The Ohio LinuxFest call for papers was supposed to end a few days ago, but we’ve decided to extend it until July 31st to maximize the number of really awesome speakers for the show.
In case you’re not familiar with the LinuxFest, it’s a one-day free conference in Columbus, Ohio every year. It’s a totally community-oriented event, focused on educating users and bringing together the Linux community in the Mid-West that is so woefully under-served by the conferences that take place on the coasts. This is why I’m donating some time to help out — I think it’s really important to cultivate community events, and doubly important to help cultivate events in locations that aren’t served by shows like LinuxWorld, OSCON, and so forth.
It’s not easy for many people to get a travel budget to attend a big show in New York, Boston, San Francisco and so forth — those are easy targets for commercial shows, but Linux and open source aren’t just about the bucks. What keeps me interested in Linux is the technology and the community — and that’s what OLF has in abundance.
There’s a lot of Linux users and enthusiasts in the chasm between the coasts, and they deserve a day in the sun as well — actually, they deserve more than that, but at least OLF gives ‘em one day a year to gather together and soak up the community spirit that has brought Linux this far and continues to make it great.
So, if you’re involved with Linux and open source and have something interesting to share, be sure to check out the speaker’s guidelines and propose a presentation.
Even if you’re not interested in speaking (or sponsoring…) be sure to sign up to attend the show if you’re anywhere near Columbus, Ohio. I’m not sure who’s going to be speaking just yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be a great line-up. Heck, it’s worth showing up just to rub elbows with all the great folks who turn out — it’s a really fun crowd, and easily one of the best ways to spend a Saturday for anyone who’s a Linux geek or just Linux-curious.
I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there as well.
