[HacktionLab] Welcome (again) to HacktionLab and how to get involved.

[Mike Harris]

Hi All,

Sorry I confused things! The Oxford gathering is on the 10th/11th  
April.  It's correct on the web site and on the riseup decider, just  
not in my email.  Doh!

Mike.

Quoting "Mike Harris" <mike at mbharris.co.uk>:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> I thought I'd write an email to this list to re-introduce the
> HacktionLab project to everyone and let you all know what's going on and
> to invite you to get involved.  There are 61 of you on this list; that's
> a lot of lurkers!  It's easy with projects such as this not to know how
> to get involved and to see various people who seem to know what's going
> on and to sit on the sidelines wondering whether there's anything one
> can do.  I know this, I've lurked on many a list myself!
>
> So this email is an attempt to make contact with all of you, to say
> welcome and please get involved, there's lots to do and we're completely
> open to new people and new ideas.
>
> Firstly an introduction, my name is Mike and I've been involved in HL
> since it started up roughly two years ago.  Previously I've been
> involved as a tech and editor for various Indymedia collectives, am a
> member of Bristol Wireless and also have worked for a number of years
> providing internet via satellite and 12-volt cybertent spaces at various
> events.  I wanted to get involved in HL to help strengthen the UK
> network of tech-activsts, activists and techs and also to get to know
> more of you out there and to feel part of something bigger.
>
> The idea of HacktionLab was initially to have regular (once or twice a
> year) gatherings for tech-activists for the change for face-to-face
> contact, a forum for an exchange of ideas, and a change to chill out and
> get to know each other better.  Since we started, we've had four
> gatherings, two near Monmouth, Wales, and two in Leeds and Bradford.
>
> During last year's gatherings, we undertook two projects that we're
> working on this year.  We are having an interim gathering in Oxford on
> the weekend of the 3rd/4th April primarily to work on and plan these two
> projects:
>
> 1.  To produce a booklet (of less than twenty pages) that covers in as
> layperson's terms as possible various themes where IT and on-line tools
> could help activists, or where activists might need a clearer
> understanding of them.  This is in course, it's proven slow going due to
> everyone having day jobs and other projects, but we've got quite a lot
> of content coming along.  The current idea is to have a
> comic-strip-style illustrated booklet with lively anecdotes to introduce
> dry topics.  Some of the articles in the booklet will be backed up with
> online HOWTOs for those needing more information and to save on cramming
> too much into a small space; it also will make it easy to keep content
> that's likely to change frequently up to do. There's a Crabgrass group
> for this booklet at https://we.riseup.net/hacktionlab+outreach
>
> We need help with the booklet.  People to write, proof-read, design,
> print and distribute it.  It would be great to be able to get it out in
> April/May this year, but really as soon as possible would be great.
> During the April get together we're going to attempt a bit of a 'book
> sprint' to get as much content as possible ready to go to design and print.
>
> If you're interested in being involved, please join the Crabgrass group
> and do consider coming to the April gathering.  If you can't make it,
> but are up for being involved, then please let us know through this list.
>
>
> 2.  To widen the appeal of the next rural HL, which takes place in June
> at Highbury Farm, Redbrook, Wye Valley, so as to appeal to non-tech
> activists interested in getting more 'tech'd up' with topics ranging
> from using free software, to running a 12-volt cyberspace to
> communicating securely using encryption techniques.  The preliminary
> dates for it are Friday 11th until Sunday 13th.
>
> To pull-off HacktionLab this year will require people willing to come
> and help with running workshops, running the kitchen, setting up the
> event, cleaning and tidying the area for the workshops, tatting down
> afterwards, helping to run the evening's entertainment, entertaining us
> during the evening, running the on-site crew bar, working on promotional
> materials and getting the materials out there.   We will also be after
> facilities, such as tents, marquees, video projectors, screens,
> flip-chart stands, etc.
>
> If you're interested in being involved in HacktionLab and are able to
> help out with anything at all, even if you've no prior experience, and
> whether or not you consider yourself a 'tech' or an 'activist', please
> try to make it to the April gathering.  If you can't make it to Oxford
> then please email this list or me directly and let us know what you're
> up for doing.  You can also call me, my number's at the bottom of this
> email.
>
> If you can come to the April gathering, we NEED to know numbers
> URGENTLY, in order to make sure we have adequate food and crash space
> available.   If you intend to come, please add yourself to the list of
> people at https://labs.riseup.net/decider/issue/view/uquoongarimeiyeishoh
>
> So, I do hope some of you can get involved with either of these projects
> and hope to see you in Oxford, or at Highbury Farm in June.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mike.
>
> --
> Mike Harris
> w: http://mbharris.co.uk
> t: +44 7811 671 893
>
>
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>
>



-- 
Mike Harris
w: http://mbharris.co.uk
t: +44 7811 671 893
p: http://mbharris.co.uk/mike.gpg.pub
s: http://mbharris.co.uk/mike.ssh.pub
1: http://www.radiovague.com/fadaiat/101.php