SOBAC Wiki - User contributions [en]

Content Management

2020-01-13T14:53:15Z

MarcPare:

=== [[Marking Up Text for Structured Documents]] === 

; Date: Monday, 13 January 2020 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/267870637/
; Location: Room 1301 -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}

 

In October 2017 we discussed markup languages used by some members of the KWNPSA. In this iteration of the topic, long-time member Steve Izma discusses his use of markup languages in “real-world” circumstances throughout his professional career in publishing. Where documentation requires the need of serious structure, markup languages may be the right fit for the job.

This discussion will be a preliminary look at how logical document structure not only improves communication but also becomes an important archival format, allowing more programmable access to the content of documents over a variety of future contexts. While structured documents can be quite complex, markup systems allow for much simpler ways of creating and editing structured text. We will talk about how to keep the writing environment as uncluttered as possible so that the writer can concentrate on content creation and organization.

Steve, Bob and Marc

* [[Marking Up Text for Structured Documents]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Content Management

2020-01-13T05:07:01Z

MarcPare: New Jan. 13 2020 KWNPSA Event

=== [[Marking Up Text for Structured Documents]] === 

; Date: Monday, 13 January 2020 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/267870637/
; Location: Room TBA -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}

 

In October 2017 we discussed markup languages used by some members of the KWNPSA. In this iteration of the topic, long-time member Steve Izma discusses his use of markup languages in “real-world” circumstances throughout his professional career in publishing. Where documentation requires the need of serious structure, markup languages may be the right fit for the job.

This discussion will be a preliminary look at how logical document structure not only improves communication but also becomes an important archival format, allowing more programmable access to the content of documents over a variety of future contexts. While structured documents can be quite complex, markup systems allow for much simpler ways of creating and editing structured text. We will talk about how to keep the writing environment as uncluttered as possible so that the writer can concentrate on content creation and organization.

Steve, Bob and Marc

* [[Marking Up Text for Structured Documents]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

LibreOffice User Group/Meeting Notes 2019-07-15

2019-07-26T14:08:50Z

MarcPare: /* For more information or to join the community */

==== Meeting Notes ====
* Introductions

* Marc Paré showed a slide presentation on the creation of the LibreWaterloo Community Group

===== What is “The Document Foundation” (TDF) and how does it relate to the LibreOffice opensource office suite =====

* “The Document Foundation” was created with the “objective of the promotion of office software available for use by anyone free of charge.”
Built on the concept of “meritocracy”.
“The Document Foundation is a charitable Foundation under German law, founded on February 17th, 2012. Its objective, as defined in the statutes, is to nurture and develop office software that is free to use by everyone. The foundation furthers a sustainable, independent and meritocratic community which develops free, libre and open source software based on open standards through international collaboration.
* We are driven by thousands of volunteers as well as paid contributors worldwide, and with joint forces, provide the best free office suite, LibreOffice, which is available in over 110 languages, for any major platform.
* Our values are openness, transparency and meritocracy. By using these as our guiding principles, we have made our budget as well as our financial reports public.” (LibreOffice Download Page) [see: https://www.documentfoundation.org/foundation]
* Board of Directors https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/board/

===== The TDF is parent organization to 2 projects: LibreOffice Project and Document Liberation Project =====

* '''Document Liberation Project [https://www.documentliberation.org/]'''
** The Document Liberation Project aims to attract developers from all corners of the FOSS world to join with the LibreOffice developers, strengthening existing relationships and forging new ones with all who have shared goals in the domain of file formats.The Document Liberation Project exists to provide a home for the growing community of developers united to free users from vendor lock-in of content. It aims to contribute to the flourishing Open Document eco-system by providing powerful tools for the conversion of proprietary file formats to the corresponding ODF format.

* '''LibreOffice Project [https://www.LibreOffice.org/]'''
** is an opensource office suite
** has over 120 million users at last approximate count
** has had over 1000 developers work on the code
** has many community groups organized on all continents except for Canada and US
** supports over 110 languages and growing
** available for many platforms, of note: MSWindows, Mac, Linux, SunOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD etc. [https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/System_Requirements]
** code is developed from group of volunteer-coders from all over the world
** manuals/books/marketing/user support/ etc. are all run by volunteers
**very few paid staff, most are related to infrastructure to maintain servers
*** some staff for marketing, localization …
** holds a yearly conferences [https://www.LiboCon.org/]
** LibreOffice Videos
*** LibreOffice General Over-View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KC0ZdcA6s8
*** LibreOffice 6.0 New Features https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHBve8v13VY

===== “LibreWaterloo” (LibreOffice Community Group) =====

* As LibreOffice Canadian users, we would like to contribute to the LibreOffice Project and have a local presence on the Canadian scene with respect to the LibreOffice Project and software
* We would like to connect with local LibreOffice coders and users alike
* “To have fun” should be one of the pillars and principles we strive for in the organization

====== Proposal of Activities to Undertake ======

* '''Hold regular monthly meetings where LibreWaterloo organization business is discussed'''
* '''Present LibreOffice-related news or usage'''
** Demystify user-related questions with LibreOffice
* '''Promote ODF format in Canada'''
** Government
** Education
** Private Enterprises
** * Note that TDF has joined OASIS in furthering the development and promotion of the ODF platform. It is now a major active member.
* '''Organize LibreWaterloo Hacker/Bug Fests; QA Fests; conferences'''
** Participate in local/away Canadian/US conferences where TDF/LibreOffice presence may be pertinent
** Maintain the LibreOffice conference kit
* '''Documentation help with LibreOffice guides and books'''
** Cooperate with local University/College technical writing programs/classes and develop formative technical writing sessions using the LibreOffice guides/books as working examples
*** Getting Started with LibreOffice Guide
*** Writer
*** Calc
*** Impress
*** Draw
*** Base
*** Math
*** Logo
* '''Spearhead Indigenous language preservation through the Localization Team'''
** Seek partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (http://www.fpcc.ca/)
** Seek governmental grant applications to help notarize various local indigenous languages in LibreOffice in partnership with Canadian Indigenous stakeholders
* '''Help contribute to the LibreOffice project'''
** Code contribution
** Choose an aspect of LibreOffice that is under-serviced and contribute in a concrete way, such as specialize in Accessibility contributions
** Accessibility code contribution
** Accessibility QA
** Accessibility User Experience
** List and testing of compatible tools in the area of accessibility
** Software compatibility
** Hardware compatibility
** canvass/approach hardware manufacturers and seek hardware donations to the community in order to test it against the use of LibreOffice
* '''Assist the LibreOffice Project where possible'''
** Attend Canadian, US conferences as per request for help from the TDF/LibreOffice Project
* '''Assist and promote LibreOffice ecosystem start-up organizations'''
* '''Eventual goal of incorporating under charitable organization'''
** Could Help collect any donation to the main LibreOffice Project with receipt
** Would permit application to government grants for future projects
** Web Presence
*** Maintain LibreWaterloo web sites, such as website; Twitter, Facebook; mailing lists etc.
* '''LibreWaterloo members should strive to gain membership with the LibreOffice Project but not required to belong to the LibreWaterloo Community group'''
*** Note – to become a member of the TDF·LibreOffice Project requires non-trivial contribution in some aspect of the project over the period of 3 months’ activity and recognized by the LibreOffice community and membership. Thereafter one may apply to become a member of the TDF/LibreOffice in good standing. [https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/members/]

===== For more information or to join the community =====

Marc Paré
623 Bluenose Crescent
Waterloo ON
N2K 4H4

Cellphone: 519-744-9396
marc.pare@librewaterloo.ca
marc@marcpare.com
marc.pare@libreoffice.org
https://www.parEntreprise.com

LibreOffice User Group/Meeting Notes 2019-07-15

2019-07-26T14:07:40Z

MarcPare: /* Meeting Notes */

==== Meeting Notes ====
* Introductions

* Marc Paré showed a slide presentation on the creation of the LibreWaterloo Community Group

===== What is “The Document Foundation” (TDF) and how does it relate to the LibreOffice opensource office suite =====

* “The Document Foundation” was created with the “objective of the promotion of office software available for use by anyone free of charge.”
Built on the concept of “meritocracy”.
“The Document Foundation is a charitable Foundation under German law, founded on February 17th, 2012. Its objective, as defined in the statutes, is to nurture and develop office software that is free to use by everyone. The foundation furthers a sustainable, independent and meritocratic community which develops free, libre and open source software based on open standards through international collaboration.
* We are driven by thousands of volunteers as well as paid contributors worldwide, and with joint forces, provide the best free office suite, LibreOffice, which is available in over 110 languages, for any major platform.
* Our values are openness, transparency and meritocracy. By using these as our guiding principles, we have made our budget as well as our financial reports public.” (LibreOffice Download Page) [see: https://www.documentfoundation.org/foundation]
* Board of Directors https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/board/

===== The TDF is parent organization to 2 projects: LibreOffice Project and Document Liberation Project =====

* '''Document Liberation Project [https://www.documentliberation.org/]'''
** The Document Liberation Project aims to attract developers from all corners of the FOSS world to join with the LibreOffice developers, strengthening existing relationships and forging new ones with all who have shared goals in the domain of file formats.The Document Liberation Project exists to provide a home for the growing community of developers united to free users from vendor lock-in of content. It aims to contribute to the flourishing Open Document eco-system by providing powerful tools for the conversion of proprietary file formats to the corresponding ODF format.

* '''LibreOffice Project [https://www.LibreOffice.org/]'''
** is an opensource office suite
** has over 120 million users at last approximate count
** has had over 1000 developers work on the code
** has many community groups organized on all continents except for Canada and US
** supports over 110 languages and growing
** available for many platforms, of note: MSWindows, Mac, Linux, SunOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD etc. [https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/System_Requirements]
** code is developed from group of volunteer-coders from all over the world
** manuals/books/marketing/user support/ etc. are all run by volunteers
**very few paid staff, most are related to infrastructure to maintain servers
*** some staff for marketing, localization …
** holds a yearly conferences [https://www.LiboCon.org/]
** LibreOffice Videos
*** LibreOffice General Over-View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KC0ZdcA6s8
*** LibreOffice 6.0 New Features https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHBve8v13VY

===== “LibreWaterloo” (LibreOffice Community Group) =====

* As LibreOffice Canadian users, we would like to contribute to the LibreOffice Project and have a local presence on the Canadian scene with respect to the LibreOffice Project and software
* We would like to connect with local LibreOffice coders and users alike
* “To have fun” should be one of the pillars and principles we strive for in the organization

====== Proposal of Activities to Undertake ======

* '''Hold regular monthly meetings where LibreWaterloo organization business is discussed'''
* '''Present LibreOffice-related news or usage'''
** Demystify user-related questions with LibreOffice
* '''Promote ODF format in Canada'''
** Government
** Education
** Private Enterprises
** * Note that TDF has joined OASIS in furthering the development and promotion of the ODF platform. It is now a major active member.
* '''Organize LibreWaterloo Hacker/Bug Fests; QA Fests; conferences'''
** Participate in local/away Canadian/US conferences where TDF/LibreOffice presence may be pertinent
** Maintain the LibreOffice conference kit
* '''Documentation help with LibreOffice guides and books'''
** Cooperate with local University/College technical writing programs/classes and develop formative technical writing sessions using the LibreOffice guides/books as working examples
*** Getting Started with LibreOffice Guide
*** Writer
*** Calc
*** Impress
*** Draw
*** Base
*** Math
*** Logo
* '''Spearhead Indigenous language preservation through the Localization Team'''
** Seek partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (http://www.fpcc.ca/)
** Seek governmental grant applications to help notarize various local indigenous languages in LibreOffice in partnership with Canadian Indigenous stakeholders
* '''Help contribute to the LibreOffice project'''
** Code contribution
** Choose an aspect of LibreOffice that is under-serviced and contribute in a concrete way, such as specialize in Accessibility contributions
** Accessibility code contribution
** Accessibility QA
** Accessibility User Experience
** List and testing of compatible tools in the area of accessibility
** Software compatibility
** Hardware compatibility
** canvass/approach hardware manufacturers and seek hardware donations to the community in order to test it against the use of LibreOffice
* '''Assist the LibreOffice Project where possible'''
** Attend Canadian, US conferences as per request for help from the TDF/LibreOffice Project
* '''Assist and promote LibreOffice ecosystem start-up organizations'''
* '''Eventual goal of incorporating under charitable organization'''
** Could Help collect any donation to the main LibreOffice Project with receipt
** Would permit application to government grants for future projects
** Web Presence
*** Maintain LibreWaterloo web sites, such as website; Twitter, Facebook; mailing lists etc.
* '''LibreWaterloo members should strive to gain membership with the LibreOffice Project but not required to belong to the LibreWaterloo Community group'''
*** Note – to become a member of the TDF·LibreOffice Project requires non-trivial contribution in some aspect of the project over the period of 3 months’ activity and recognized by the LibreOffice community and membership. Thereafter one may apply to become a member of the TDF/LibreOffice in good standing. [https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/members/]

