[KLUG Members] The benefits of donating to KLUG

[Robert G. Brown]

A shameless plug for material support.

As some previous messages to this list have pointed out, we are coming to the 
end of the year, and tonight is the last KLUG meeting until 2003. Along with
then end of the calendar year, most people and many organizations also bring
the financial year to an end.

This means that time is ruunig out for each of you to consider donating 
equipment to KLUG, which, I might add, is a tax-exempt, non-profit organ-
ization. Donations to KLUG are fully tax-deductible.

Hardware donated to KLUG are used to create our Internet presence, provide
you with more services and software, and generally provide us with a base
that makes Linux in particular, but Free Software in general just a little
bit more secure in West Michigan. Right now we have 5 computers up and 
running, in two locations, standing ready to provide services and space 
for more project work as we go forward into the New Year. 

Can we use more? Yes! This is why I am appealing to you to help out. We 
can use more computers to work as LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project)
clients, so we can more effectively show Linux at meetings and perhaps
additional events, and bring Linux to more people. We have a server which
we are devoting to VOIP and conferencing, a project we call Driftwood, but
we have misgivings about it. Some project team members would like a faster
system (this is a 500 MHz machine) for adequate service, others think we
need more disk space, either for this machine or for our FTP server. We
can always use more advanced hardware than we have now; excess can be
channeled to other charitable non-profit organizations. It would be nice 
to have a first-class system to take to computer sales, configured to 
showcase Linux at its best. There are more prosaic items we could put to
good use as well... stationary, for example. some labels, a couple of hubs 
would be helpful, too.

Consider it.. that machine you just retired, sitting in the corner....
can KLUG use it? Can you, or your company use the tax deduction? It may
be worth more to you than letting that machine collect dust... and it is
yet another way for you to give something back to the Linux community,
and your Linux User Group. We are each others "Santa's Helpers" in this,
actually year 'round. This is a reminder that it will help KLUG and you
to be a stocking stuffer.

Of course, MONEY is nice, too! :) We can use that to buy what we need,
and that's helpful sometimes, as you no doubt have seen. If you're thin-
king of becoming a supporting member, do so before the end of the year. 
It's tax-deductible too, and while $25.00 is not much, it may help you. If
you are already a supporting member, renew a bit early and get the deduction
this year. If you're quite well-off, write us a check, we'll acknowledge 
your very special support if you like. If your organization gets real value
out of Linux and our activities, perhaps you can advocate or consider becom-
ing a corporate sponsor. We'll make your sponsorship visible on our website,
and perhaps in other ways, too.

Help keep us the powerhouse we have become, arguably the most active Linux 
Group in the Midwest. Tell us what we have to do to continue growing, but
also take advantage of our special non-profit status to help give us the
tools to do the job.

Although tonight is the last meeting of the year, you can donate items to
us by mailing a message to any KLUG officer or active volunteer (see the 
officers page on our website, or simply use, chair@kalamazoolinux.org). We
can also meet with you to accept donations, and deliver receipts, right up
until the end of the year.

I'd like to extend special thanks to all the people who have made KLUG so 
special this year, kept us on a path of growth, prosperity, and service.
I look forward to more in the coming year, and hope each of you can make
a contribution to our group, one way, or another.

Finally, a great holiday season to all, and a Happy New Year.

                                                   Thanks and Regards,
                                                     ---> RGB <---