MDK

If you have had any interaction with the folks at the TPF I think you will already know that they are quite super people. So why am I saying that the TPF are great in this blog.

Well….

It is all down to the efforts I have personally seen them make over the past twelve months and even more recently their input into the send-a-newbie scheme.

As you may know, and if you don’t you can visit the send-a-newbie website or read the last blog post, the send-a-newbie scheme is all about raising money to send people new to Perl events to a YAPC. This year it is being run by the EPO for YAPC::EU. In January I was approached by Karen Pauley of the TPF to ask if they minded if the TPF ran a scheme for YAPC::NA along the same lines. I of course said that I didn’t mind, in fact I actively encouraged this, the more successful schemes the better in my opinion and the TPF are actively involved with the American conferences on an administrative basis so they are best placed to run this initiative in the US.

Karen and I both agreed that this was another area that the TPF and EPO can mutually make as much an impact as possible, and recently they went a stage further with this by donating to the send-a-newbie scheme we are running. So I would like to give a big thanks to the Board and to Karen for supporting us in this manner.

(Due to time constraints the TPF will not be running the initiative for this year’s YAPC::NA (though there are plenty of things they are doing at the event to include first time attendees in the proceedings), from my understanding they will be running this next year.)

The TPF do so much more than this though. From actively supporting communities through grants and funding, to funding and encouraging the organisation of YAPCs and other workshops, providing websites and resources as well as promoting and supporting the marketing and promotion of Perl and the Perl community.

They are also incredibly approachable. If you meet any of these people you quickly discover that they are supportive in person. I have found every TPF board member and officer I have met to be helpful, attentive, to give encouragement and to have a real care (in fact a passion) for getting Perl the recognition it deserves and to expanding its horizons.

So I want to thank them once more and to raise a jolly huzzah for their continued development and existence.

——————————

I thought I would re-use this blog post to repeat these two calls and to direct anyone who doesn’t know about the send-a-newbie initiative to the appropriate locations.

If you know of any mailing lists, forums etc., that can be used to post these messages to then please do not hesitate to do so.

The mailouts are printed below, just copy and paste as appropriate and spread the word. Please also consider donating to this effort.

————-DONATIONS————–

Subject line: Donate to Send-a-Newbie
Last year many individuals and companies donated money to the send-a-newbie initiative run by Edmund von der Burg. It was a great success. At the end of last year Edmund approached the EPO with the task of organising a similar event this year as he was unable to because of other commitments.

Therefore I come to you all to ask you to donate once again to this excellent project, please make a donation at send-a-newbie.enlightenedperl.org (or send your donation to send-a-newbie@paypal.com). If you made a donation last year, I thank you and would gratefully ask for you to do so once more.[1]

If you are new to this idea allow me a few moments to describe it.

The send-a-newbie scheme will allow people to attend a Perl conference (YAPC::EU for us, and this year YAPC::NA will have a scheme organised by the Perl Foundation) if:

a. they have never attended a YAPC/Major Perl event previously;
b. they are financially unable to do so;
c. they work in/study/use Perl.

The only changes we have made to the terms of entry this year is to broaden the scope. The Enlightened Perl Organisation members voted that we manage this initiative on the sole condition that it was open to all people regardless of age or circumstance (there were some minor restrictions in the previous year that did not reflect our requirements).

This year we will be listing our sponsors on the website to express our thanks[2] and because we believe in openess of information. A list of names will appear that people can admire and give respect[3]. If you would like to/do donate and don’t want your name listed then please contact Mark or Rosellyne and let them know and they will ensure that you are not listed.

Thanks for your consideration, and thanks-in-advance to those who are considering donating.

Kind regards

Mark
Secretary to the EPO

p.s. If you know of any list, forum where this information might be posted then I would kindly ask that you repeat it there.

[1] Please, please, pretty please on bended knees :)

[2] An almost exact opposite of name and shame.

[3] Also they can perhaps feel sickened that they were too jaded to support such a great idea.

—————END——————–

————-APPLICATIONS————–

Subject line: Send-a-newbie – Applications

The application process for the Send-a-Newbie initiative to allow participation at YAPC::EU::2010, which allows applicants who would otherwise be unable to due to financial constraints, is now open.

Please go to: http://www.send-a-newbie.enlightenedperl.org/applications.html for more information on how to apply.

Please note that the only condition, and that will only be applied dependent on the number of applications (it is a merit system based on exposure) is that you have not attended a YAPC or major Perl Workshop previously. No constraint on age, experience etc., is made.

If you know of any mailing list that this notice may be displayed then please forward the contents/repeat the information there.

If you wish to donate to this initiative then please visit: send-a-newbie.enlightenedperl.org (or send your donation to send-a-newbie@paypal.com).

Kind regards

Mark Keating
Secretary to the EPO

—————END——————–

-ttfn – Mark