From: Candace <candace@linuxfund.org> To: lwn@lwn.net Subject: LinuxFund.org Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 14:02:28 -0700 I am contacting you presently because I believe that this new project that LinuxFund.org is launching would be of interest to your readers and the rest of the Linux Community. LinuxFund.org hopes that you might extend your resources to aid the success of this project. LinuxFund.org is currently launching a unique Linux User Group (LUG) outreach program in attempt to provide some source of financial support for the LUGs. Extending our already established fundraising system through the official LinuxFund.org credit card will do this. We hope to establish a connection with the LUGs nationwide and help them fund themselves by having them earn $30 for every credit worthy application for our credit card made via our link placed in the footer of every LUG e-mail. LinuxFund.org is a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon that raises money to give grants to fund open source projects. We do this through our credit card; whenever a purchase is made on the card, we receive a portion of this and then allocate grants online. Already this project has been launched in the Portland Linux User Group (PLUG) and is receiving local press coverage. Previous articles have been written about our organization and the contributions it has made to the Linux community and they can be found at http://www.linuxfund.org/news. This new project is simply the next step in our attempt to give back to it. Since this project is nation wide, we are seeking media coverage throughout the nation. Following this introduction is the press release regarding the launch of the new LUG program. Please, feel free to contact me should you require more information concerning the organization or the project and should it be possible to speak to you over the phone, please do let me know. You may e-mail me at candace@linuxfund.org <mailto:candace@linuxfund.org><mailto:candace@linuxfund.org> or Benjamin Cox, the head of LinuxFund.org at bjc@linuxfund.org <mailto:bjc@linuxfund.org><mailto:bjc@linuxfund.org> or you may call at (503) 892-3333. You may also contact David Mandel, the head of PLUG by e-mailing him at dmandel@microsharp.com <mailto:dmandel@microsharp.com><mailto:dmandel@microsharp.com>. Thank you very much for your time and I hope to be hearing from you shortly. Sincerely, Candace Ramcharan LinuxFund.org ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Candace Ramcharan LinuxFund.org (503) 892-3333 (707) 215-2378 (Fax) candace@linuxfund.org <mailto:candace@linuxfund.org><mailto:candace@linuxfund.org> http://www.linuxfund.org LinuxFund.org Launches its New LUG Program PORTLAND, OR- June 12, 2001- LinuxFund.org has introduced its new Linux User Group (LUG) project that supports open source projects while allowing the LUGs to earn extra revenue. The project allows LUGs to make money by selling the LinuxFund.org MBNA MasterCard to its members. A group can earn $30 per approved application made by its members. The Portland Linux/Unix Group (PLUG), headed by David Mandel, masterminded this project as a way to help LUGs fund incidental expenses. PLUG is the first LUG to support the project. The program attempts to reverse the trend of LUG members and officers using personal funds to subsidize the groups. "Active LUG members provide a service to the community," Mandel said. "It shouldn't cost them money to do so." LinuxFund.org asks that each participating LUG places a link to the credit card application at the bottom of their LUG mailing list e-mails, as well as on their websites. The increase in credit card applications will allow LinuxFund.org to award more grants that support open source projects. Each Linux User Group will collect a quarterly check based on the number of received and approved credit-worthy applications. LinuxFund.org raises money by purchases made on the LinuxFund.org Matercard, then uses the money to fund various open source projects. The group strongly encourages the submission of new projects through online means so it can award the most interesting projects. For more information concerning the LinuxFund.org or to join its LUG program or submit a project, please visit the LinuxFund.org website at http://www.linuxfund.org or call (503) 892-3333. # # #