My Dilemma

[pravin joshi]

This morning I was talking to people who are well-wishers of FOSS
Nepal regarding some system design issues. During a part of that
conversation there was one task extremely suitable for an organization
like FOSS Nepal to carry out. So I brought that up and they told me
directly that involving FOSS Nepal would not make much sense as FOSS
Nepal was near dead. Then moving with that conversation they were of
the view that FOSS Nepal's present is bleak and it does not seem to
have a future.
So after they left I got around to thinking a little, because what
they said really struck me.
When I thought about it I realised that FOSS Nepal has been shrinking
in its charm, for whatever it used to be. The events has been reduced,
activities has decreased. So much so the mails in the mailing list has
decreased. Before, same time last year, was an average of 7-8 to mails
a day. Now we are hitting 2-3 average or even less for a long stretch
few days back. One can always check the FOSS mailing list to verify
that.
That sense of purpose seems to have run out. I understand that people
have to do their thing, but maybe we were not able to generate a
future generation of people with purpose.
The pool of people, that are the heart and soul of this community,
seems to be drying out.

So my Dilemma is : is this the start to the end??? or is this a start
of a new dawn???

Pravin

[Abhudaya Sagar]

Naya program haru conduct huna nasak nu nai esko ali naramro pakshya rahayo as well public events haru dherai bhaye pani events haruma sahabhagita ko kami dekhiyeko cha. as well since it is related to public awareness we from chitwan are very much encouraged. coz chitwan mahotsav ma 200 wata ko hara hari ma distros ra nirvikalpa distribute gariyo. its a good start for us.

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Regards

><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.

·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Mr. Sagar Kshetri (ASK?)
Url: www.sagarkshetri.com.np

[Lava Kafle]

Thank you very much for attributing chitwan festival IT showroom Section, it was great!!! May others follow the same like it was in Ratnanagar fest.
lava kafle

[Jitendra kumar]

On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 10:25 PM, pravin joshi <pra...@gmail.com> wrote:

This morning I was talking to people who are well-wishers of FOSS
Nepal regarding some system design issues. During a part of that
conversation there was one task extremely suitable for an organization
like FOSS Nepal to carry out. So I brought that up and they told me
directly that involving FOSS Nepal would not make much sense as FOSS
Nepal was near dead. Then moving with that conversation they were of
the view that FOSS Nepal's present is bleak and it does not seem to
have a future.
So after they left I got around to thinking a little, because what
they said really struck me.
When I thought about it I realised that FOSS Nepal has been shrinking
in its charm, for whatever it used to be. The events has been reduced,
activities has decreased. So much so the mails in the mailing list has
decreased. Before, same time last year, was an average of 7-8 to mails
a day. Now we are hitting 2-3 average or even less for a long stretch
few days back. One can always check the FOSS mailing list to verify
that.

 

Well, one more reason for decreasing volume of mails is the Social Media revolution. Once FOSS Nepal mailing list was the best resource to share and learn about the latest updates about FOSS. Now people prefer Facebook, Twitter, etc.
 

That sense of purpose seems to have run out. I understand that people
have to do their thing, but maybe we were not able to generate a
future generation of people with purpose.

Thats true. One chief reason, I feel, is the timidity of FOSS Nepal in expanding its role beyond advocacy. Probably its loose structure always prevented it from bearing a serious responsibility. The people who were once so enthusiast did everything to advocate the philosophy. Many later got busy with their professional commitment, many flew abroad and the new ones had no intention of being advocates.

The pool of people, that are the heart and soul of this community,
seems to be drying out.

The only way FOSS Nepal can be alive and kicking again is by getting people to do something they can feel excited about.

So my Dilemma is : is this the start to the end??? or is this a start
of a new dawn???

Pravin

[Akash Deep Shakya]

Hello guys, 

To be really practical and realistic about the situation of FOSS Nepal Community. I don't think we are a community that do projects, rather we are a community that do events and is capable to do project. I think if we want to do project then we need to have a wing which does that. Project needs dedicated guide and management, any kind of community does not have these attributes. 