==== For more information or to join the community ====

Marc Paré
623 Bluenose Crescent
Waterloo ON
N2K 4H4

Cellphone: 519-744-9396
marc.pare@librewaterloo.ca
marc@marcpare.com
marc.pare@libreoffice.org
https://www.parEntreprise.com

LibreOffice User Group/Meeting Notes 2019-07-15

2019-07-26T14:07:00Z

MarcPare: /* Proposal of Activities to Undertake */

LibreOffice User Group/Meeting Notes 2019-07-15

2019-07-26T14:05:24Z

MarcPare: Here are my notes -- Marc

==== Meeting Notes ====
* Introductions

* Marc Paré showed a slide presentation on the creation of the LibreWaterloo Community Group

===== What is “The Document Foundation” (TDF) and how does it relate to the LibreOffice opensource office suite =====

* “The Document Foundation” was created with the “objective of the promotion of office software available for use by anyone free of charge.”
Built on the concept of “meritocracy”.
“The Document Foundation is a charitable Foundation under German law, founded on February 17th, 2012. Its objective, as defined in the statutes, is to nurture and develop office software that is free to use by everyone. The foundation furthers a sustainable, independent and meritocratic community which develops free, libre and open source software based on open standards through international collaboration.
* We are driven by thousands of volunteers as well as paid contributors worldwide, and with joint forces, provide the best free office suite, LibreOffice, which is available in over 110 languages, for any major platform.
* Our values are openness, transparency and meritocracy. By using these as our guiding principles, we have made our budget as well as our financial reports public.” (LibreOffice Download Page) [see: https://www.documentfoundation.org/foundation]
* Board of Directors https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/board/

===== The TDF is parent organization to 2 projects: LibreOffice Project and Document Liberation Project =====

* '''Document Liberation Project [https://www.documentliberation.org/]'''
** The Document Liberation Project aims to attract developers from all corners of the FOSS world to join with the LibreOffice developers, strengthening existing relationships and forging new ones with all who have shared goals in the domain of file formats.The Document Liberation Project exists to provide a home for the growing community of developers united to free users from vendor lock-in of content. It aims to contribute to the flourishing Open Document eco-system by providing powerful tools for the conversion of proprietary file formats to the corresponding ODF format.

* '''LibreOffice Project [https://www.LibreOffice.org/]'''
** is an opensource office suite
** has over 120 million users at last approximate count
** has had over 1000 developers work on the code
** has many community groups organized on all continents except for Canada and US
** supports over 110 languages and growing
** available for many platforms, of note: MSWindows, Mac, Linux, SunOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD etc. [https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/System_Requirements]
** code is developed from group of volunteer-coders from all over the world
** manuals/books/marketing/user support/ etc. are all run by volunteers
**very few paid staff, most are related to infrastructure to maintain servers
*** some staff for marketing, localization …
** holds a yearly conferences [https://www.LiboCon.org/]
** LibreOffice Videos
*** LibreOffice General Over-View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KC0ZdcA6s8
*** LibreOffice 6.0 New Features https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHBve8v13VY

===== “LibreWaterloo” (LibreOffice Community Group) =====

* As LibreOffice Canadian users, we would like to contribute to the LibreOffice Project and have a local presence on the Canadian scene with respect to the LibreOffice Project and software
* We would like to connect with local LibreOffice coders and users alike
* “To have fun” should be one of the pillars and principles we strive for in the organization

===== Proposal of Activities to Undertake =====

* '''Hold regular monthly meetings where LibreWaterloo organization business is discussed'''
* '''Present LibreOffice-related news or usage'''
** Demystify user-related questions with LibreOffice
* '''Promote ODF format in Canada'''
** Government
** Education
** Private Enterprises
** * Note that TDF has joined OASIS in furthering the development and promotion of the ODF platform. It is now a major active member.
* '''Organize LibreWaterloo Hacker/Bug Fests; QA Fests; conferences'''
** Participate in local/away Canadian/US conferences where TDF/LibreOffice presence may be pertinent
** Maintain the LibreOffice conference kit
* '''Documentation help with LibreOffice guides and books'''
** Cooperate with local University/College technical writing programs/classes and develop formative technical writing sessions using the LibreOffice guides/books as working examples
*** Getting Started with LibreOffice Guide
*** Writer
*** Calc
*** Impress
*** Draw
*** Base
*** Math
*** Logo
* '''Spearhead Indigenous language preservation through the Localization Team'''
** Seek partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (http://www.fpcc.ca/)
** Seek governmental grant applications to help notarize various local indigenous languages in LibreOffice in partnership with Canadian Indigenous stakeholders
* '''Help contribute to the LibreOffice project'''
** Code contribution
** Choose an aspect of LibreOffice that is under-serviced and contribute in a concrete way, such as specialize in Accessibility contributions
** Accessibility code contribution
** Accessibility QA
** Accessibility User Experience
** List and testing of compatible tools in the area of accessibility
** Software compatibility
** Hardware compatibility
** canvass/approach hardware manufacturers and seek hardware donations to the community in order to test it against the use of LibreOffice
* '''Assist the LibreOffice Project where possible'''
** Attend Canadian, US conferences as per request for help from the TDF/LibreOffice Project
* '''Assist and promote LibreOffice ecosystem start-up organizations'''
* '''Eventual goal of incorporating under charitable organization'''
** Could Help collect any donation to the main LibreOffice Project with receipt
** Would permit application to government grants for future projects
** Web Presence
*** Maintain LibreWaterloo web sites, such as website; Twitter, Facebook; mailing lists etc.
* '''LibreWaterloo members should strive to gain membership with the LibreOffice Project but not required to belong to the LibreWaterloo Community group'''
*** Note – to become a member of the TDF·LibreOffice Project requires non-trivial contribution in some aspect of the project over the period of 3 months’ activity and recognized by the LibreOffice community and membership. Thereafter one may apply to become a member of the TDF/LibreOffice in good standing. [https://www.documentfoundation.org/governance/members/]

===== For more information or to join the community =====

Marc Paré
623 Bluenose Crescent
Waterloo ON
N2K 4H4

Cellphone: 519-744-9396
marc.pare@librewaterloo.ca
marc@marcpare.com
marc.pare@libreoffice.org
https://www.parEntreprise.com

Software Testing

2019-03-26T02:44:48Z

MarcPare: I have added the Meetup page; added Nick's blurb as per email exchange. -- Marc

=== [[Software Testing]] === 

; Date: Monday, 8 April 2019 Year from 7:00pm to 9:00pm 
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/260073069/
; Location: Room 1300 -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}
 

If you work in software development, how much of your job involves testing? If you're a project manager, do you work closely with the testers to keep an eye on their results and bug reports as a project progresses? If you are a developer, do you do your own unit testing and work with testers on test plan reviews and fix the bugs they find when they do integration and regression testing? If you are a software tester, how do you balance the need to be thorough with the need to deliver on time? How does that affect writing test plans? When a project team has to deal with a lot of changes in the middle of development and testing, how do you cope with updating test plans with limited time? Since you should be considerate when reporting bugs in software, especially when people have worked hard on it, how can you do this tactfully? How do testers work with people like technical writers who use test plans as a reference when writing documentation like user manuals?

Nicholas Collins, a long-time member of KWNSPA and a professional software tester will give us an overview of the deep art of testing software.

--Bob Jonkman & Marc Paré

* [[Software Testing/Meeting Notes 2019-04-08]]

==== Resources ==== 

[https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/334 TechSoup Canada catalogue: Developer Software]
[http://example.com/link Link Text]

[http://example.com/link Link Text]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Collaborative Work Space

2019-03-20T13:29:54Z

MarcPare: Added the location. -- Marc

=== [[Collaborative Work Space]] === 

; Date: Monday, 8 April 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://xxxxxx-Meetup-iCAL-URL}}
; Meetup Event: xxxxx URL to meetup.com
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}  




 

xxxxx
Description goes here.

--Bob Jonkman & Marc Paré

* [[Collaborative Work Space/Meeting Notes 2019-04-08]]

==== Resources ==== 
[http://example.com/link Link Text]

[http://example.com/link Link Text]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Education

2019-03-04T20:32:20Z

MarcPare: Added the location. -- Marc

=== [[Education]] === 

; Date: Monday, 13 May 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255614075/ical/Education.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255614075/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}  




 

Is your Non-Profit an educational organization? As its main function? Or is teaching one of many services you offer? What do you teach? How do you teach it? Do you have classrooms? With computers? What software do you use for teaching in the classroom? Do you have online courses? What online software do you use online? How do you establish your curriculum? How do you perform evaluations? How do you track student progress? Do you work with other educational institutions? Other certifying agencies? What constraints to they impose on your teaching programs?

We'll have a demonstration of [https://moodle.org/ Moodle] by Marc Paré and perhaps a representative from KW's [https://www.d2l.com/ Desire To Learn]. And, of course, we'll have a Round Table discussion on how each of us are managing our organizations education needs.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

* [[Education/Meeting Notes 2019-05-13]]

==== Resources ==== 
* Tech Soup Catalogue: [https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/343 Training Software]
** [https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/zoom/product/zoom-meetings-pro-plan-bundle-1-year-subscription-%E2%80%93-access-to-discounted-rates Zoom Meetings Pro Plan Bundle]
* [https://moodle.org/ Moodle]
* [https://www.d2l.com/ Desire To Learn]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Network Security

2019-03-04T20:31:12Z

MarcPare: Added the location. -- Marc

=== [[Network Security]] === 

; Date: Monday, 11 March 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/257702185/ical}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/257702185/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}  



 

We've talked about [[Malware]] and the importance of [[Keeping Computers Up To Date]], and even just about [[What should we fear?|The Things We Should Fear]]. But what new hazards are unveiled when you connect two or more computers together? When some of those computers aren't on your own network? When malusers are out there trying to break into your network? When you're actually inviting everyone into your network by running servers and services? Should you just outsource everything? Or are there tools available for the Non-Profit SysAdmin to help secure your networks?

We'll talk about the hazards of running a public network, and go over a list of tools and software.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

* [[Network Security/Meeting Notes 2019-03-11]]

==== Resources ====
* Firewalls
** The most secure firewall: [[File:Nipper for Electronic Wire (Old).png|150px]]
** Another secure firewall: [https://www.pfsense.org/ pfSense]
* Intrusion Detection Software
* Pen Testing apps

* [https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/361 TechSoup Canada Catalogue: Server and Network Management]

* Claim: The greatest threat in Network Security is NetAdmin or User Error
** Data exfiltration due to user error:
*** [https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/01/21/privacy-breach-hits-45000-recipients-of-ontarios-disability-support-program.html Privacy breach hits 45,000 recipients of Ontario’s disability support program | The Star]
** NetAdmin failed to renew expired domain names:
*** [https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/01/godaddy-weakness-let-bomb-threat-scammers-hijack-thousands-of-big-name-domains/ GoDaddy weakness let bomb threat scammers hijack thousands of big-name domains | Ars Technica]
** Pre-emptive shutdown of mail system to prevent a virus attack that might shut down the mail system.

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Gaming

2019-02-10T18:45:38Z

MarcPare: Added venue location at Grebel

=== [[Gaming]] === 

; Date: Monday, 11 February 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/256359263/ical/gaming.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/256359263/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}}  



 

Are you a gamer? Wouldn't it be great to play games during work? Are you a game designer? What role does gamification have in Non-Profit organizations? Can gamification make a SysAdmin's life easier? What value do games have in the Non-Profit sector?

Join our round-table discussion on Gaming, and share your views.

