The Linux Professionals' Association AGM

LPA AGM
The Linux Professionals' Association (LPA) will be having its AGM on 
Friday 4 March 2005.  The LPA is a South African organisation which has 
traditionally championed OSS, specifically in the business sphere.
Formed in 1996 by what was then the majority of Linux/OSS based 
businesses in Johannesburg, the Association has come a long way.  
Initially the focus was on exposure and advocacy, since the market was 
mostly unaware of OSS at the time.  The Association hosted installfests, 
attended trade shows, provided exposure to members and gave a forum 
within which business could be fostered.  The members companies would 
often pass business on to other members, e.g. a consulting firm might 
refer customers to a company specialising in training.

With the growth of the Linux/OSS market, the need for advocacy lessened, 
especially when Linux became a generally know factor in the business 
world.  At the last AGM, a mandate was given to the committee to 
restructure the Association in accordance with the current requirements 
of the market.  A decision was then taken to make the membership of the 
association individual based.  Previously, the membership had been open 
to companies and individuals.  A further requirement from the market 
which the committee addressed is the need for a registry of practising 
professionals.  Bearing this in mind, the committee has produced a 
manifesto document which will further the LPA's position as the leading 
OSS based body in South Africa.  The new structure is also aimed at 
covering the whole of South Africa, not just the Gauteng province in 
which most of the current LPA member companies are situated.  This will 
be effected by the establishment of local and regional branches.

The essence of the new format of the association is two-fold:
Firstly, it will provide the market with a professional body, 
guaranteeing levels of proficiency and professionalism.  That there is a 
need for this is evidenced by the fact that many of the larger 
organisations involved in Linux/OSS have sent representatives to the LPA 
with such requests.  These include IBM, Novell, Oracle and the CSIR 
(Council for Scientific and Industrial Research).  From this point of 
view, the LPA will perform a similar function carried out by the 
professional bodies linked to other industries. The South African 
Institute of Charted Accountants and the Bar within the legal profession 
are examples.
Secondly, the LPA will provide members with various options including 
packaged benefits (Medical Aid, Pension funds etc.) and legal services.  
The LPA will continue its advocacy and further its position as the voice 
of the community within the country.  Being representative of practising 
Linux/OSS professionals, its statements will have the authenticity of 
being the will of the majority of  practitioners.


If you wish to find out more, please visit the LPA web site at :
http://www.lpa.org.za/
to register for the AGM you can go to :
http://www.eventbay.net/EID=ecb9056c-d6ab-4346-8353-ce312...