We have faced similar situation in past, and worked hard, and been victorious. We can again work hard to do what we do best, that is advocacy and Implementation of FOSS. And we should be ready to help volunteers who are willing to do projects. We can be a communication channel, a motivator or any other roles. 

Regards

Akash Deep Shakya 

[Abhishek Singh]

Thanks Pravin dai for bringing the issue up.
            Jitendra was right at putting about the interaction (social media vs. the mailing list). This shift in interaction style has a major effect on how we perceive communication within the community. The mailing list style somewhat required subjective communications (replying with some comments), whereas on the social media it has much more limited to "I like" on FB or "RT" on twitter.
            Akash is trying to materialize on just the potentials, that we have had converted to momentous kinetics (into action) at times before. But the potential in itself is not enough, and we need to move on with how to "engage the community".
            Also there is a lack of leadership. The old folks are busy with their own work (I don't mean that they are not willing to contribute), and the next-gen is not yet ready to take on the lead -- this is one of the problem that is the most acute. There is definitely a decrease in regular programmes, thus inhibiting the interaction with the community members, and hence making this problem even worse.

Putting the underlying problems on the board, the community needs to have a steering committee which tables plans, strategies, and programmes for the community. Projects like Nirvikalpa should be revisited, and other projects like these should be initiated. Might be we can take interns to work on code-based-projects? Just an idea.

Let's rethink about this.

-- 
Abhishek Singh
FOSS Nepal Community
http://wiki.fossnepal.org

[Abhudaya Sagar]

loved the idea code based project. but what will be that?

[pravin joshi]

He! He! Understand the media revolution. I, being kinda old fashioned,
don't use either of the two FB and Twitter. As long as there is
communication happening that is all my concern. If you guys say there
is communication, then there is.
Regarding discussions so far, there are three points that I have found
worth working on.
1. Abhishek's recommendation for a steering committee --- I think we
need that asap. And we need that to meet every alternate weekends (for
Lava's sake) to move things forward.
2. How do people get involved in FOSS? --- there seems to be no clear
cut implecations of FOSS involvement. I guess its like people want to
get involved. They want to start somewhere, but all the community can
say as of now is do anything you like. That's is kinda hard to find
out, what I like? When I am just starting off. So that steering
committee could be involved in creating a roadmap where people can
contribute meaningfully asap.
3. Issue of advocacy role --- Well, FOSS Nepal's pre-dominant role so
far has been that of advocacy. It does not mean it cannot find other
roles. So change of or expansion of role seems to be necessary. Also
more people need to put in ideas. One that I might not see very
clearly about is the code projects. This reaction is mainly after
working on trying to get 3 projects on-board and going nowhere with
that. Bringing thoughts of history - eBarnamala is one, still hanging
in there with work done solely by me 2 years back. Then there is the
calendar library for Python, again with no takers. Then there was the
reference content for schools creation that went nowhere, but for that
I am also part and parcel of the blame. Having said that I am for code
projects, but I would now prefer to focus more on content creation and
aggregation. That is where FOSS has a big role, open content for a
more open society.
Finally its time to bring in fresh ideas and fresh directions. Unlike
Nepali politics, the old hats got to bring in the new ones.

Pravin

[bishnubhai]

when i 1st time knew about the FOSS and FOSS Nepal, immediately i
decided to involve in this .For that i tried to research on FOSS. Many
time i gave the presentation on FOSS and Foss Nepal. For this i tried
the get the suggestion from different persons but they just suggest me
to use Linux and force other to use Linux and other many free
software. but i think this is not effective way to promote the FOSS n
FOSS Nepal. Now even i am using Linux n many free software but i can't
say i m the member of FOSS Nepal. Since i dont know any things about
FOSS Nepal. if we want to promote FOSS Nepal then i think we should
organize different new program. if there is any new program then how
can i know about it................