[GNUz] [RMS] The Great Hall Sponsorship Application

[Rik Tindall]

Hello GNUz, and thanks Don for this brilliant effort.

There is no news for me to report about flight dates, times or bookings 
yet, so back to the work Don is initiating.

Don Gould wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Further to discussions last night below is my draft for application for
> sponsorship for the Great Hall at the Arts Centre.
>
> The venue seats 280 people and would typically cost $480 + GST for the
> night, so we really would need to make a concentrated effort to fill it
> or risk looking just a bit silly.
>   

We could be lucky and see warmer air temperatures again in a month's 
time, so I think it's well worth applying for use of the Great Hall. I 
saw Kim Hill launch a book there with Paul Callaghan - VicUniWgtn Prof 
Physical Sciences, "As Far As We Know: Conversations about science, life 
and the universe", 20 August 2007 - and it was very professional, and 
not cold, with a full house.

Just checking though, are those revised figures or an estimate you've 
been given Don?

The artscentre.org.nz site says 260 seated/max, and

"*Private Event or Public Lecture*
(up to 260 chairs set theatre style)
Between $400.00 and $600.00 for four hours use."

or  "Evening.. $420.00 " + GST.

> The application needs to go to Nigel Shatford - Business Manager -
> nigel at artscentre.org.nz
>
> I am told that Nigel would typically take about a week to consider our
> application and it would most likely be discussed with the marketing
> manager.  Sponsorship at this level should not need to go to the board.
>
> The person I talked to at the Art Centre this afternoon made it quite
> clear that they would be wanting to know what they would get in return.
>   Hence in my draft I have made a number of small commitments to promote
> their facilities.  Please don't flame me, if you have issue then let's
> hear why.
>   

We should probably do some (paid) postering and a Press ad / community 
notices etc. These will all mention the Great Hall / AC, so we can offer 
them that promoted profile. Also, we should flesh out the modern 
education contribution of free/open software in your letter, to tie in 
with the AC legacy/theme. (viz Rutherford, Bickerton etc.) Actually, 
there is a science / skills deficit in NZ, that our community 
voluntarily tries to help address. So GNU's a Good Thing (tm) - fitting 
for an olde university location.

> I have included quite a number of random comments about GNU/GPL, etc.
> I'm not proposing we use my draft in full.  I suggest that we do some
> editing.  I am just trying to help get the juices moving in the brain.
>
> It occurred to me that spending time to write a submission is a waste of
> time if the hall is already book, so I called them to confirm it's
> available.  It is, and I have made a tentative booking to reserve us the
> space if we want it.  The centre will hold the booking for a month
> without any commitment, however it would be polite to get our collective
> skates on! :)
>   

Great work Don. I suggest that we hone this app over the weekend, so it 
can go in on Monday - if we can't help Don finish the edit today.

> Cheers Don
>
> -----------------
> Dear Nigel,
>
> We are writing to you to day to ask the Arts Centre Trust to consider
> sponsoring our use of the Grand Hall on Monday 18th of August from 7pm
> to 10:30pm.
>
> We propose an open public event where Mr Richard Stallman will speak.
> Donations will be invited to cover the cost of bringing Mr Stallman to
> Christchurch.  At this stage we have no idea if his presentation will
> generate enough interest to cover the plane fares we expect to have to
> cover or leave a surplus to cover other costs.
>
> We would like to ask the Arts Centre to sponsor the entire cost of the
> venue but would also be happy to meet some of the costs if the event
> does prove to raise funds to a point that would allow us to assist in
> costs.
>
> As the founder of the Free Software Foundation and GNU software project,
> Richard Stallman is a world renound public speaker.
>
> Richard Stallman is to free software what Bill Gates is to commercial
> software.
>
> It is both an honour and privilege to have him speaking in Christchurch.
>
> He will be presenting a talk about the philosophy of free software
> around the world.
>
> An irony of free software is how do you measure its worth?  It cost
> nothing so is it worth nothing?
>
> Free software is what powers most of the internet.  Without it we simply
> wouldn't have the network that we all enjoy today.
>
> How does Canterbury benefit?  The people of Canterbury benefit everyday
> from free software without even knowing it.  Many thousands of people
> and businesses use his software in Canterbury and around the world each day.
>
> Google is run on free software and simply wouldn't exist if the people
> who built it had been force to use commercial licensed software.
>
> "Source code is to software what a recipe is to a cake."
>
> GNU software is all ‘Open Source’.  This means it can be used in
> education for students to learn how programs and computers work.
>
> It struck us as a bit ironic to suggest charging a fee to come and hear
> a man talk about why you should give your software away for free.
>
> Mr Stallman has inspired others to learn and grow.  Not everyone agrees
> with his philosophy that anyone should be able to use and improve software.
>
> His is an important point of view for both commercial and educational
> arenas to understand no matter where you stand.
>
> His work has inspired many to do great things.
>
> Mr Stallman presenting in our city is a gift of immeasurable value.  We
> would like the city to present him the gift of being allowed to present
> in the Great Hall.  We do have a choice of free or low cost venues but
> understand that Mr Stallman enjoys historic architecture.
>
> The BSD-GNU/Linux User community will be hosting Mr Stallman's visit to
> Christchurch.  The group is made up of local software enthusists and has
> not financial standing.
>
> Free software drives more innovation and development in commercial software.
>
> Most people are unaware that free software is what makes the internet
> possible.
>
> Free software is what keeps the commercial world in check and healthy.
>
> Agree or disagree with the values Richard brings to the table, you have
> to agree that this man has made a difference to our local community.
>
> What we can offer the Arts Centre in return.  We will be hosting a web
> site about the event and run a public emailing list and will have no
> hesitation in providing links to the Centre's web site.
>
> As we have no fund for advertising and promotion ourselves we will be
> using word of mouth and personal contact to communicate the event.
>   
and some commercial advertising.
> We will be handing out a small information sheet to attendees on the
> night and are happy to include a logo and contact details on that flyer.
>
> Regards etc.
>   

Perhaps some more thoughts later.

Thanks again, Don.

Cheers, Rik