[kwlug disc.] Ontario Linux Fest 2008: CFP, CFS

[Richard Weait]

Hello Linux Fest Fans!  

It's coming!  Ontario Linux Fest 2008 is a GO!  We have picked a venue
and a date, and we can't wait to hear from you.  You gave us great
feedback at the event last year, so we're building on our success.  You
said that you loved the Birds of a Feather Sessions, and the Hands-on
Demo Room, so we're binging them back.  You said that you loved the
exhibition area and the dot-org pavilion, so we're bringing those back
too!  You said that you loved the welcome party and the wrap-up
reception, so we'll be doing that again.  The social mixing at these
parties is so much fun that you should really consider them mandatory.  

The most common complaint that we heard last year was that you had a
hard time choosing between the topics in the two presentation rooms.  So
we decided to add a third presentation room, with even more great topics
and presenters to choose from.  Okay.  We're actually making it harder
on you by providing more to choose from.  But we're F/LOSS enthusiasts;
we're accustomed to the challenges of choice.  Ask a room full of us
about "EMACS vs vi" (vs. ed).  

Here is what you need to know about Ontario Linux Fest 2008.

Date: Saturday 25 October 2008
Mark us on your calendar now!  You don't want to miss this because your
partner didn't see it on the calendar and scheduled a nice root canal
weekend.  

Location: 
Days Hotel and Conference Centre - Toronto Airport East
1677 Wilson Avenue
Toronto, ON M3L 1A5 
We have a fantastic venue at "The Days".  There is a shuttle from the
airport, and it is an easy connection to the Wilson subway.  We'll work
on a shuttle from the subway if you let us know that you want one.  And
the venue is both hotel and conference centre so we are getting a great
deal on rooms those those who want to enjoy every minute of the social
events.  There is ample parking on-site.

Call for Speakers:
The call for speakers is now open.  http://onlinux.ca/papers  We seek
energetic and enthusiastic presenters who are experts in their
presentation subject matter.  Are you the founder of a F/LOSS project?
Are you the designer of F/LOSS optimized hardware?  Did you create the
Web 2.0 site that all the cool developers are hanging out on?  We want
you to present at Ontario Linux Fest.  Do you have an opinion backed by
experience?  Do you have a compelling F/LOSS story to tell? Do you have
a call to action?  We want you to present at Ontario Linux Fest.  

Call for Sponsors:
the call for sponsors is now open.  http://onlinux.ca/callforsponsors
We seek F/LOSS-friendly companies and groups to sponsor Ontario Linux
Fest.  We have several sponsorship levels and many ways for you to
support this community-focused, volunteer-run event.  In return sponsors
can enjoy many benefits according to sponsorship level.  We're looking
for well known multi-nationals who want to demonstrate their F/LOSS
support at a community event.  We're looking for local and family
businesses that use F/LOSS and want to contribute.  We're looking for
you.  Thank you for your support.  We can't do this without you.   

Suggestions:
Have we missed something?  Do you have a great idea?  We have a
suggestion page, http://onlinux.ca/suggestion where you can tell us
about a topic that you would like to learn more about or a presenter
that you would like to see.  

Announcing!  
The first two sponsors to confirm this year are both names that you know
and love.  We are thrilled to have the support of Linux Pro Magazine and
Linux Journal for Ontario Linux Fest 2008.  We'll be running ads in both
magazines and are we are just tickled pink that our message will spread
further, to more Linux fans than we would ever be able to reach on our
own.  Thank you both for your early and substantial contribution to our
event.  

The next onlinux-announce message will be at the end of May.  Mark us on
your calendar, talk to the people that you think should speak at, or
sponsor Ontario Linux Fest.  We're very excited about what we have in
store for this year.  

Best regards,
Richard (for the entire Organizing Committee)
--
Ontario Linux Fest  http://onlinux.ca/
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Toronto, Ontario, Canada