These are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ohio LinuxFest. If you have a question you think belongs here, please email us at team@ohiolinux.org

 

Helping Out

How can I help run the Ohio LinuxFest

Staff positions come from people who show a strong interest in helping out. Senior staff positions are promoted from within. The best way to show interest is to join us at our weekly meetings on IRC (irc.oftc.net #ohiolinux), Tuesday evenings at 8pm Eastern.

Note that all staff are unpaid volunteer positions. Nobody within the Ohio LinuxFest draws a salary of any kind.

Registration

Why should I pay money to go to your event?

You don't have to! As part of our mission to encourage the use of Free and Open Source Software we have a FREE Enthusiast pass that's open to all.

We ask you to pay or donate if you can, because every dollar goes to running the conference. As much as 50% of our budget comes from our attendees. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, your donation to OLF may be tax deductible (contact an accountant). But if you can't pay or donate, that's ok with us, too.

 

What happened to the Supporter Pass? Why are shirts sold separately? Why aren't there lunches on Saturday anymore?

Rising costs were causing the Supporter Pass to be less and less cost effective. It was designed as a means to support the event, but no longer was doing so.

Supporter Items are a means to pick and choose how you can support the Ohio LinuxFest while getting a thank you that you prefer. Remember, every dollar goes to running the event!

 

The Professional Pass at $350 is expensive. Can you do group discounts?

Generally, we do not offer group discounts. We run the conference at cost; any profit seen goes into deposits for next year's event.

As part of our mission to keep things as low cost as possible, we offer the training in the Professional Pass at the lowest cost we can. Some of the classes we offer are available at other conferences for at least twice the price! Please do some price comparisons with other conferences that offer training and see that we are competitive or better.

Ohio LinuxFest -- the event

Why isn't there a wireless network?

Short answer: It's too expensive.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center requires us to work with specific vendors for things that include the ISP, the A/V company and catering. To go around this requirement would break out contract with the GCCC and possibly have us removed.

Until 2010 the ISP vendor costs were absurdly high. The new ISP is much more reasonable, but the cost of making wireless available for around 1500 people at once is around ten thousand dollars.

We welcome any sponsor who might be interested in helping us pay for free wireless for all attendees. If you are one, know of one, or would like to help join our sponsorship team to help find sponsors, please email sponsors@ohiolinux.org .

 

Why isn't there free/better coffee/soda/beer or better food or ...

Again, the answer is money. We love our sponsors dearly and they usually sponsor specific things. We love our attendees, too. If you can, please help support the Ohio LinuxFest by buying one or more of our Supporter Items. The more money we bring in, the more we can do at the conference!

 

Why don't you move to another location, where you can get more stuff cheaper or for free?

It is very hard to find another venue in the area that can meet our needs of enough nearby, reasonably priced hotel rooms, food, and room needs for the actual event. Additionally, as we continue to build growing relationships with our vendors it helps things run smoothly in the long run.

 

Why isn't the Pre-Party held at Barley's anymore?

We enjoyed working with Barley's and are sorry we have had to end our relationship with them. However their party area is downstairs and is not handicapped accessible. We encourage you to give Barley's your business while in town, as well as the other fine local establishments.