--Bob Jonkman & Marc Paré

* [[Gaming/Meeting Notes 2019-02-11]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

GDPR

2019-01-14T15:48:43Z

MarcPare: /* GDPR and Canadian Privacy Laws */

=== [[GDPR]] === 

; Date: Monday, 14 January 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/ical/GDPR.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



; Event Announcement: [[GDPR/Announcement 2019-01-14]] 

Does your Non-Profit organization collect personal data on people? People in Europe? And what is Personal Data anyway? Does your organization have an office in Europe? Store data in Europe? Process data in Europe? What is the ''General Data Protection Regulation'' (GDPR)? Does it apply to your organization? What policies does your organization need to have? What technical measures need to be in place? What's the SysAdmin's role in all this? Could a SysAdmin be liable?

Marc Paré will provide us with an overview of the GDPR, and outline some of the concerns for Non-Profit SysAdmins.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

==== Talking Points ====

* General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
** European Commission
*** set the GDPR standards
** Data Protection Agencies (DPA) (e.g. Information Commissioners Office ICO in the UK)
*** In charge of administering the GDPR in their respective countries
** In force as of 25 May 2018
*** primarily applies to controllers and processors located in the European Economic Area (the EEA) with some exceptions
*** applies to any site servicing or selling goods to European users
*** all sites must adhere to GDPR except any personal websites
** Types of data
*** clear reason for data collection
** Consent
*** requires use of positive opt-in consent and NOT pre-ticked consent or use of double-opt-in
*** requires site's statement of consent must be clear and explicit
**** cannot re-purpose consent to another statement
*** user ability to remove consent should be easily accomplished
*** requires storage of consent for possible future audit trails
** Data Storage
*** clear defined use and length needed to store information
*** storage of personal data for longer if you are only keeping it for public interest archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes
*** data collection must be necessary
*** users have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, restrict portability of data
*** restricts the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA, or international organizations
** Types of data collection groups (2)
*** Controllers and Processors
** Data Protection Officers (DPO)
*** individual in charge of data storage and adherence/compliance to GDPR for companies over 250 employees or if collecting large personal sensitive data
*** DPO must be independent, an expert in data protection, adequately resourced, and report to the highest management level
*** DPO may be shared amongst multiple organizations
*** you must appoint a DPO if
**** your site requires large scale tracking
**** you are a public authority or body
**** your site collects data on criminal convictions/offences
**** appointing a DPO is suggested as best practice
** Data Breaches
*** requires that data is stored securely
*** encryption is suggested
*** breaches reported withing 72hrs
*** keep record on any breaches
*** have breech policy
** Non-compliance fines
*** up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual revenues
** GDPR Certification
*** framework is still not available but forthcoming

==== GDPR and Canadian Privacy Laws ====
** Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
*** aligns more or less with GDPR
*** updated as of 01 November 2018
*** mandatory reporting of breeches to users and to Privacy Commissioner
**** more fine grained reporting on breech policy and record keeping
*** fines up to $100,000
*** PIPEDA does not generally apply to not-for-profit and charity groups as well as political parties and associations
*** complaints may be sent to the organization in question or to the Privacy Commisioner
*** Privacy Commissioner may conduct audit if necessary

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.zdnet.com/article/dutch-government-report-says-microsoft-office-telemetry-collection-breaks-gdpr/ Dutch government report says Microsoft Office telemetry collection breaks GDPR | ZDNet]
** Investigators said they've identified the "large scale and covert collection of personal data" through Office's built-in telemetry collection capabilities.

::They said Microsoft engages in this telemetry collection covertly and without properly informing users.

::The report said investigators didn't find any official documentation about what information Microsoft collects through Office and no way of turning Office telemetry off, raising a serious privacy concern for all current Office users, regardless of geographical location.

* [https://page.bdo.ca/gdpr-compliance/ BDO white paper on GDPR compliance in Canada]
* [https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/justice-and-fundamental-rights/data-protection/2018-reform-eu-data-protection-rules_en European Commission GDPR webpage]
* [https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/ UK International Commissioner's Office guide to the GDPR]
* [https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/article/getting-ready-for-gdpr-3607/ Canadian Lawyer Magazine article on Getting Ready for GDPR]
* [https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/ Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada

* [[GDPR/Meeting Notes 2019-01-14]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

GDPR

2019-01-14T15:48:00Z

MarcPare: /* Resources */

=== [[GDPR]] === 

; Date: Monday, 14 January 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/ical/GDPR.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



; Event Announcement: [[GDPR/Announcement 2019-01-14]] 

Does your Non-Profit organization collect personal data on people? People in Europe? And what is Personal Data anyway? Does your organization have an office in Europe? Store data in Europe? Process data in Europe? What is the ''General Data Protection Regulation'' (GDPR)? Does it apply to your organization? What policies does your organization need to have? What technical measures need to be in place? What's the SysAdmin's role in all this? Could a SysAdmin be liable?

Marc Paré will provide us with an overview of the GDPR, and outline some of the concerns for Non-Profit SysAdmins.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

==== Talking Points ====

* General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
** European Commission
*** set the GDPR standards
** Data Protection Agencies (DPA) (e.g. Information Commissioners Office ICO in the UK)
*** In charge of administering the GDPR in their respective countries
** In force as of 25 May 2018
*** primarily applies to controllers and processors located in the European Economic Area (the EEA) with some exceptions
*** applies to any site servicing or selling goods to European users
*** all sites must adhere to GDPR except any personal websites
** Types of data
*** clear reason for data collection
** Consent
*** requires use of positive opt-in consent and NOT pre-ticked consent or use of double-opt-in
*** requires site's statement of consent must be clear and explicit
**** cannot re-purpose consent to another statement
*** user ability to remove consent should be easily accomplished
*** requires storage of consent for possible future audit trails
** Data Storage
*** clear defined use and length needed to store information
*** storage of personal data for longer if you are only keeping it for public interest archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes
*** data collection must be necessary
*** users have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, restrict portability of data
*** restricts the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA, or international organizations
** Types of data collection groups (2)
*** Controllers and Processors
** Data Protection Officers (DPO)
*** individual in charge of data storage and adherence/compliance to GDPR for companies over 250 employees or if collecting large personal sensitive data
*** DPO must be independent, an expert in data protection, adequately resourced, and report to the highest management level
*** DPO may be shared amongst multiple organizations
*** you must appoint a DPO if
**** your site requires large scale tracking
**** you are a public authority or body
**** your site collects data on criminal convictions/offences
**** appointing a DPO is suggested as best practice
** Data Breaches
*** requires that data is stored securely
*** encryption is suggested
*** breaches reported withing 72hrs
*** keep record on any breaches
*** have breech policy
** Non-compliance fines
*** up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual revenues
** GDPR Certification
*** framework is still not available but forthcoming

==== GDPR and Canadian Privacy Laws ====
** Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
*** aligns more or less with GDPR
*** updated as of 01 November 2018
*** mandatory reporting of breeches to users and to Privacy Commissioner
**** more fine grained reporting on breech policy and record keeping
*** fines up to $100,000

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.zdnet.com/article/dutch-government-report-says-microsoft-office-telemetry-collection-breaks-gdpr/ Dutch government report says Microsoft Office telemetry collection breaks GDPR | ZDNet]
** Investigators said they've identified the "large scale and covert collection of personal data" through Office's built-in telemetry collection capabilities.

::They said Microsoft engages in this telemetry collection covertly and without properly informing users.

::The report said investigators didn't find any official documentation about what information Microsoft collects through Office and no way of turning Office telemetry off, raising a serious privacy concern for all current Office users, regardless of geographical location.

* [https://page.bdo.ca/gdpr-compliance/ BDO white paper on GDPR compliance in Canada]
* [https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/justice-and-fundamental-rights/data-protection/2018-reform-eu-data-protection-rules_en European Commission GDPR webpage]
* [https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/ UK International Commissioner's Office guide to the GDPR]
* [https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/article/getting-ready-for-gdpr-3607/ Canadian Lawyer Magazine article on Getting Ready for GDPR]
* [https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/ Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada

* [[GDPR/Meeting Notes 2019-01-14]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

GDPR

2019-01-14T15:30:45Z

MarcPare: /* Talking Points */

=== [[GDPR]] === 

; Date: Monday, 14 January 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/ical/GDPR.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



; Event Announcement: [[GDPR/Announcement 2019-01-14]] 

Does your Non-Profit organization collect personal data on people? People in Europe? And what is Personal Data anyway? Does your organization have an office in Europe? Store data in Europe? Process data in Europe? What is the ''General Data Protection Regulation'' (GDPR)? Does it apply to your organization? What policies does your organization need to have? What technical measures need to be in place? What's the SysAdmin's role in all this? Could a SysAdmin be liable?

Marc Paré will provide us with an overview of the GDPR, and outline some of the concerns for Non-Profit SysAdmins.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

==== Talking Points ====

* General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
** European Commission
*** set the GDPR standards
** Data Protection Agencies (DPA) (e.g. Information Commissioners Office ICO in the UK)
*** In charge of administering the GDPR in their respective countries
** In force as of 25 May 2018
*** primarily applies to controllers and processors located in the European Economic Area (the EEA) with some exceptions
*** applies to any site servicing or selling goods to European users
*** all sites must adhere to GDPR except any personal websites
** Types of data
*** clear reason for data collection
** Consent
*** requires use of positive opt-in consent and NOT pre-ticked consent or use of double-opt-in
*** requires site's statement of consent must be clear and explicit
**** cannot re-purpose consent to another statement
*** user ability to remove consent should be easily accomplished
*** requires storage of consent for possible future audit trails
** Data Storage
*** clear defined use and length needed to store information
*** storage of personal data for longer if you are only keeping it for public interest archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes
*** data collection must be necessary
*** users have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, restrict portability of data
*** restricts the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA, or international organizations
** Types of data collection groups (2)
*** Controllers and Processors
** Data Protection Officers (DPO)
*** individual in charge of data storage and adherence/compliance to GDPR for companies over 250 employees or if collecting large personal sensitive data
*** DPO must be independent, an expert in data protection, adequately resourced, and report to the highest management level
*** DPO may be shared amongst multiple organizations
*** you must appoint a DPO if
**** your site requires large scale tracking
**** you are a public authority or body
**** your site collects data on criminal convictions/offences
**** appointing a DPO is suggested as best practice
** Data Breaches
*** requires that data is stored securely
*** encryption is suggested
*** breaches reported withing 72hrs
*** keep record on any breaches
*** have breech policy
** Non-compliance fines
*** up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual revenues
** GDPR Certification
*** framework is still not available but forthcoming

==== GDPR and Canadian Privacy Laws ====
** Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
*** aligns more or less with GDPR
*** updated as of 01 November 2018
*** mandatory reporting of breeches to users and to Privacy Commissioner
**** more fine grained reporting on breech policy and record keeping
*** fines up to $100,000

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.zdnet.com/article/dutch-government-report-says-microsoft-office-telemetry-collection-breaks-gdpr/ Dutch government report says Microsoft Office telemetry collection breaks GDPR | ZDNet]
** Investigators said they've identified the "large scale and covert collection of personal data" through Office's built-in telemetry collection capabilities.

::They said Microsoft engages in this telemetry collection covertly and without properly informing users.

::The report said investigators didn't find any official documentation about what information Microsoft collects through Office and no way of turning Office telemetry off, raising a serious privacy concern for all current Office users, regardless of geographical location.

* [[GDPR/Meeting Notes 2019-01-14]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

GDPR

2019-01-14T15:24:31Z

MarcPare: /* Talking Points */ small update

=== [[GDPR]] === 

; Date: Monday, 14 January 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/ical/GDPR.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/255516932/
; Location: *** Room 1300 *** -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



; Event Announcement: [[GDPR/Announcement 2019-01-14]] 

Does your Non-Profit organization collect personal data on people? People in Europe? And what is Personal Data anyway? Does your organization have an office in Europe? Store data in Europe? Process data in Europe? What is the ''General Data Protection Regulation'' (GDPR)? Does it apply to your organization? What policies does your organization need to have? What technical measures need to be in place? What's the SysAdmin's role in all this? Could a SysAdmin be liable?

