the [[CreateYourTeampage|instructions for creating a new team page]]. 1. [[http://cgi.softwarefreedomday.org/register.html|Register]] your team. If you register before the deadline (see the Registration page) then your team will receive some goodies to help you make your event awesome! 1. Check out the [[competition|competitions]] page for ways your team can win great prizes! Make sure you also keep up to date with the mailing list for announcements and to share information with other teams. 1. Report on your event! You can create your own team [[gallery]], and we'll have an easy report webform for you to fill in after the event. The average SFD event usually requires only one or a couple organisers to ensure the event is in hand. You can often recruit helpers from: * GNU/Linux User Groups * Special Interest Groups (Programming Languages, Distributions, Applications, etc. ) * Universities & schools * Computer clubs We have found that the excercise can bring the local groups together as well as grow the community as a whole. The number of helpers required depends on the sort of activity you choose, but generally, the more the better. That way people have a good time and it also becomes a social event. If your volunteers enjoy themselves, they will pass on a good vibe __and__ offer to volunteer next year too :-) Remember, we are all volunteers so it is a matter of what we can, when we can Always remember to thank your volunteers and make sure they have a good time. == What should we do? == Be creative! You can organise any kind of SFD event you want. But just to get you started, here are a few ideas some people have had: * Have a FOSS picnic or BBQ * Run a booth at a market, fair or computer day * Get together with schools, universities and other people who can benefit from Free Software * Run a competition, best FOSS developed music, graphics, short video * Set up simple public booth and hand out CDs. * Run some demo machines in a public space and show off your FOSS * Hold installation workshops and combined FOSS installfests in schools, businesses or other areas * Hold a seminar on IP, Free Culture, Patents, etc * Have a cultural event - food, drink, music (jam session? - "open-source music"). * Organise an expo to highlight local FOSS success stories == Preparing fo the day == Below is a basic checklist that should cover most events that you would plan on running: * Got your volunteers organised? * Do you need insurance for your event? (some people can look to larger organisations to help out with this. Ask around) * Do you have schwag to hand out? CDs, flyers, balloons? Anything shiny that will give you the chance to engage in discussion. We are proud to be able to offer to teams free materials including some balloons, tshirts, stickers and CDs to help you look and be great on the day! . {i} ''SFI encourages you to distribute any Free/Libre Open Source Software. Please keep in mind that what you distribute should be pleasantly usable by your target audience.'' * Have you advertised the event? See the point below for advice on this * Have you liased with any other SFD teams in your region or country? Sometimes this can help with pooling resources and having a stronger all round effort * Do you have decent signage prepared so people can find/recognise your event? * Is your event in an easy to find place that is useful to reach out to a broad new audience? * What do you need for your event? Do you have any companies/orgs that would sponsor your requirements? ---- CategoryWorldWide