Ontario Linux Fest, Apr 2008 update

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. [HYPERLINK@onlinux.ca] 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. [HYPERLINK@onlinux.ca] 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, [HYPERLINK@onlinux.ca] 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 [HYPERLINK@onlinux.ca] Saturday, 25 October 2008 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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