[vox] [fwd] OpenOffice campaign: Cotati-Rohnert Park results
Bill Kendrick
vox@lists.lugod.org
Mon, 13 Oct 2003 16:08:05 -0700
[Posted to the NBLUG list; fwd'd cuz it's interesting]
----- Forwarded message from Lincoln Peters <lincoln_peters@hotmail.com> -----
During Rancho Cotate High School's regular lunch break, I had a table set up
in the quad (where most students hang out during this time) with 100 CD's
and 11x17" enlargements of each page of the school flyer. Although there
was occasional skepticism (mostly over whether or not it would crash their
computers), most students who stopped to ask what I was promoting were
interested enough that they took a CD. Overall, I passed out 64 CD's in the
span of the 40-minute lunch break.
The IT person at the high school was unwilling to install them on the school
computers, as he was worried about support issues (he seems interested in
OpenOffice, but he's overworked). However, he was willing to let me pass
out CD's to students.
At one elementary school, I was able to put five CD's and a copy of the
flyer in the hands of the principal, who said he'd be willing to install
them on school computers and to loan them to teachers and parents. At
another, I was able to leave one CD and a copy of the flyer. I was not able
to visit any other schools in the district.
I was able to talk to the district superintendent, who was interested in
OpenOffice and was willing to have someone look at it. However, I have not
heard back from them yet.
It is possible that there will be support issues with OpenOffice, so I'll
keep an eye on the schools for a while. I'll also recommend that they join
some of the OpenOffice mailing lists. Eventually, they may develop an
interest in other open-source products, at which point I can recommend
joining the NBLUG.
I have 32 OpenOffice CD's remaining, and I seem to remember that LUGOD
wanted OpenOffice CD's to distribute at ISSA. Is there someone who plans to
attend both the NBLUG meeting tomorrow who could bring the CD's to LUGOD?
If so, I'll bring the CD's to the meeting tomorrow.
Does anyone else have anything to report about open-source advocacy in
schools?
Lincoln
----- End forwarded message -----
-bill!
--
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