Marc Paré will provide us with an overview of the GDPR, and outline some of the concerns for Non-Profit SysAdmins.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

==== Talking Points ====

* General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
** European Commission
*** set the GDPR standards
** Data Protection Agencies (DPA) (e.g. Information Commissioners Office ICO in the UK)
*** In charge of administering the GDPR in their respective countries
** In force as of 25 May 2018
*** primarily applies to controllers and processors located in the European Economic Area (the EEA) with some exceptions
*** applies to any site servicing or selling goods to European users
*** all sites must adhere to GDPR except any personal websites
** Types of data
*** clear reason for data collection
** Consent
*** requires use of positive opt-in consent and NOT pre-ticked consent or use of double-opt-in
*** requires site's statement of consent must be clear and explicit
**** cannot re-purpose consent to another statement
*** user ability to remove consent should be easily accomplished
*** requires storage of consent for possible future audit trails
** Data Storage
*** clear defined use and length needed to store information
*** storage of personal data for longer if you are only keeping it for public interest archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes
*** data collection must be necessary
*** users have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, restrict portability of data
*** restricts the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA, or international organisations
** Types of data collection groups (2)
*** Controllers and Processors
** Data Protection Officers (DPO)
*** individual in charge of data storage and adherence/ompliance to GDPR
*** DPO must be independent, an expert in data protection, adequately resourced, and report to the highest management level
*** DPO may be shared amongst multiple organizations
*** you must appoint a DPO if
**** your site requires large scale tracking
**** you are a public authority or body
**** your site collects data on criminal convictions/offences
** Data Breaches
*** requires that data is stored securely
*** encryption is suggested
*** breaches reported withing 72hrs
*** keep record on any breaches
*** have breech policy
** Non-compliance fines
*** up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual revenues
** GDPR Certification
*** framework is still not available but forthcoming

==== GDPR and Canadian Privacy Laws ====
** Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
*** aligns more or less with GDPR
*** updated as of 01 November 2018
*** mandatory reporting of breeches to users and to Privacy Commissioner
**** more fine grained reporting on breech policy and record keeping
*** fines up to $100,000

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.zdnet.com/article/dutch-government-report-says-microsoft-office-telemetry-collection-breaks-gdpr/ Dutch government report says Microsoft Office telemetry collection breaks GDPR | ZDNet]
** Investigators said they've identified the "large scale and covert collection of personal data" through Office's built-in telemetry collection capabilities.

::They said Microsoft engages in this telemetry collection covertly and without properly informing users.

::The report said investigators didn't find any official documentation about what information Microsoft collects through Office and no way of turning Office telemetry off, raising a serious privacy concern for all current Office users, regardless of geographical location.

* [[GDPR/Meeting Notes 2019-01-14]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

GDPR

2019-01-14T14:41:34Z

MarcPare: Adding talking points

GDPR

2019-01-13T20:03:42Z

MarcPare: Updated location -- Marc

Tech Wobblies

2018-11-07T12:23:47Z

MarcPare: Added the location -- Marc

=== [[Tech Wobblies]] === 
; Date: Monday, 12 November 2018 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm {{ical|url=https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/253998238/ical/Tech+Wobblies.ics}}
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/253998238/
; Location: Room 1301 -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



 

Is automation taking over Systems Administration? Are highly skilled SysAdmin jobs (and their highly skilled SysAdmins) becoming obsolete? What is to become of the Non-Profit SysAdmin? Are we all going to become [https://www.mturk.com/ Mechanical Turks]? Or should tech workers become [[Wikipedia:Wobblies|Wobblies]]? Who are the Wobblies? Is the tech industry ready for collective action?

We're joined by special guest [http://www.obscuritus.ca/ Sean Howard] at our round table to discuss the state of the tech industry, the working conditions for tech workers, and what can be done about it.

--Marc Paré & Bob Jonkman

==== Resources ====
* CBC Ideas: [http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/platform-capitalism-digital-technology-and-the-future-of-work-1.4297369 Platform capitalism, digital technology and the future of work]

: <html5media>https://podcast-a.akamaihd.net/mp3/podcasts/ideas-Gw8mWBs8-20180731.mp3</html5media>

: Part of the CBC Ideas series ''Workshift''.

* [https://techworkerscoalition.org/ Tech Workers Coalition]
* [https://www.theawl.com/2017/03/its-time-to-unionize-in-silicon-valley/ It's Time To Unionize In Silicon Valley - The Awl]
* [https://git.coop/kat/oggcamp2018 Kate Dawson's presentation]: [https://git.coop/kat/oggcamp2018/raw/master/slides.html Cooperative Technologists]
* [https://gs.jonkman.ca/conversation/290994 !Fediverse notice] about an app called [http://www.notesfrombelow.org/article/an-introduction-to-wobbly Wobbly]

* Twitter:
** [https://twitter.com/_IWW @_IWW]
** [https://twitter.com/techworkersco @TechWorkersCo]
** [https://twitter.com/twcsandiego @TWCSanDiego]
** [https://twitter.com/search?f=users&q=iww Search People: IWW]

[[Tech Wobblies/Meeting Notes 2018-11-12]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

Training/Meeting Notes 2018-10-15

2018-10-17T08:29:27Z

MarcPare: /* Using Moodle */

{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}}}

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/343 TechSoup Canada Catalogue: Training Software]

==== Meeting Notes ====
===== Legacy codes =====
* People inherit old legacy code, eg. spreadsheets
* Nobody want to admit to knowing Excel for fear of having to fix someone's code

===== Techsoup Catalogue =====
* Zoom
** but that's just conferencing software, not training management software
* Desire To Learn is no longer in the catalogue

* We'll look at Desire To Learn and [https://moodle.org Moodle] for the [[Education]] topic

===== Using Moodle =====

* Marc shows off his French Language Moodle installation http://frenchasasecondlanguage.org
* Need to build your own content on Moodle
* Danger of copyright infringement if you're not using your own content
* Universities are more likely to contract out for content creation
* Marc has used [https://hotpot.uvic.ca Hot Potatoes] to create Moodle content
* Hot Potatoes might be good for internal training; evaluation doesn't work in all educational settings
* Looked at some Moodle testimonials for internal staff training

===== Other notes =====
* Discussed evaluation methods, and the efficacy of teachers
* Also the ideology imposed on the curriculum by different governments
* Talked about the university model of teaching: Should be two separate streams? One for research, one for teaching (researchers aren't necessarily good teachers)
** 400 students in a lecture hall? 10-15 students with teaching assistants? Where does best learning take place?
** More than 25 students makes a teacher a "classroom manager" rather than an "educator"

Back to: [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]

[[Category:KWNPSA Meeting Notes]]

Training/Meeting Notes 2018-10-15

2018-10-17T08:28:57Z

MarcPare: /* Using Moodle */ small change "Potatoes"

{{:{{BASEPAGENAME}}}}

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/343 TechSoup Canada Catalogue: Training Software]

==== Meeting Notes ====
===== Legacy codes =====
* People inherit old legacy code, eg. spreadsheets
* Nobody want to admit to knowing Excel for fear of having to fix someone's code

===== Techsoup Catalogue =====
* Zoom
** but that's just conferencing software, not training management software
* Desire To Learn is no longer in the catalogue

* We'll look at Desire To Learn and [https://moodle.org Moodle] for the [[Education]] topic

===== Using Moodle =====

* Marc shows off his French Language Moodle installation http://frenchasasecondlanguage.org
* Need to build your own content on Moodle
* Danger of copyright infringement if you're not using your own content
* Universities are more likely to contract out for content creation
* Marc has used [https://hotpot.uvic.ca Hot Potatoes] to create Moodle content
* Hot Potato might be good for internal training; evaluation doesn't work in all educational settings
* Looked at some Moodle testimonials for internal staff training

===== Other notes =====
* Discussed evaluation methods, and the efficacy of teachers
* Also the ideology imposed on the curriculum by different governments
* Talked about the university model of teaching: Should be two separate streams? One for research, one for teaching (researchers aren't necessarily good teachers)
** 400 students in a lecture hall? 10-15 students with teaching assistants? Where does best learning take place?
** More than 25 students makes a teacher a "classroom manager" rather than an "educator"

Back to: [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]

[[Category:KWNPSA Meeting Notes]]

Scripting Languages

2018-08-14T12:52:41Z

MarcPare: /* Scripting Languages */

=== [[Scripting Languages]] ===
; Date: Monday, 20 August 2018 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm 
; Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/253044847/
; Location: Room 1301 -- Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnbg2DSE--?m=}} 



 

Do you need to do the same thing again and again? Have you automated those repetitive tasks? What software tools do you use? Keyboard macros? ''Programmable'' keyboard macros? A scripting language? Which scripting language? What makes a scripting language different from a programming language? Is a scripting language Turing-complete? Can't you just do '''everything''' in PowerShell or Bash?

Let's talk about what can be solved with scripting languages, and what can't. Bring your laptop to give a demonstration of your favourite scripting languages, and maybe we can help solve some of your most annoying repetitive problems.

--Bob Jonkman & Marc Paré

* [[Scripting Languages/Meeting Notes 2018-08-20]]

[[Category:NPSA]]
[[Category:Events]]

KWNPSA Requested Topics

2018-05-25T15:25:50Z

MarcPare: /* Proposed Topics */ -- added 2 topics to bottom of the list -- Marc

{{KWNPSA menu}}
These are some of the topic ideas raised at previous meetings
== Proposed Topics ==
* i18n, l10n ([[Internationalization, Localization]]) (2017-09-18) <del>Scheduled for May 2018</del>
* Colocation site field trip (2017-02-16)
* Collaborative Work Space field trip (2017-02-17)
** the last two from correspondence with Calum Elliot of Open Sky Incubator https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?convo_id=409766784853282816
* Bitcoin and other digital currencies (2017-04-10) (follow-up from [[Blockchains]])
* Creating a Web Store / Checkout Basket (2017-04-10)
** Special guest? [https://samnabi.com/ Sam Nabi], author of [https://shopkit.samnabi.com/ Shopkit]
* Risk Management (2017-05-08)
* Training - new staff on existing software, existing staff on new software (2016-06-05)
* Event Management (2017-08-21, based on running events like [[KW Linuxfest]] or [https://kwpeace.ca/eventsmanager/register-perspectives-on-peace-peace-in-the-community/ KW Peace Perspectives]
* Contact Management Software (2017-08-21)
* Password Management (2017-08-21)
* Gaming (2017-09-03) What value do games have in the Non-Profit sector?
* Education (2017-09-03) For NonProfits that provide instruction to their clients.
* Donors and Donations, eg. CiviCRM (2017-09-18)
* Optical Character Recognition - Document archiving, crowd sourcing (2017-09-18)
* Finding Things - Search strategies and tools (2017-10-15)
* Scripting Languages (2017-10-16)
* Document Management (2017-11-13)
* Encryption (2017-11-13)
* Procurement (2018-02-12)
** guest speaker Kris Braun from http://www.gobonfire.com/ ?
* Fallout from data breaches (Equifax, Home Depot) (2018-02-12)
** How do these companies work? "reputation management companies"
** Do these companies operate?
*** You can get your own data from them, legally mandated
*** There are Meta-access services that get info from all services
* Network Security (2018-03-30)
** Firewall software: [https://www.pfsense.org/ pfSense], [https://www.ipfire.org/ IPFire], Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper
* Presentation software
** what do sys admin use to show directors or other IT staff at meetings
* GDPR (EC) and PIPEDA (Canada) -- compliance
** how to avoid having your website(s) blocked by the European Community new privacy rules
** differences in privacy approach

-----
=== Done ===
* A11y ([[Accessibility]]) and legal requirements (2016-11-14) Scheduled for 11 June 2018
** See http://nonprofitmarcommunity.com/accessibility-101-digital-content/ (via https://twitter.com/silverbell/status/917837390475091968 )

* [[Dark Web, Hidden Services]] (2017-06-12) Scheduled for 9 April 2018
* [[File Formats]] - Open Document Format vs. proprietary (2017-09-17) Scheduled for 2018-03-12
* [[Corporate Surveillance]] (2016-08-15) Scheduled for 12 February 2018
** (this may not have been an actual topic request)
* [[Fundraising]] (based on discussions during [[Monetization/Meeting Notes 2017-08-21|Monetization]]) (2017-10-11) Scheduled for 15 Jan 2018
* [[Social Night]] (2017-06-26, based on an idea from http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2017/06/15/party-time/ ) Scheduled for 2017-12-18
* [[Document Storage]] Formats (ODS, etc.) (2016-11-14) Scheduled for 2017-11-13
* [[Markup Languages and Note Taking]] applications (2017-08-21) Scheduled for 2017-10-09
* [[Project Management Software]] (2017-01-16) Schedule for 2017-09-18
* [[Monetization]] - How can a Non-Profit organization raise money from their services? (2017-02-13) Scheduled for 2017-08-21
* [[Mail Management]] - how do we deal with spam, blocklists, and mail providers that don't play fair? (2017-02-16) Scheduled for 2017-07-17
** from correspondence between Marc and Bob
* Ransomware / [[Malware]] - prevention? (2017-05-08) Scheduled for 2017-06-12
* [[Blockchains|Block chain systems]] (2016-11-14) Scheduled for 2017-04-10
** Book: London Review of Books had two stories by the same author Andrew O’Hagen
** Ethereum (a programming environment built on top of Block Chain)
* [[Branding]] - Names, logos, slogans (2017-02-13) Scheduled for 2017-03-13

