[wellylug] Speaker and Sponsorship Opportunities for Software Freedom Day 2010

[Rebecca Ray]

Hello!

We are looking for speakers and sponsors for Software Freedom Day
Wellington 2010. This year's event is taking place from 10- 5 at
Victoria University's Pipitea Campus (Rutherford House) on 19 September,
2010. 

For those who don't know, Software Freedom Day (SFD) is an
international, community-based event that celebrates Free and Open
Source Software. The event hopes to provide education about the benefits
of using FOSS in the community, and to provide a networking opportunity
for those who use and create FOSS.

This year SFD Wellington is focusing on "innovation", celebrating the
exciting and inspiring technology built on platforms and values of free
and open software. This will include demonstrations by developers,
community groups, and businesses that are using or creating FOSS.

Building on the success of last year, which saw over 300 people in and
around the Wellington Town Hall, the day will be a mix of
"un-conference" style sessions, where attendees will suggest topics and
participate in discussions. There will also be organised activities and
speakers, aimed at meeting the needs of the different parts of the FOSS
community that will be in attendance - families with kids, students,
hobbyists, developers, businesses, and government policy-makers.

This is where you come in! We're looking for speakers, sponsors, and
demo-ers! 

SPEAKERS:
If you work with FOSS in anyway - developing it, maintaining it, using
it for your businesses or hobbies, etc - and feel you have something to
share with the community; we want to hear from you.
The audience at SFD Wellington will range from children and students to
the general public to technical gurus, so there's a huge range of topics
you could present on! 

DEMOS:
If you're involved in any Open Source projects, we'd like you to
showcase it at SFD! These don't have to be completed projects- a mock up
of an idea is fine. Businesses and students will have the opportunity to
demonstrate, discuss, and get feedback from the wider IT community.
As a demo developer or business, we're asking for a small donation of
$150 to cover the costs of running the event - as a result, you will be
listed as a bronze sponsor as below (secondary and tertiary students
will receive demo space for free, but will not be given sponsor
privileges). 
We're working on getting in touch with the schools and universities in
Wellington, but if you know of a student who would be interested in
displaying their work, tell them to get in touch with us as well!

SPONSORS:
Software Freedom Day is a free event and, as such, our sponsors are the
backbone of the event! If you'd like to join Catalyst IT, Amberdms, and
CWA New Media in giving back to the FOSS and greater community, let us
know ASAP. Sponsors will have a prominent presence at the event;
including banners, exhibition space, and media mentions. We have scoped
three levels of sponsorship as below, but we're open to any suggestions.

Gold Sponsorship - $1000
Your logo on the event website
First choice of exhibition space
Media mentions
Acknowledgment during the event
Five minute speaking opportunity during the opening or closing session
Opportunity to demo your FOSS product, project, or service during the
Demo Stream

Silver Sponsorship - $500
Your logo on the event website
Second choice of exhibition space
Acknowledgment during the event
Two minute speaking opportunity during a meal break
Opportunity to demo your FOSS product, project, or service during the
Demo Stream

Bronze Sponsorship - $150
Your logo on the event website
Acknowledgment during the event
Opportunity to demo your FOSS product, project, or service during the
Demo Stream

We're also looking for sponsors to provide prizes and giveaways and
in-kind sponsorship. 
Last year, we ran a number of competitions for attendees. We would love
your support in the form of a prize of giveaway during SFD. We're keen
to include prizes for students (primary, secondary, and tertiary
levels), for hobbyists, and professional FOSS developers. 
In addition, we welcome the support from any organisation who can
provide in-kind support: catering, marketing support, venue and
equipment hire, internet connection, activities, etc.
We're open to suggestions so please contact us with any proposals and
ideas!

Our website is currently under construction, but you can find it at
http://www.softwarefreedomday.org.nz/Wellington
The international SFD page is http://www.softwarefreedomday.org
We have a blog that will profile some of our speakers and sponsors at
http://sfdnz.wordpress.com/
Or follow us at one of our social media pages:
http://twitter.com/sfdnz
http://identi.ca/sfdnz
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Software-Freedom-Day-New-Zealand/126183517426145

If you're interested in sponsoring, demoing, or speaking at this year's
Software Freedom Day event (or if you have any questions!), please
contact myself or Ruth McDavitt (ruth at getsussed.co.nz). This is a
community event and depends on your ideas and participation. We look
forward to hearing from you -- and we look forward to seeing all of you
on the 19th September!

Regards,
Bex
(on behalf of the Software Freedom Day Wellington organising committee)
-- 
Rebecca Ray

Amberdms Software Developer
www.amberdms.com