Re: *** ADMIN: Al Barsa Challenge ... 1 day left

[Pete Helgren <pete@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Just my own 2 cents....

If you see no value to the community in members being educated in the 
latest Power and IBM i technologies then it probably wouldn't have value 
to you.  But education and person to person contact in a community is a 
thing that is increasingly lacking in this world, particularly in IT 
where we go to the Internet feeding trough daily to get our education.  
Sending someone to a conference not only educates them but teaches them 
the value of person to person community building.

Would your mind change if it was sending them to the RPG & DB2 Summit or 
RPG World or an IBM conference?

It's not that Common is the only alternative but the *value* is in the 
face to face meeting that someone might not have the financial 
wherewithal to handle (especially in these economic times).  And, 
despite the rumors, there isn't any Common brainwashing or drinking the 
Koolaid that goes on with the recipient ;-)

Pete Helgren
Value Added Software, Inc
www.petesworkshop.com
GIAC Secure Software Programmer-Java


On 12/15/2011 10:45 AM, Joe Pluta wrote:
> I haven't donated.  I have my own charities, and I'm not a member of
> COMMON.   Rather than point to the dollar amount, how about taking one
> last shot to explain how these funds will benefit the community at
> large?  I mean, it's a nice idea to send someone deserving to COMMON,
> but the money eventually ends up going to COMMON.  So tell me how this
> helps the community.  If you can convince me, you may be able to
> convince a couple of other recalcitrants as well.
>
> Joe