-----
{{KWNPSA menu}}

[[Category:NPSA]]

Productivity Tools/Meeting Notes 2018-05-14

2018-05-15T20:55:24Z

MarcPare:

{{:Productivity Tools}}

=== Meeting Notes ===

==== Panel discussion with attending KWNPSA members making reference to some of their most used productivity tools ====

* '''Google Drive and GMail'''
** discussion of the merits of the use of Google Drive in a working non-profit group
*** organization's GDrive is organized is group agreed-to folder hierarchy
*** documents are worked on in a collaborative format where members may work simultaneously on documents or alternatively
*** there are questions as to the efficacy of this format, where the usual format is that of having one person in charge of the document write-up while others send in their edits for discussion/debate or in a meeting setting
*** there is talk of varied results where some members have found the collaborative method as resulting in time-savings all-round with good results, while others have found it preferable to maintain file integrity without the use of collaborative tools but rather edits through correspondence with the main editor of the document

* '''search''' options
** discussion of the use of the "'''search'''" option ensued from a robust talk of file organization
** for some, the organization of files in a sensible structure is paramount to organizations' electronic data (email or other data) integrity. The ease of finding information is dramatically increased if organizational skill-sets from employees/volunteers is reinforced through on-the-job training with regards to file structure/nomenclature
** for others, some note the recent emergence of powerful "search" engines/utilities that negate the need to organize files in a systematic/sensible structure. For example, one large "received mail" without any type of indexing may be easily tapped by the use of most email software search utilities. The same may be said for files on a hardrive that follows no real structural index and where all is stored on the disc. Most searches will now return quick and accurate results.
** discussions also centered on the need to instruct/teach/inform newly engaged employees/volunteers on the organization's prescribed file storage nomenclature. However, it is also noted that, despite all good intentions of informing employees of file structure, some develop their own structure that may not marry well into the company file structure organization.

* '''cygwin''' [https://www.cygwin.com/]
** set of Unix tools for Windows
** still actively maintained and used for decades
** good set of packages
** well used by sys admins

* '''MKS Toolkit''' [https://www.mkssoftware.com/]
** originally built for DOS boxes
** more Unix for Dos
** is now maintained by PTC with latest version being released in 2017
** not as elegant as cygwin

* '''Canva''' [https://www.canva.com/]
** design site for misc. projects, presentation, banners etc.
** free for non-profits -- 1 team of up to 10 persons
** widely used by non-profits and for-profits alike
** style is recognizable to those who are familiar with Canva, however not so much with people unfamiliar with the Canva templates/styles

* '''Nirsoft.net''' [http://nirsoft.net/]
** set of utility soft., scripts
** all stored on site

* '''virustotal.com''' [https://www.virustotal.com/]
** good to check files
** checks agains its signature database
**owned by Google

* '''Screen and Tmux''' -- terminal multiplexer apps
** virtual terminal
** terminal tabs
** hold different terminal sessions at the same time
** similar to Konsole (KDE) tabs, although the sessions are kept live when changing from one workstation to the next
** does not survive a server re-boot

* '''powershells'''
** task automation and configuration management infrastructure for Windows
** all used at the command prompt, Windows and Linux
** powershell scripts are collected from various locations on the web
** can use multiple powershells alongside each other

* '''command prompt'''
** still considered most useful and time-saving approach to work at command prompt

Back to: [[Productivity Tools]]

Productivity Tools/Meeting Notes 2018-05-14

2018-05-15T20:49:41Z

MarcPare:

{{:Productivity Tools}}

=== Meeting Notes ===

==== Panel discussion with attending KWNPSA members making reference to some of their most used productivity tools ====

* '''Google Drive and GMail'''
** discussion of the merits of the use of Google Drive in a working non-profit group
*** organization's GDrive is organized is group agreed-to folder hierarchy
*** documents are worked on in a collaborative format where members may work simultaneously on documents or alternatively
*** there are question as to the efficacy of this format, where the usual format is that of having one person in charge of the document write-up while others send in their edits
*** there is talk of varied results where some members have found the collaborative method as resulting in time-saving, while others have found it preferable to maintain file integrity without the use of collaborative tools but rather edits through correspondence with the main editor of the document

* Discussion of the use of the "'''search'''" option ensued from a robust talk of file organization
** for some, the organization of files in a sensible structure is paramount to organizations' electronic data (email or other data). The ease of finding information is dramatically increased if organizational skill-sets from employees/volunteers is reinforced through on-the-job training
** for others, some note the recent emergence of powerful "search" engines/utilities that negate the need to organize files in a systematic/sensible structure. For example, one large "received mail" without any type of indexing may be easily tapped by the use of most email software search utilities. The same may be said for files on a hardrive that follows no real structural index and where all is stored on the disc
** discussions also centered on the need to instruct/teach/inform newly engaged employees/volunteers on the organization's prescribed file storage nomenclature. However, it is also noted that, despite all good intentions of informing employees of file structure, some develop their own structure that may not marry well into the company file structure organization.

* '''cygwin''' [https://www.cygwin.com/]
** set of Unix tools for Windows
** still actively maintained and used for decades
** good set of packages
** well used by sys admins

* '''MKS Toolkit''' [https://www.mkssoftware.com/]
** originally built for DOS boxes
** more Unix for Dos
** is now maintained by PTC with latest version being released in 2017
** not as elegant as cygwin

* '''Canva''' [https://www.canva.com/]
** design site for misc. projects, presentation, banners etc.
** free for non-profits -- 1 team of up to 10 persons
** widely used by non-profits and for-profits alike
** style is recognizable to those who are familiar with Canva, however not so much with people unfamiliar with the Canva templates/styles

* '''Nirsoft.net''' [http://nirsoft.net/]
** set of utility soft., scripts
** all stored on site

* '''virustotal.com''' [https://www.virustotal.com/]
** good to check files
** checks agains its signature database
**owned by Google

* '''Screen and Tmux''' -- terminal multiplexer apps
** virtual terminal
** terminal tabs
** hold different terminal sessions at the same time
** similar to Konsole (KDE) tabs, although the sessions are kept live when changing from one workstation to the next
** does not survive a server re-boot

* '''powershells'''
** task automation and configuration management infrastructure for Windows
** all used at the command prompt, Windows and Linux
** powershell scripts are collected from various locations on the web
** can use multiple powershells alongside each other

* '''command prompt'''
** still considered most useful and time-saving approach to work at command prompt

Back to: [[Productivity Tools]]

Productivity Tools/Meeting Notes 2018-05-14

2018-05-15T20:47:39Z

MarcPare:

{{:Productivity Tools}}

=== Meeting Notes ===

==== Panel discussion with attending KWNPSA members making reference to some of their most used productivity tools ====

* '''Google Drive and GMail'''
** discussion of the merits of the use of Google Drive in a working non-profit group
*** organization's GDrive is organized is group agreed-to folder hierarchy
*** documents are worked on in a collaborative format where members may work simultaneously on documents or alternatively
*** there are question as to the efficacy of this format, where the usual format is that of having one person in charge of the document write-up while others send in their edits
*** there is talk of varied results where some members have found the collaborative method as resulting in time-saving, while others have found it preferable to maintain file integrity without the use of collaborative tools but rather edits through correspondence with the main editor of the document

* Discussion of the use of the "'''search'''" option ensued from a robust talk of file organization
** for some, the organization of files in a sensible structure is paramount to organizations' electronic data (email or other data). The ease of finding information is dramatically increased if organizational skill-sets from employees/volunteers is reinforced through on-the-job training
** for others, some note the recent emergence of powerful "search" engines/utilities that negate the need to organize files in a systematic/sensible structure. For example, one large "received mail" without any type of indexing may be easily tapped by the use of most email software search utilities. The same may be said for files on a hardrive that follows no real structural index and where all is stored on the disc
** discussions also centered on the need to instruct/teach/inform newly engaged employees/volunteers on the organization's prescribed file storage nomenclature. However, it is also noted that, despite all good intentions of informing employees of file structure, some develop their own structure that may not marry well into the company file structure organization.

* '''cygwin''' [https://www.cygwin.com/]
** set of Unix tools for Windows
** still actively maintained and used for decades
** good set of packages
** well used by sys admins

* '''MKS Toolkit''' [https://www.mkssoftware.com/]
** originally built for DOS boxes
** more Unix for Dos
** is now maintained by PTC with latest version being released in 2017
** not as elegant as cygwin

* '''Canva''' [https://www.canva.com/]
** design site for misc. projects, presentation, banners etc.
** free for non-profits -- 1 team of up to 10 persons
** widely used by non-profits and for-profits alike
** style is recognizable to those who are familiar with Canva, however not so much with people unfamiliar with the Canva templates/styles

* '''Nirsoft.net''' [http://nirsoft.net/]
** set of utility soft., scripts
** all stored on site

* '''virustotal.com''' [https://www.virustotal.com/]
** good to check files
** checks agains its signature database
**owned by Google

* '''Screen and Tmux''' -- terminal multiplexer apps
** virtual terminal
** terminal tabs
** hold different terminal sessions at the same time
** similar to Konsole (KDE) tabs, although the sessions are kept live when changing from one workstation to the next
** does not survive a server re-boot

* '''powershells'''
** task automation and configuration management infrastructure for Windows
** all used at the command prompt, Windows and Linux
** powershell scripts are collected from various locations on the web
** can use multiple powershells alongside each other

* '''use at command prompt most useful'''
** still considered most useful and time-saving approach

Back to: [[Productivity Tools]]

Productivity Tools/Meeting Notes 2018-05-14

2018-05-15T20:46:10Z

MarcPare:

{{:Productivity Tools}}

=== Meeting Notes ===

==== Panel discussion with attending KWNPSA members making reference to some of their most used productivity tools ====

* '''Google Drive and GMail'''
** discussion of the merits of the use of Google Drive in a working non-profit group
*** organization's GDrive is organized is group agreed-to folder hierarchy
*** documents are worked on in a collaborative format where members may work simultaneously on documents or alternatively
*** there are question as to the efficacy of this format, where the usual format is that of having one person in charge of the document write-up while others send in their edits
*** there is talk of varied results where some members have found the collaborative method as resulting in time-saving, while others have found it preferable to maintain file integrity without the use of collaborative tools but rather edits through correspondence with the main editor of the document

* Discussion of the use of the "'''search'''" option ensued from a robust talk of file organization
** for some, the organization of files in a sensible structure is paramount to organizations' electronic data (email or other data). The ease of finding information is dramatically increased if organizational skill-sets from employees/volunteers is reinforced through on-the-job training
** for others, some note the recent emergence of powerful "search" engines/utilities that negate the need to organize files in a systematic/sensible structure. For example, one large "received mail" without any type of indexing may be easily tapped by the use of most email software search utilities. The same may be said for files on a hardrive that follows no real structural index and where all is stored on the disc
** discussions also centered on the need to instruct/teach/inform newly engaged employees/volunteers on the organization's prescribed file storage nomenclature. However, it is also noted that, despite all good intentions of informing employees of file structure, some develop their own structure that may not marry well into the company file structure organization.

