[Leaplist] Charitable proposal for Leap members.

[patrick]

Not to jump to far, too fast.  These Veterans need to be conversant
enough to get email and surf jobs.  When we find someone with the desire
and ability to be a Technician, of course we will try to bring them up
to speed.  But, the entire program runs 90 days, and we will get to
visit them for about an hour of it.

the point here is to do the introduction to Linux on a system, give them
a system they will own and can use in the real world, and possibly
recruit a new club member...  Then the learning can really begin.  These
folks have to get jobs, homes, and everything to subsist in the world.

Many do not have any source of income, and fell through the cracks...

Kyle Gonzales wrote:
> I like the idea.  However, if you reallly want to teach them a
> commercially viable skill, you will want to show them how to use RHEL
> or SLES.  Heck, they might even get on a track to get Red Hat or
> Novelll certified, if they are so inclined.
> 
> The VA is actually a big open source shop, creating one of the largest
> open source medical apps out there.  I can imagine they would be open
> to it.
> 
> On 6/6/07, patrick <pberry2 at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>> I am a Veteran, and talked to some of the directors at the VA about one
>> area they might be needing help with.
>>
>> The VA Clinic here in Winter Park houses 60 veterans who have become
>> homeless.  The program rehabilitates them over 90 days or so.  Some are
>> victims of illness, accidents, but, are now recovered.  I think the
>> program is an OutReach non profit type government sponsored thing.
>> Probably a great way to recycle Public School computers, or government
>> excess computers... and actually have them out there doing some good
>> instead of just being salvaged to the junk vultures.
>>
>> These folks get some training, some breathing space, clothes, and some
>> necessities to start over, along with guidance in finding a job and a
>> place to live.
>>
>> We know that to get and keep a job, it often requires some computer
>> skills, some access to computers.  They have two, there.  I can imagine
>> there are lines.
>>
>> Also, they probably do not run Linux.  So, I am expecting a phone call
>> from one of the directors, after they have discussed this concept.  I
>> imagine they will run it by their IT guys, which could probably kill it.
>>
>> My sense is that many folks will do what they are paid to do in their
>> government jobs, but, the thought that volunteers are out here ready to
>> help just can't intrude into their world.
>>
>> My offer is to give them some of the computers that I have, along with
>> the latest CDroms of Mepis, PCLinuxOS, and a 30 minute to one hour
>> class, each week for the summer, on a regular schedule, so they are up
>> to speed when they relocate out in the world.
>>
>> I would like to see each veteran have a computer so as to have some
>> capability to communicate, post their resume, and join in the community
>> that is of interest to them, on the web.
>>
>> I live about a mile away so it is easy for me to go there.  I will
>> convey more as I learn it.  I am awaiting their call.

>