Re: Customization of Gnome Fund Contribution to Country levels

[john palmieri <john j5 palmieri gmail com>]

In order for lower donations to work, we need to set up legal entities
in different regions to accept the donations without losing too much
from transfer fees, shipping of swag and other issues we run into
because the GNOME Foundation is incorporated in the US.  For instance
I had to pay peoples travel and then get reimbursed for the PyGObject
hackfest because it would cost almost as much to transfer that money
to individuals in Europe.  GUADEC gets around this because they set up
a European entity to legally handle European transactions and then
transfers happen in lump sums instead of multiple smaller
transactions.  In any case this has to happen at the regional level by
dedicated individuals such as how the Beijing Group does it.  The
GNOME Foundation can guide those groups and offer assistance.  As long
as the groups are actively promoting GNOME that money should stay in
the region to continually grow GNOME.

2011/4/6 Zenwalker <shailesh zenwalk gmail com>:
> Hi Pockey,
>
> I am not questioning (and dont have rights too) any body here about
> volunteers geting goodies. They do deserve some thing for their work. Infact
> if there is other Summit happening in bangalore next time, i wish to serve
> as well if needed.
>
> Yes as a matter of fact, i did grabbed a tshirt, and i am feeling proud for
> donating Gnome at last some how with some reasonable amount.
>
> Yes i am actually looking for the thing like what Beijing group does. I
> really wish there was a User Group in india like that. Infact there are many
> guys who are active gnome contributors. I guess they can make a group under
> their guidance. Sure many shall join.
>
> I did bought a debian t-shirt (custom printed) from
> http://bangalore.justdial.com/hep-fly-online-india-pvt-ltd_vijaynagar_Bangalore_zyurvOPPhlq.htm
> (main home page doesnt seem loading) long back.
>
> Seems like these guys http://www.myntra.com do as well.
>
> Ill sure mention more as soon as i come across. Ill ask few of my friends
> about these kinda vendors.
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Pockey Lam <pockeylam gnome org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Zenwalker,
>>
>> We distributed tshirts to some volunteers and speakers :) to thank them
>> for their supports to the event. We distributed 80 tshirts in total.
>>
>> While we got 20 participants donated 800 rs, and we gave away 20 tshirts
>> in total as gifts :-) A big thank you to those who donated (including you)!
>>
>> Regarding GNOME merchandises for India, there is actually a GNOME store
>> for Chinese market, that store is managed by the the GNOME User Group in
>> Beijing,, they are all volunteers. (They signed an agreement with the GNOME
>> Foundation to get the permission to distribute merchandises of GNOME -
>> http://foundation.gnome.org/licensing/usergroup/)
>>
>> The GNOME.Asia committee has been looking for company that is similar to
>> http://www.zazzle.com/gnome that can offer people with GNOME merchandises to
>> the Indian market. Since there will be a few GNOME User Groups establishing
>> in India, we will definitely need more local volunteers to help to start the
>> GNOME Store in India. In this case, the local volunteers can propose any
>> amount to cope with the local market.  if you have any recommendation,
>> please do propose to us!
>>
>> Thanks again for your support and feedbacks!
>> Pockey
>>
>> On 04/05/2011 11:52 PM, Zenwalker wrote:
>>
>> Dear Fred,
>>
>> I have completely scanned the Friends of Gnome page before even raising
>> this request. 500USD was just an example i opted to refer as what i am
>> talking about. But as you can see, those who would be interested in a
>> t-shirt and a membership stuffs and more goodies as a sign of show off to
>> others for their contributions, other stuffs wont work out for them or they
>> may not be interested. I am sure you did attend the Gnome.Asia summit and u
>> must have seen how many non-volunteers have bought the tshirt and wore it to
>> show off their support.
>>
>> So what ever is the type of contribution, it would be great if the rates
>> are brought down to the country level standards. That way gnome or any Free
>> Software project can attract more contributors. I do hope you understand my
>> concern here. Conversion rates from USD -  INR is pretty costly. That itself
>> puts more people off from contributing.
>>
>>
>> Thanks :)
>>
>> P.S: Its not just my issues. Its every ones and i am just requesting on
>> behalf of the concerned group of people as well as a well wisher of FS/Gnome
>> to grow.
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Frederic Muller <fredm gnome org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear Shailesh,
>>>
>>> GNOME accepts donations starting from as low as you can afford. Please
>>> review http://www.gnome.org/friends/step2.php for one time donation: you can
>>> see that the default amount is U$25 (and not $500) and can be edited to a
>>> lower amount.
>>>
>>> I hope that clarifies the issues for you.
>>>
>>> Kind regards,
>>>
>>> Fred
>>>
>>> On 04/05/2011 11:12 AM, Zenwalker wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Dear Board Members,
>>>>
>>>> I here by wish to make an appeal for customizing the rates (contribution
>>>> funds) to Gnome programs such as Gnome Store, Friends of Gnome,
>>>> Contribute to Gnome, etc. to be customized to the country rates such a
>>>> way more people can affort to contribute.
>>>>
>>>> The current problem is, most contributors willing to contribute to the
>>>> Free software (Gnome, Linuxfoundation, FSF, etc.) are not able to
>>>> contribute in any way viz Buying goodies, fund transfers, etc. coz the
>>>> conversion rates are too high.
>>>>
>>>> For example, to become a friends of Gnome program and sponsor 500USD to
>>>> get a one time membership, etc. features, it will cost around 21,000 INR
>>>> (Indian Currency) for an individual.
>>>>
>>>> This is leading to loosing alot of contributors in and around asia
>>>> specific. I can assure you this problem is faced by many in my country
>>>> (india) when ever i interact with many people interested in gnome and
>>>> wishes to contribute funds, upon seeing the conversion rates, they back
>>>> off.
>>>>
>>>> Hence i here by make a request to the board of members to take further
>>>> decisions as requested above, so that every body can contribute easily
>>>> and comfortably.
>>>>
>>>> P.S: I had the same above discussion with Brian Cameron when he visited
>>>> Gnome.Asia 2011 summit in bangalore recently. He directed me to write a
>>>> mail to the Board Members.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> ----------------------
>>>> “Live your life honestly—if you don’t, you always have
>>>> to remember to not be yourself”
>>>>
>>>> "Ever tried Zen Computing?"
>>>> visit: www.zenwalk.org <http://www.zenwalk.org>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> gnome-asia-list gnome org
>>>> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-asia-list
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ----------------------
>> “Live your life honestly—if you don’t, you always have
>> to remember to not be yourself”
>>
>> "Ever tried Zen Computing?"
>> visit: www.zenwalk.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> gnome-asia-list mailing list
>> gnome-asia-list gnome org
>> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-asia-list
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ----------------------
> “Live your life honestly—if you don’t, you always have
> to remember to not be yourself”
>
> "Ever tried Zen Computing?"
> visit: www.zenwalk.org
>
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