* '''cygwin''' [https://www.cygwin.com/]
** set of Unix tools for Windows
** still actively maintained and used for decades
** good set of packages
** well used by sys admins

* '''MKS Toolkit''' [https://www.mkssoftware.com/]
** originally built for DOS boxes
** more Unix for Dos
** is now maintained by PTC with latest version being released in 2017
** not as elegant as cygwin

* '''Canva''' [https://www.canva.com/]
** design site for misc. projects, presentation, banners etc.
** free for non-profits -- 1 team of up to 10 persons
** widely used by non-profits and for-profits alike
** style is recognizable to those who are familiar with Canva, however not so much with people unfamiliar with the Canva templates/styles

* '''Nirsoft.net''' [http://nirsoft.net/]
** set of utility soft., scripts
** all stored on site

* '''virustotal.com''' [https://www.virustotal.com/]
** good to check files
** checks agains its signature database
**owned by Google

* '''Screen and Tmux''' -- terminal multiplexer apps
** virtual terminal
** terminal tabs
** hold different terminal sessions at the same time
** similar to Konsole (KDE) tabs, although the sessions are kept live when changing from one workstation to the next
** does not survive a server re-boot

* '''powershells'''
** task automation and configuration management infrastructure for Windows
** all used at the command prompt, Windows and Linux
** powershell scripts are collected from various locations on the web
** can use multiple powershells alongside each other

* '''use at command prompt most useful'''
** still considered most useful and time-saving approach

Back to: [[Category:Productivity Tools]]

Productivity Tools/Meeting Notes 2018-05-14

2018-05-15T20:44:13Z

MarcPare: Meeting notes by Marc Paré

{{:Productivity Tools}}

=== Meeting Notes ===

==== Panel discussion with attending KWNPSA members making reference to some of their most used productivity tools ====

* '''Google Drive and GMail'''
** discussion of the merits of the use of Google Drive in a working non-profit group
*** organization's GDrive is organized is group agreed-to folder hierarchy
*** documents are worked on in a collaborative format where members may work simultaneously on documents or alternatively
*** there are question as to the efficacy of this format, where the usual format is that of having one person in charge of the document write-up while others send in their edits
*** there is talk of varied results where some members have found the collaborative method as resulting in time-saving, while others have found it preferable to maintain file integrity without the use of collaborative tools but rather edits through correspondence with the main editor of the document

* Discussion of the use of the "'''search'''" option ensued from a robust talk of file organization
** for some, the organization of files in a sensible structure is paramount to organizations' electronic data (email or other data). The ease of finding information is dramatically increased if organizational skill-sets from employees/volunteers is reinforced through on-the-job training
** for others, some note the recent emergence of powerful "search" engines/utilities that negate the need to organize files in a systematic/sensible structure. For example, one large "received mail" without any type of indexing may be easily tapped by the use of most email software search utilities. The same may be said for files on a hardrive that follows no real structural index and where all is stored on the disc
** discussions also centered on the need to instruct/teach/inform newly engaged employees/volunteers on the organization's prescribed file storage nomenclature. However, it is also noted that, despite all good intentions of informing employees of file structure, some develop their own structure that may not marry well into the company file structure organization.

* '''cygwin''' [https://www.cygwin.com/]
** set of Unix tools for Windows
** still actively maintained and used for decades
** good set of packages
** well used by sys admins

* '''MKS Toolkit''' [https://www.mkssoftware.com/]
** originally built for DOS boxes
** more Unix for Dos
** is now maintained by PTC with latest version being released in 2017
** not as elegant as cygwin

* '''Canva''' [https://www.canva.com/]
** design site for misc. projects, presentation, banners etc.
** free for non-profits -- 1 team of up to 10 persons
** widely used by non-profits and for-profits alike
** style is recognizable to those who are familiar with Canva, however not so much with people unfamiliar with the Canva templates/styles

* '''Nirsoft.net''' [http://nirsoft.net/]
** set of utility soft., scripts
** all stored on site

* '''virustotal.com''' [https://www.virustotal.com/]
** good to check files
** checks agains its signature database
**owned by Google

* '''Screen and Tmux''' -- terminal multiplexer apps
** virtual terminal
** terminal tabs
** hold different terminal sessions at the same time
** similar to Konsole (KDE) tabs, although the sessions are kept live when changing from one workstation to the next
** does not survive a server re-boot

* '''powershells'''
** task automation and configuration management infrastructure for Windows
** all used at the command prompt, Windows and Linux
** powershell scripts are collected from various locations on the web
** can use multiple powershells alongside each other

* '''use at command prompt most useful'''
** still considered most useful and time-saving approach

Back to: [[Category:KWNPSA Meeting Notes]]

Dark Web, Hidden Services/Meeting Notes 2018-04-16

2018-04-18T11:49:05Z

MarcPare: /* Meeting Notes */ Notes added by Marc

{{:Dark Web, Hidden Services}}

==== Resources ====
* [https://www.torproject.org/ Tor Project | Privacy Online]
** [http://culturedigitally.org/2017/11/legitimizing-the-dark-web-the-new-york-timess-tor-hidden-service/ Legitimizing the Dark Web: The New York Times’s Tor Hidden Service – Culture Digitally]
** [https://blog.torproject.org/explore-tor-new-york-city-new-meetup-starting-dec-7 Explore Tor, New York City! A New Meetup Starting Dec 7 | Tor Blog]

* [https://geti2p.net/en/ I2P Anonymous Network]

* [https://freenetproject.org/ Freenet]

* [https://sobac.com/nextcloud/s/CQr2YmVw6VZ91We Bob Jonkman's Tor Presentation] (soon)

==== Meeting Notes ====

* In attendance were 14 members out of 39 signed up for the meeting.
* Laurel video recorded session for Bob
* Most people at the meeting are also Meetup members

* The intent was to present both Tor as well as I2P, however, the Tor demonstration and background information took longer than expected. There will be a follow-up meeting covering I2P in August 2018.

==== Tor Browser - getting down and dirty with Tor - the basics ====

* Bob's Tor slideshow presentation will be made available on KWNPSA Wiki site (coming soon)
* this presentation of the Tor browser is aimed to admins who would consider the use of Tor beneficial to their organization and members
* Tor still needs mode of authentification
* best practices -- use Tor as is from the official Tor website and keep it updated, Avoid any use of pre-modified Tor clients from any other sites.
* Tor is basically a hardened version of Firefox
* DO NOT USE BitTorrent (any client) inside of the Tor browser as the BitTorrent identifies IP addresses
** BitTorrent does not work well on Tor
** Q/ Can you use ghosting? A/ Not sure, but if tunnelling, will reveal your ghosting IP address but bittorent will still show data
* Tor tends to be slow and laggy
* The use of Tor may harm your reputation if you are found to use Tor with certain ISP's! Your IP may become exposed/found out if you make use of the wrong exit node. Some ISP's or sites may may try to ban you from any future connection, or, worse case scenario, In certain cases, there may be possibility of having your own ISP blacklisted by using Tor.
*** Using Tor may raise suspicion by legit sites, where they may wonder why the use of Tor is needed to visit their site (What do you have to hide?)
** if you make use of some poorly chosen Tor exit nodes, they may be connected/linked to other nefarious sites.
** Tekksavvy is good at providing Tor exit nodes, most ISP's are not relatively warm to the idea of the use of Tor
* see slides re: Tor failure modes
** note that CAPTCHA is hardened and will reveal your identity
* The concept behind the Tor browser was initially conceived by the US defence project

==== Question (members) & Answer (Bob) ====

* Why make use of a good and legit exit node? -- Helps protect your identity and also helps harden Tor for its use in countries where rights abuse is pervasive.
* Is Tor easy to configure? -- Tor is easy to misconfigure.
* How active is Tor's development? -- Patches are constant and often.
* Tor breach? -- If in jurisdiction where Tor is monitored, some nefarious entry nodes could be made available through Tor traffic and may make that entry node vulnerable. German nodes (entry and exit) are popular.
* Is there encryption node-to-node? -- Tor is onion routed and encrypted multiple times ... see slide "How Tor Works: 2"
** The nodes (onion peels) are known only by certain devices, but not all in the nodal chains.
* How many node layers are there? -- You may configure Tor to use as many layers as you need but 3 layers are really all you need as more layers add to latency. With the arrival of Quantum decryption, it may become easier to decrypt the Tor nodal routes, but hopefully there will be an equivalent Quantum solution for an updated Tor browser.
* 80% of net is encrypted (https) -- However that is only for 1 layer; under Tor, layers are more numerous. Under https, we still see some list of certificate authorities that are unusual (Turkey, Tawain Telephone Service etc.), there are still some bogus certificates. The use of Tor makes it more difficult for bogus authorities to have any influence over your browsing.
* Do we know the number of compromised exit nodes? The number of compromised exit nodes are still unknown but research on such is being done, some research, for example, is being doen at UW.
* Can an exit node be a relay node? -- Yes. however it is not recommended to run an exit node, running a relay node is most likely safe enough.
* is it possible to set up your exit node but only for individuals that you wish to use that particular exit node? -- Not sure. Member suggests that you could possibly use a pre-configured Tor rc file. But you would have to carry the exit node detail on some physical device and be possibly stopped at borders. Bob usually recommends using off-the-shelf hardware bought in destination country to avoid being stopped at the border.
* Can blockchain technology be used for Tor? -- Not sure.
* How many Tor devs? -- Tor is developed by many, some at institutions such as universities.
* What is the adoption rate? -- Not really sure, however, making use of VPN's is popular, Tor could also be configured to do the same; therefore Tor is seeing much more takeup in some business models.
* Does it work on cellphones? -- ORBOT, but it is extremely slow compared to Tor
* Can we use it with VPN? -- Yes, a little more complexity is involved, but yes they do work well together.
* Are there frequent improvements and updates of the project? -- Yes, There are hopes that perhaps streaming will work well later, but browsing websites is still a little painful.

==== Tor installation ====

* Download from site is easy
* Do not change the default settings, even screen size may be tracked.
** to add a server, must add a few line to the Tor .rc file "torrc"

==== Round-table discussion ====

* What would you use this for?
* Use for human rights organizations, to communicate with members or view pertinent websites that are blocked in certain countries.

Back to: [[Dark Web, Hidden Services]]

[[Category:KWNPSA Meeting Notes]]

KW Linuxfest/Meeting-2017-12-09

2017-12-10T02:58:17Z

MarcPare: Meeting notes of 09 Dec 2017 -- by Marc

==== Meeting Notes ====
'''KW LinuxFest -- Saturday, 12 May 2017 (* New date)'''

:'''Date:''' 09 December 2017
:'''Present:''' Colin, Marc, Sean
:'''Regrets:''' Bob

* College strike is now over, however the impact on Colin's schedule is considerable
* the KW LinuxFest scheduled for January has been rescheduled to 12 May 2017
* in order to reduce Colin's LInuxFest work load, the other organizers will divide up the tasks

'''Action items'''
* Colin will serve as the group's hub and answer questions
** Colin will check to see if Vehikl will still be sponsor for the event
** will check with speakers to see if they are available for the new date
** will re-open paper submission for another determined amount of time

* Sean
** alternative venue location
** take care of mail server
** help Colin with website
** seek sponsorship
** will consult his father re: possible sponsorship, donor, etc. suggestions

* Marc -- once new venue location is found
** will take care of marketing
** will send around a budget plan to organizers for our total costs estimate
*** ultimately to show to potential sponsor/donors
** will look for grant from the KW Community Foundation
** will look into possibility of Communitech sponsorship
** will post posters around town
** will supply a button-maker for the event
** as per previous plan, Marc will contact various Linux-related organizations and see if they could supply us with stickers for a sticker exchange table
** will try to organize a LibreOffice "Bugfest" or "Hackfest" or just an easy "QA triage" even

* Bob
** update wiki with a new schedule for the 12 May event - [https://sobac.com/wiki/KW_Linuxfest] -- suggestion from Marc
** once website/venue updated ... spread news to various social media channels/calendars of the change, Sean and Marc can help -- suggestion from Marc

'''Still to Plan ...'''
** food -- Sean suggests pizza and drinks would be easiest ... unless we can get a sponsor for food -- Marc
** swag -- do we want any? estimate of costs needed for possible donation money to help out with this
** buttons will be free from Marc (button blanks come with the purchase of the button maker)
** other swag item suggestions?

Next meeting as per usual over Mumble unless we do another face to face.

