From debian-user@pixar.com Tue Feb 15 11:27:32 1994 Received: from mongo.pixar.com by thorplus.lib.purdue.edu (4.1/Purdue_CC) id AA01653; Tue, 15 Feb 94 11:27:26 EST Received: from mongo by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0pWSXU-0005TDa; Tue, 15 Feb 94 08:22 PST Date: Tue, 15 Feb 94 08:22 PST Message-Id: <199402151614.LAA03723@jobe.shell.portal.com> Errors-To: bruce@pixar.com Reply-To: debian-user@pixar.com Originator: debian-user@pixar.com Sender: debian-user@pixar.com Precedence: bulk From: Ian A Murdock < imurdock@shell.portal.com> To: mdickey@thorplus.lib.purdue.edu Subject: The Debian Linux Association X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0b -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO Last updated: Mon Feb 14 23:46:20 EST 1994 The Debian Linux Association (DLA) is an organization that has been formed to serve as the official maintainer and central supporter of Debian. Please note that the DLA, while legally a business entity(1), does not exist for profit's sake. Our primary objective is to advance the cause of free software by making a system based entirely upon free software available to everyone who wants it and by further developing and improving it. (Please see the Debian Manifesto for more details.) (1) As soon as we have the funds to do so we plan on incorporating. The possibility of incorporating as a non-profit organization is also being considered, but this may or may not even be a realistic possibility. Please note that the DLA is still in the process of formation. This file will be edited and extended as soon as the organization reaches a more stable state. Some of our primary objectives are: * To maintain a staff that will continue to develop and improve Debian * To develop new software for GNU or Linux and/or to help make improvements to existing GNU and Linux software * To distribute the Debian system, manuals and the like and to assist other organizations in such activities * To provide end-user support and to assist other organizations in such activities * To engage in other distribution and service activities, such as marketing pre-installed and configured Debian `workstations' * To provide public services, such as distribution of information by request (i.e., "Please mail me via Postal mail a list of FTP sites on which Debian is available.") * To manage the Debian project and to keep it organized Please note that these are somewhat vague objectives. We hope to clarify and expand upon them as soon as we know to what extent our resources will allow them to be realized. --- With the release of 0.92 and a public release rapidly approaching, we are finally attempting to get the DLA off the ground. Our goal is to be "fully operational" by the time a Debian announcement is posted to c.o.l.a, but we are extremely low on funds at present and can do nothing until we have raised some money. As the DLA will be primarily a development organization and not a commercial distributor of Debian, we will be depending on outside funding to exist and operate. This is a call for donations to help us get the DLA off the ground. * What do we need? We need money. This money will initially be used to pay administrative and startup costs and to establish a pool of funds that will be available once the DLA is operational. We will need money in the future to pay a staff of full-time developers, to purchase any needed equipment or services and to provide certain services to the public for free. We need equipment. We need a small network of machines and networking equipment. We want Debian to be an excellent networking system, which is impossible to develop without a network. In general, any additional hardware that we have access to allows us to best support that hardware in the system. The best way to ensure that certain hardware is supported well in Debian is to donate it to the DLA (or to donate money so that we may purchase the hardware). We need dedicated volunteers. Please contact us if you have the time and the experience to help us out in either the operation of the DLA or the development of Debian. We also need a direct connection to the Internet (I am connected to the Internet -- almost literally -- by a piece of string and two paper cups), and we need more full-time developers if I am to keep my sanity. :) In short, we need quite a bit. If you can help out in any way, please contact us (see below). * How can you help? Please consider making a small donation. If everyone using Debian were to donate some small amount of money (for example, US$10-20), we would easily have enough to get the DLA off the ground. With this in mind, please send any small donations to: The Debian Linux Association Station 11 P.O. Box 3121 West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA Make checks payable to `The Debian Linux Association'. Please include your Postal and email address(es) so that we know how to contact you in the future. Of course, large donations and donations of equipment will be most appreciated. If you have hardware that you'd like to donate, please contact me (Ian Murdock) first, especially if the hardware is large. Please be aware that donations to the DLA may be tax-deductible soon. This is for information's sake only; we don't want anyone to be surprised if this becomes the case. We will let everyone know if and when we reach this stage. Questions regarding donations may be directed to me, Ian Murdock, at < imurdock@shell.portal.com>. Thanks, Ian Murdock < imurdock@shell.portal.com> The Debian Linux Association
From debian-user@pixar.com Tue Feb 15 14:10:50 1994 Received: from mongo.pixar.com by thorplus.lib.purdue.edu (4.1/Purdue_CC) id AA03072; Tue, 15 Feb 94 14:10:45 EST Received: from mongo by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0pWV5X-0005sca; Tue, 15 Feb 94 11:05 PST Date: Tue, 15 Feb 94 11:05 PST Message-Id: <199402151904.OAA11198@jobe.shell.portal.com> Errors-To: bruce@pixar.com Reply-To: debian-user@pixar.com Originator: debian-user@pixar.com Sender: debian-user@pixar.com Precedence: bulk From: Ian A Murdock < imurdock@shell.portal.com> To: mdickey@thorplus.lib.purdue.edu Subject: Volunteering time X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0b -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO Hi, WRT my previous post, if you are interested in contributing _time_ to Debian, then Mike Dickey < mdickey@thorplus.lib.purdue.edu> is the man to contact. Mike is now the head Project Coordinator. I probably should have mentioned that. :) Sorry. Anyway, Mike is now in charge of keeping track of who is doing what, when it is supposed to be done, and what is not being done. In short, he's trying to organize everything. He should have a (somewhat) complete list of active contributors put together sometime soon, but only if he has the information he needs. So... if you have contributed to Debian, drop Mike a note. If you are working on something, drop Mike a note. If you want to work on something, drop Mike a note. (Redundant? :) General questions about the DLA or donating can still come to me. Thanks, Ian