[Osia-members] OSIA update

[Jack Burton]

Afternoon, all.

It's been some months since the last update, so I thought I'd take this
opportunity to let our members know what OSIA's been up in recent times.

** OSIA website refresh **

Members who've visited the OSIA website recently will have noticed a few
changes.

The site now has a brighter, fresher, cleaner look and feel, better
navigation, revamped news, events & publications sections and more
consistent presentation of our sponsors.

If you haven't done so already, you can check it out now at
http://osia.com.au.

Many thanks to OSIA director Aimee-Maree Forsstrom, former directors
Anastasia Kuusk & Tim Purcell and everyone else who's helped along the
way with the website refresh.

** Open Invention Network **

OSIA has recently joined the Open Invention Network -- see
https://www.openinventionnetwork.com/ -- a defensive patent-sharing pool
designed to protect the interests of those developing or deploying
GNU/Linux and other related OSS.

** OSIA at YPAN **

OSIA director Daniel Jitnah delivered a presentation on the general
benefits of OSS last night to the Young Professional Accounting Network
(YPAN) in Melbourne. By all accounts it was well received and he will be
returning to YPAN later in the year to deliver a workshop on OSS ERP
systems.

** Member referral service **

Implementation of the member referral service has been delayed, but
progress continues and the service is anticipated to be launched during
the first quarter of the new financial year.

** Annual renewals **

Just a quick heads-up that membership renewals fall due in July, so
please keep an eye out for your renewal invoices, which will be
arriving in June.

** Join us to celebrate the new FY in Melbourne **

The Board intends to welcome in the new financial year with an informal
gathering of members and other interested parties over drinks in
Melbourne on the evening of Monday 6 July.

Further details will be forthcoming in June, but for now, if you're
intending to be in or near Melbourne on or around that date, you may
want to keep the evening of 6 July free.

** OSDC 2015 announced **

As many of you have probably heard already, this year's OSDC will be
held in Hobart on 27-29 Oct -- see https://2015.osdc.com.au.

Once again, given that OSDC continues to prove a most popular
conference amongst OSIA members, the Board intends to hold the 2015
OSIA AGM either at or near OSDC, to enable as many members as possible
to attend the AGM without having to incur additional travel expenses.

Further details to come later in the year.

** Board meetings **

The board has met 3 times since the last update: in Melbourne on 8
March, in Sydney on 8 April and in Melbourne on 17 May. 

The next board meetings are scheduled to be held on 3 June (by
teleconference) and 6 July (in Melbourne, immediately prior to the
financial new year event).

As always, members are encouraged to bring any pertinent matters (and
indeed your views on them) to the attention of the Board, either on
this list or by contacting any of us directly -- all board members and
their OSIA email addresses are listed at:
http://www.osia.com.au/drupal7/corporate-documents/osia-board-members

I look forward to seeing many of you in Melbourne on 6 July.

Regards,


Jack Burton
<jack at saosce.com.au>