[[Category:KW Linuxfest]]

Document Storage/Meeting Notes 2017-11-13

2017-11-15T11:24:18Z

MarcPare: /* Future Venues */

{{:Document Storage}}

==== Resources ====
[https://www.techsoupcanada.ca/en/directory/419 File Storage | TechSoup Canada]

[https://nextcloud.com/ Nextcloud] or [https://owncloud.org/ ownCloud]

==== Future Venues ====
* Communitech has indicated we can no longer use the Jellybean Room on Mondays
** but the room is available on Wednesdays
*** but it's only available until 8:00pm
*** do we want to switch meeting days?
** Marc will check if there's any availability on Mondays
*** but the cost will probably be higher ($15/hr now)

* We were contacted by Reg from [https://www.1kingnorth.ca/ One King North] {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnboydI--?m=}}, a coworking space
** Reg indicated that "Also it's complimentary, so you don't have to pay for using our space to hold meetups"
** Marc followed up with Reg and has yet to hear back from him
*** Apparently, Reg was unclear in his communication, probability of having access to this venue space does not look promising

* Other possible venues:
** Old school board building (Marc has contacts, will investigate)
** [https://regionofwaterloo.cioc.ca/record/CND1557 Downtown Community Centre] {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnwWjXA--?m=}}
*** but they require all KWNPSA attendees to purchase memberships at $15/year
*** Paul Nijjar investigated for KWLUG; it was deemed unsuitable for a non-profit group
*** Bob's notes indicate there are also meeting room fees, insurance costs, and participants under 18 years old are not allowed.
** [https://www.descendantsbeer.com/ Descendants Beer & Beverage Co.] apparently has meeting facilities. Kirk will investigate. {{map|url=https://osm.org/go/ZXnwdGkY--?m=}}

==== Meeting Notes ====

===== Cloud Storage =====
* [https://www.office.com/ Microsoft Office 365]
** Lots of KWNPSA members use Office 365
** Default installation moves documents to US servers
** Microsoft will move documents to Canadian servers on request
*** but this may take up to seven years
** Microsoft OneDrive was automatically installed at one organization
** Business version of Skype can't be turned off, once it's installed!
*** It is difficult to use Business Skype with non-business instances of Skype
*** But there is finally a good GNU/Linux client for Skype, works with multiple video streams

* [https://gsuite.google.com/features/ Google G Suite] (Google Docs)
** Used by political organizations
*** This seems like a bad idea; want to keep political affiliations and activity away from prying eyes
** Google Drive storage
*** Some SysAdmins have seen identical filenames in folders
**** Perhaps the User Interface hides extensions or filename suffixes
*** Maybe Google Drive uses links or pointers?
**** People move files, but they still exist in orginal locations
**** Google Mail uses flat storage of all messages, tags on each message are displayed in UI as though it is a folder structure

* Cloud horror stories:
**Company advertising genetic testing services stored data in the cloud
*** then sold people's personal genetic data to a pharmaceutical or insurance company
** Genealogy company acquired data stored "freely available" from individuals' web sites
*** Now sells this data, and it is not available to the original authors
*** Suggestion: "Poison the well" by creating a "Fake Uncle Ralph" to prove authorship (see [[Wikipedia:Trap street]])

* Security risks
** Commercial cloud providers will hand over customer data to authorities
*** National Security Letters -- Cloud providers may be compelled to keep this data access from their customers
** Ensure you have a contract with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that specifies where servers are stored (Canada? US?), how data is routed
*** Even if source and destination are both in Canada, traffic may still be routed through US and subject to snooping; Canadian data has no protection when routed through US
** Technical means: [[Wikipedia:Source Routing|Source Routing]] can specify how a packet is sent through the network (Internet)

===== Encrypted File Storage =====
* Use VPNs to keep remote sites within your own network
* Encrypted tunnels, eg. Secure Shell ([[Wikipedia:SSHFS|sshfs]])
* Encrypted file systems
** eg. [https://nextcloud.com/ Nextcloud], [https://owncloud.org/ ownCloud]
** Must ensure that encrypted file system is not mounted on remote, unsecured server
* Encrypted containers
** eg. TrueCrypt (now obsolete, use [https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html VeraCrypt] instead)
** eg. [https://www.ciphershed.org/ CipherShed]
*** TrueCrypt, VeraCrypt, CipherShed are all cross-platform (Windows, MacOS, GNU/Linux)
** eg. [[Wikipedia:LUKS|LUKS]]
*** See [http://bob.jonkman.ca/blogs/2017/10/09/how-to-create-an-encrypted-drive-in-a-file-container/ How To Create an Encrypted Drive in a File Container] by Bob Jonkman
** eg. FreeOTFE (obsolete) or [https://github.com/t-d-k/LibreCrypt LibreCrypt] provides OTFE (On-The-Fly-Encryption) for Windows that's LUKS compatible
* For any corporate encryption, Additional Decryption Keys are needed
** Any user-encrypted files or containers can be decrypted by the organization's ADK; ensures data is not lost when user forgets password or leaves the organization
* Office 365 encryption
** The culture for Microsoft products is less concerned with encryption (poor adoption of encrypted technologies?)

* Encrypted Backups?
** For backups in the cloud, or on local storage
** Encrypted backups can become un-restorable with minor errors
*** Bob recommends making unencrypted backups, then saving them in an encrypted container; even better to keep unencrypted backups physically secure

===== Sharing Files =====
* File permissions
** Staff doesn't know how to use filesystem permissions, makes all files globally read/writeable
* Use a Document Management System to assign authorization to documents
** Access control with a DMS can be more finely tuned
** DMS also provides benefits such as metadata and search/indexing
** but it needs the skills of a librarian to properly catalogue documents
** and a DMS adds another layer of abstraction; more work for the SysAdmin, more to go wrong
* Physical file systems (file cabinets, folders) were treated better by staff than digital file systems
* Using Roaming Profiles for shared file access
** SysAdmin can force desktop computers to put "My Documents", "My Pictures" &c. on the server for shared and secure storage
*** Doesn't work for Windows' "My Desktop"; that folder appears to have special privileges, but we don't know how
*** Can "My Desktop" or "My Documents" be made read-only to force staff to use server storage? Doubtful
** Thin clients don't store data locally
** Use the Browser Local Storage? (please, no)
** "Libraries" feature in Windows can combine several folders (from different sources) into one
* Commercial applications for managing roaming profiles: Micro Focus ZENworks (formerly NAL, Novell Application Launcer); Intel LANdesk Manager, Computer Associates
* Staff gets easily confused with shared filesystems
** Folder tree changes, filename and foldername changes

===== Storing Binary Files =====
* Music Files, photos, video, CAD drawings, &c.
* Using Google Drive is not efficient for binary files, better to keep on local (non-cloud) storage
** Post-production for music can't be done online
* Cloud services need cloud-based client software to manage binary files
** Google Docs does not have a good music client to manage music file for an orchestra
** But Google Docs has good photo apps

===== USB Sticks or Thumbdrives =====
* How to prevent the use of USB drives?
** Physically hotglue the USB ports on organizations' computers
** Pop up a warning to the user when USB device is inserted
** Lock the computer when a USB device is inserted
* Worried about "Parking Lot USBs" (USB drives found in the parking lot, may contain malicious payload)
** Physical attacks through high-voltage discharges (see https://usbkill.com/ )
** The only protection against physical attacks is physical protection

==== Future Topics ====
* [[Document Management]]: There are specialized software tools to manage your documents, provide version control, allow staff to checkout documents for exclusive access, and to provide indexing and search tools. What do you use?
* [[Encryption]] How do encrypted file systems work? Demonstration/Workshop on creating encrypted file containers.
* Microsoft Evening (do they still provide sponsorship? Marc will check with Eli)

[[Category:KWNPSA Meeting Notes]]

Branding/Meeting Notes 2017-03-13

2017-03-17T14:12:15Z

MarcPare: /* Marketing KWNPSA */ added link to list

{{:Branding}}

This meeting ended up being more about our own re-branding needs, and the business of running KWNPSA as a non-profit organization. We'll have another session in the future on '''Branding''' to discuss the experience and gather the advice of other organizations.

* We started with a discussion on the different syntaxes used in markup languages, eg. Markdown, Mediawiki, PMWiki, MoinMoin...

==== Hosting Services ====
* Many Non-Profit organizations are migrating from CCj/Clearline (Steph Smith, Cedric Puddy) to IndieServe (Mark Steffen)
* Marc Paré will take over the hosting for KWNPSA
** Marc is currently using 123EHost.com
** This is for the interim, until Marc has his own server set up
** The hosting OS will be Mageia
* Mailing Lists
** Steve Izma will be the Mailing List Manager
** We currently have our [http://thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/npsa_thinkers.org Discussion] and [http://thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/npsa-ann_thinkers.org Announcements] mailing lists on CCj/Clearline
** Steve will look after the mailing list migrations as soon as Marc has Mailman set up
* Wiki
** Mediawiki is being used by everyone at this meeting,
** Currently being hosted at http://sobac.com/kwnpsa by Bob Jonkman
** Will be migrated after Marc has set up the Mageia server

==== Sponsorships ====
* CIRA - Has provided $100 for the previous and this meeting.
* TechSoup - provides low-cost Microsoft licenses to Non-Profit organizations
** NetSquared (part of TechSoup) is an umbrella group for Non-Profit organizations' IT staff
*** If we get a venue without A/V facilities, can NetSquared sponsorship provide, say, a projector? Marc to ask Eli...
* Microsoft
** We will gladly accept Microsoft sponsorhip and host an evening dedicated to Microsoft products
*** Perhaps have as a guest speaker a product specialist from Microsoft?
** We will continue to focus on Free Software / Open Source solutions at other meetings
* Google
** Apparently Google is a sponsor or a member of NetSquared
*** but we have not seen support from our local Google office, eg. request for a venue

==== Formalizing the KWNPSA group ====
* The formal structure of the group will consist only of a Treasurer
** Marc Paré will be Treasurer, will take care of any finances received from sponsors, donations, &c.
** Funds received from sponsorships &c. will be used for venues, hosting costs, domain name costs.
* Bob Jonkman will ask Eli van Giessen to re-brand the [http://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/ meetup.com group] as '''KWNPSA - Kitchener Waterloo Non-Profit System Administrators -- a NetSquared Group'''

==== Marketing KWNPSA ====
* Business cards?
** We need someone to design a KWNPSA logo
*** The ''KW'' part is important to our geographic locale; highlight or separate KW from NPSA
** Marc Paré has found with other organizations that business cards are just as effective as posters
* Let more people know that KWNPSA exists
** Marc has a list of local KW Non-Profit organizations [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/search/app/?medium=TSA&models=charity.charityprofile&q=Waterloo&gclid=CjwKEAjwkq7GBRDun9iu2JjyhmsSJADHCD_Hp06S32fZF1kA_tKMjaZlcHtSe_D4S_SP8LJUJlrN2RoCeS3w_wcB/ List] he has contacted about 100

==== Meeting format ====
* KWNPSA has a collegial Round Table Discussion format, which suits Non-Profit organizations
** Contrast this with formal presentations at [http://kwlug.org/ KWLUG]
** or the social restaurant meetings of [http://kwvoip.ca/ KWVoIP]

==== Mailing Lists ====
* How do we deal with badly configured MUAs (Mail clients) that try to reply to the Announcements list?
* Do we need two separate lists?
** Steve Izma will investigate the use of "child lists" in Mailman
** "Child lists" will allow "Discussion" to receive "Announcements" so people only have to subscribe to one list
* DMARC problems
** Steve will activate "munging" on Mailman so badly configured mail hosts like Yahoo Mail will accept messages
* We will have KWNPSA branded e-mail addresses
** To be seen if this helps or hinders the DMARC problem
** Lends authority to Announcements; requests for venues, &c.
*** Marc Paré [mailto:marc.pare@kwnpsa.ca marc.pare@kwnpsa.ca]
*** Steve Izma [mailto:sizma@kwnpsa.ca sizma@kwnpsa.ca]
*** Bob Jonkman [mailto:bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca]
** Available to anyone who helps organize the group

==== Wiki ====
* Meetup.com is [https://www.meetup.com/boards/thread/32693362 closing its Discussion Forums] where we used to publish Meeting Notes
** Paul Nijjar has a .gzip file of all meeting notes
** Bob Jonkman will upload these to the Wiki (they're in the Public Folder as [http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/CQr2YmVw6VZ91We/download?path=/&files=npsa.tar.bz2 npsa.tar.bz2])
*** Public folder (RO): http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/CQr2YmVw6VZ91We
*** Upload folder (R/W): http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/35Gyy6yTOG5Ak9z (contact [mailto:bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca Bob Jonkman] for the password)
** Steve Izma will write a script to convert these from Markdown into Mediawiki syntax and upload them
* Bob has been testing different data structures on the Wiki, eg. transclusions for meeting announcements, sub-folders for meeting notes.

==== Branding ====
* Description of group: '''Resource Group for Information Technology in Non-Profit Organizations'''
** Similar to a Mission Statement, if not identical
** Also the Vision -- use one phrase for all
** We will refine this description on the Discussion List with other members
* Are we '''KWNPSA''' or '''KW-NPSA'''?
** It's a non-issue, we'll spell it out in full on posters and whenever we make announcements
** Let's see what the Business Card designer does

==== Venue ====
* Marc Paré will pursue Communitech and the Downtown Community Centre for "venue sponsorship"
* A venue at Google may not be possible (high security facility)

Meeting notes taken by Bob Jonkman.

