[python-advocacy] Marketing Python - An Idea Whose Time Has Come

[sdeibel]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006, Lucio Torre wrote:
> Also, we are planning python-only conferences all around argentina (we have
> one scheduled for the next month, we are working to fix the date of the next).
> We are also starting a proyect to have the latest version of the
> documentations available in spanish. We are also trying to get guido or some
> big name to come to argentina for a conference. But most of our work is based
> on 'act locally'. We are missing the 'think globally' part.

The conferences are definately valuable, and luckily seem to be 
one area where there *isn't* silence! ;-)  It's great to see that
there is quite a bit of grass roots activity like this.

> For what it seems from here, you are the leader in marketing python issues.
> Someone working in advocacy must have fluent contact with Guido. He should be
> the one willing to figth 'the PSF cant handle this' battle. I think there is a
> lot of energy that can be drawn from local user groups, but we should be very
> carefull about draining it on politics.

I'm not the leader -- Alas, I've just not got the time.  We
really *do* need a leader that does have the time!

Also, the PSF is not the leader because none of its board or
members seem to have time for this either.

Finally, believe me, you don't need Guido's permission to write 
brochures, seed college courses with Python, prepare user group 
starter kits, or any of the other things Jeff listed!  Guido is 
interested to a certain level in advocacy (particularly anything 
related to CP4E), and he likes to see it happening, but he really 
doesn't want to be that closely involved.

For that matter, Guido has also pretty much stepped back from the 
PSF in general.  He feels it is doing just fine without his 
direct involvement.  He no longer attends board meetings or reads 
the board mailing list because he wants to concentrate on 
development of Python.

Another directly relevant sign of how he's focusing on language 
development was the website redesign, where he delegated complete 
control to the Public Relations Committee of the PSF.  (That 
committee was since dissolved, but we do have the new website to 
show for it!).

While I can't put words in Guido's mouth, or make any hard and 
fast rules, I hope the above helps to explain how things are 
working right now and why there is room for people in the 
community to take a substantial leading role in advocating 
Python.

I'd hate to see people not take ownerships of parts of this 
problem because of a perception that someone else already is
leading!

- Stephan