budgets for all regions (was Re: [Ambassadors] NA EventsExpectation Proposal)

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On Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 9:27 AM, David Duncan <dduncan at rubackedup.com> wrote:
> It would be nice to have mementos (swag) available for those people we
> engage even daily.  I am very interested in having swag on-hand for
> unplanned participation in events.  I would also like to have something
> more than the USB keys and live-cd's I make myself for LUG meetings and
> such. Even if I wear the FA Polo when I give it out, the media I provide
> doesn't have a lasting association with the Fedora project other than
> the contents.

I don't disagree with this. We have a very limited amount of money to
spend on pure swag and whatever we spend on swag is diverted from
other things, like sponsoring conferences, helping Fedora people
participate at events, etc. So we don't have a giant pool of swag
anywhere with lots of different items. Your ideas about how we might
spend our swag money more wisely, on things that would have a more
lasting effect, are certainly appreciated.

Pens are an example of an item that has strong positives and
negatives. The positives are pretty obvious. I like Fedora, I have a
Fedora pen, I use my Fedora pen constantly, other people see my Fedora
pen, and so on. On the downside who can resist grabbing a free pen
from a table they walk past? Do Fedora pens in the hands of people who
just want a free pen help us much?

> I agree that the content of the media is most important, but the "swag
> factor" goes a long way when it is available.  I can't tell you how many
> people are jealous of my Red Hat pens and notepads and how many
> conversations that has started on opensource.  I am willing to purchase
> said swag, i.e., pens, tattoos, and other such trinket items, in order
> to have them available for those who express a desire to know more.

Swag has some value. Some organizations are thinking hard about its
long term value though and aren't convinced it has much of that when
all is said and done.

In any event, if you are an ambassador you can request an ambassador
kit which is a small collection of media and swag that is available to
ambassadors to have on hand for whatever small events come up. The
exact contents might vary a bit over time depending on what we have
available at the time you request it.

John