Branding/Meeting Notes 2017-03-13

2017-03-17T13:57:31Z

MarcPare: /* Hosting Services */ minor change

{{:Branding}}

This meeting ended up being more about our own re-branding needs, and the business of running KWNPSA as a non-profit organization. We'll have another session in the future on '''Branding''' to discuss the experience and gather the advice of other organizations.

* We started with a discussion on the different syntaxes used in markup languages, eg. Markdown, Mediawiki, PMWiki, MoinMoin...

==== Hosting Services ====
* Many Non-Profit organizations are migrating from CCj/Clearline (Steph Smith, Cedric Puddy) to IndieServe (Mark Steffen)
* Marc Paré will take over the hosting for KWNPSA
** Marc is currently using 123EHost.com
** This is for the interim, until Marc has his own server set up
** The hosting OS will be Mageia
* Mailing Lists
** Steve Izma will be the Mailing List Manager
** We currently have our [http://thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/npsa_thinkers.org Discussion] and [http://thinkers.org/mailman/listinfo/npsa-ann_thinkers.org Announcements] mailing lists on CCj/Clearline
** Steve will look after the mailing list migrations as soon as Marc has Mailman set up
* Wiki
** Mediawiki is being used by everyone at this meeting,
** Currently being hosted at http://sobac.com/kwnpsa by Bob Jonkman
** Will be migrated after Marc has set up the Mageia server

==== Sponsorships ====
* CIRA - Has provided $100 for the previous and this meeting.
* TechSoup - provides low-cost Microsoft licenses to Non-Profit organizations
** NetSquared (part of TechSoup) is an umbrella group for Non-Profit organizations' IT staff
*** If we get a venue without A/V facilities, can NetSquared sponsorship provide, say, a projector? Marc to ask Eli...
* Microsoft
** We will gladly accept Microsoft sponsorhip and host an evening dedicated to Microsoft products
*** Perhaps have as a guest speaker a product specialist from Microsoft?
** We will continue to focus on Free Software / Open Source solutions at other meetings
* Google
** Apparently Google is a sponsor or a member of NetSquared
*** but we have not seen support from our local Google office, eg. request for a venue

==== Formalizing the KWNPSA group ====
* The formal structure of the group will consist only of a Treasurer
** Marc Paré will be Treasurer, will take care of any finances received from sponsors, donations, &c.
** Funds received from sponsorships &c. will be used for venues, hosting costs, domain name costs.
* Bob Jonkman will ask Eli van Giessen to re-brand the [http://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/ meetup.com group] as '''KWNPSA - Kitchener Waterloo Non-Profit System Administrators -- a NetSquared Group'''

==== Marketing KWNPSA ====
* Business cards?
** We need someone to design a KWNPSA logo
*** The ''KW'' part is important to our geographic locale; highlight or separate KW from NPSA
** Marc Paré has found with other organizations that business cards are just as effective as posters
* Let more people know that KWNPSA exists
** Marc has a list of local KW Non-Profit organizations (??? LINK ???); he has contacted about 100

==== Meeting format ====
* KWNPSA has a collegial Round Table Discussion format, which suits Non-Profit organizations
** Contrast this with formal presentations at [http://kwlug.org/ KWLUG]
** or the social restaurant meetings of [http://kwvoip.ca/ KWVoIP]

==== Mailing Lists ====
* How do we deal with badly configured MUAs (Mail clients) that try to reply to the Announcements list?
* Do we need two separate lists?
** Steve Izma will investigate the use of "child lists" in Mailman
** "Child lists" will allow "Discussion" to receive "Announcements" so people only have to subscribe to one list
* DMARC problems
** Steve will activate "munging" on Mailman so badly configured mail hosts like Yahoo Mail will accept messages
* We will have KWNPSA branded e-mail addresses
** To be seen if this helps or hinders the DMARC problem
** Lends authority to Announcements; requests for venues, &c.
*** Marc Paré [mailto:marc.pare@kwnpsa.ca marc.pare@kwnpsa.ca]
*** Steve Izma [mailto:sizma@kwnpsa.ca sizma@kwnpsa.ca]
*** Bob Jonkman [mailto:bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca]
** Available to anyone who helps organize the group

==== Wiki ====
* Meetup.com is [https://www.meetup.com/boards/thread/32693362 closing its Discussion Forums] where we used to publish Meeting Notes
** Paul Nijjar has a .gzip file of all meeting notes
** Bob Jonkman will upload these to the Wiki (they're in the Public Folder as [http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/CQr2YmVw6VZ91We/download?path=/&files=npsa.tar.bz2 npsa.tar.bz2])
*** Public folder (RO): http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/CQr2YmVw6VZ91We
*** Upload folder (R/W): http://sobac.com/owncloud/s/35Gyy6yTOG5Ak9z (contact [mailto:bobjonkman@kwnpsa.ca Bob Jonkman] for the password)
** Steve Izma will write a script to convert these from Markdown into Mediawiki syntax and upload them
* Bob has been testing different data structures on the Wiki, eg. transclusions for meeting announcements, sub-folders for meeting notes.

==== Branding ====
* Description of group: '''Resource Group for Information Technology in Non-Profit Organizations'''
** Similar to a Mission Statement, if not identical
** Also the Vision -- use one phrase for all
** We will refine this description on the Discussion List with other members
* Are we '''KWNPSA''' or '''KW-NPSA'''?
** It's a non-issue, we'll spell it out in full on posters and whenever we make announcements
** Let's see what the Business Card designer does

==== Venue ====
* Marc Paré will pursue Communitech and the Downtown Community Centre for "venue sponsorship"
* A venue at Google may not be possible (high security facility)

Meeting notes taken by Bob Jonkman.

Social Media/Meeting Notes for 2017-02-13

2017-02-16T14:09:43Z

MarcPare: /* Future topics: */

; Monday, 13 February 2017
: Event Announcement: https://www.meetup.com/NetSquared-Kitchener-Waterloo/events/237362708/
: Meeting notes:

How can a Nonprofit organization make use of Social Media? Should a Nonprofit organization even use Social Media? What Social Media platform do you use? What sorts of things do you put on Social Media? Who puts it there? A team of SMEs? One person? Is this a full-time job? How much time does it take to maintain Social Media accounts for a Nonprofit organization? What will you do when your Social Media platform disappears? Or deletes your content? Or delivers your content to only a small set of viewers?

== Social Media ==
* Conversation started with employment
** Headhunters and placement agencies frequently call potential employees or contractors, but rarely result in employment or contracts.
** Salaries for developers are higher in Waterloo Region, due to competition from other tech firms.

* Social Media is all about the analytics
** Using analytics provided by the services, eg. https://analytics.twitter.com
** Analytics from different sites (Twitter, Facebook) are similar enough that direct comparisons can be made.
** Use some custom links to identify source of engagement on their own content
*** eg. use one URL for Twitter, another for Facebook to reach the same content
*** Use Google Analytics for generic information
*** How does Google identifiy the source of the visitor if the links are all the same? Or the URLs are all the same?

* Staffing at one non-profit organization:
** 1 person for Twitter + Facebook
** 1 person for Instagram
** Need more staff (Reddit, other social media forums)
** Maintaining social media accounts by volunteers
*** Takes lots of time! Split it up between people
*** Automate some tasks (POSSE - Publish Once, Syndicate Self Everywhere)

* Update frequency
** Twitter: 8-10 time per day
** Facebook: Once a day
** Search for ''how to optimize facebook feed''
** Have a hashtag strategy (what is a hashtag strategy?)

* Before starting on social media, ask "What is the organization's goal for social media?"
** Distribute information (meetings, info about the cause, eg. environmental tips)
** Grow the organization

* Automate feeds
** Facebook -> Twitter
** Blog -> GNUsocial -> Twitter -> Facebook

* Your following:
** Are your followers passive or engaged?
** Twitter is good for a large number of followers, but low engagement
** Facebook is the opposite (few followers, strong engagement)
** Linkedin is good for Business-To-Business

* "Twitter will be around forever"
** Some disagreement about that
** Whatever organization buys out Twitter will want to keep the eyeballs (users generating advertising revenue)

* Reddit is a great platform
** But nobody likes it

* Having a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram will reach 90% of people online.

* The purpose of one non-profit organization is to change consumer behaviour
** How can that be measured?

* Are social media sites trustworthy?
** Social media sites are bad for your personal mental health
*** Some people remove themselves from social media

* Twitter is a conversation
** Really? 140 characters seems too short for meaningful conversation
** Twitter is (only) good for broadcast announcements
** A Grade 8 reading level is good for Twitter
** It takes skill to get more information into 140 characters than in long-form prose
*** But too many abbreviations and leetspeek and others can't understand
*** "Dracula" by Bram Stoker was written as diary entries, good for syndication on Twitter
*** Books are being replaced by social media
**** so put novels on social media where people will read them

* How to be effective:
** '''Go where the people are'''
*** But that leaves out Free Software solutions like Friendica (Facebook substitute) or GNUsocial (Twitter substitute)

* Wouldn't it be nice
** if social media didn't affect reading levels or comprehension
** people learned more evaluation and critical thinking, not rote memorization

* Filter bubble
** Facebook only shows those things you've already "liked"
** reinforces biases

* Recognize that Social Media is just a tool
** You can use it well
** ...or you can use it poorly

* We (Non-profit organizations) are parasitic
** We're using social media platforms for our own purposes, fully recognizing they're not doing this for our benefit.

=== Meeting Closing Discussion ===
* Discussed CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority)
** supports the .ca domain extension for Canada
** most are aware of the organization
** result of discussion is to obtain the .ca version of the NPSA domain: kwnpsa.ca

=== Future topics: ===
* Monetization
* Branding (logos, names)

User:MarcPare

2015-05-18T13:04:37Z

MarcPare: Created page with "Bio: French Second Language school teacher ... presently on disability leave due to crushed spinal column (3 times). I am also a (past) harpsichord tuner-technician (tune/re..."

Bio:

French Second Language school teacher ... presently on disability leave due to crushed spinal column (3 times). I am also a (past) harpsichord tuner-technician (tune/repair in historical correct practice) and also a (past) piano tuner-technician -- unable to continue due to my spinal injuries.

* Volunteer with a local early music group: Nota Bene Baroque Players. I am Treasurer, General Manager, and of course anything tech-related. [http://www.NotaBeneBaroque.ca Nota Bene Baroque Players].

* Volunteer with LibreOffice (marketing) since it's birth in 2010. [http://www.LibreOffice.org LibreOffice]

* Volunteer on a number of other opensource projects when I have the time -- but mostly from the "user experience". Some of these projects are: [http://www.Zikula.org Zikula]; [http://www.Mageia.org Mageia].

* I am also on the discussion list to many opensource projects, but the most interesting for me is the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) "Non-profit Accounting Project" discussion list [https://sfconservancy.org/npoacct/ NPOAccounting].
** This project is of particular importance for Non-Profit Organizations (NPO) in that, most "Fund Accounting" software packages are extremely expensive, as is fund accounting services. The SFC NPOAccounting project proposes to create an opensource "fund accounting" software suite for the US NPO region, and build the suite in such a way that other regions (such as Canada) could build a compatible "Canadian module". I am participating on the discussion list and hope to participate/commit more in the future once the NPOAccounting suite is completed and ready for modules. The project has just completed its first phase, but had ground to a halt due to lack of funds to hire dev help. Fund accounting is quite a lucrative enterprise and, as expected, there is little interest in giving help to the project from any organizations
** ... although ... recently, there has been some movement from an organization called "Open Petra" [https://www.openpetra.org/en/ OpenPetra] where they are proposing the same as the SFC and are more advanced ... they are also getting some dev help from their proprietary coded Petra project ... the OpenPetra project looks most promising.

* I also focus on the use of opensource solutions and operate a personal project where I volunteer aid seniors who need help with keeping their computer systems in good working order. To those who agree, I install Mageia Linux, along with all opensource software. Their Linux boxes are maintained remotely (unfortunately, I use TeamViewer for the remote work, as I have found this to work flawlessly and is quite intuitive to my "clients"). I have approx. 40 clients on my list. This is a free volunteer service.

* I also run an e-zine called EarlyMusicNews.org which is quite popular [http://www.EarlyMusicNews.org EarlyMusicNews.Org].

My main website: [http://www.parentreprise.com parEntreprise]