🚀 go-pugleaf

I'd like to respond to some of Bob Anderson's comments from my
perspective as a founding member and director of EFF-Austin.
I apologize for the length of my posts here lately; I'll
do better...but there have been several issues that bear
rather lengthy discussion and explanation at this stage of
our evolution, IMO.
 
I don't claim to speak for all directors (or for general
members) btw, and I encourage everyone who has questions,
concerns, or comments to bring 'em to this list. Let's
put Prentiss to work!  :-)
 
>Here are some of my thots.
>
>The reason I am a member of the EFF is to protect my ass from
>the ignorant actions of those with the power and authority to
>search, seize and detain me and/or my equiptment.  To paraphrase
>Bruce Sterling, I am a sometimes foolishly out spoken hippy with
>both a computer and a bbs in my home.  Times are very strange.
>I play by the rules, when the rules are clearly stated, but doubt
>the same can be said about those that carry badges.  Education
>of those in power is important, but that is a continous process
>and far too easily undone.
 
I think that EFF-National and EFF-Austin are both dedicated to
ongoing educational activities, many of which are directed at
politicos, cops, etc. to facilitate understanding of general
and particular issues of cyberspace and computer networking.
I don't see anything that's happened disrupting these efforts.
I think both EFF-Austin and EFF-National officers and members
have remained attentive to this part of the mission even thru
the various instabilities that IMO are symptomatic of the
evolution and growth of an organization and a movement.
 
>
>Lately I am not sure if can expect anything but moral support and
>some legal advice from either the national or local group.
 
I think that you can expect more. To my knowledge, there has been
no significant raid, confiscation, or evident legal/civil liberties
breach affecting the Austin network/bbs community since EFF-Austin
was formed. I hope that this means we've been doing our job. As I
understand it, our police liaison committee was formed with the 
specific intention of educating and communicating with the various 
local police agencies so that, if something like the Steve Jackson raid 
ever again loomed as a possibility, there would be some understanding in
advance of the 1st and 4th amendment implications, etc. Preventive 
medicine.
 
>The
>social and networking associations are all good and fine, but that
>is just gravy compared to the meat I want.  I hear about far to
>much bickering and in fighting within the leadership of both groups.
 
As usual, the divisive stuff gets most of the attention. What you
should know is that the EFF-Austin board has remained focused on
our mission, or I should say on our various missions. You have seen
news recently about the evolution of an EFF chapters movement that
revealed tensions between various groups, including those between
EFF-Austin and EFF-National. I think these were inevitable because
all of these groups are still very young. I think we've seen much
success in working through some of the issues. In their recent 
decision not to develop local chapters, I think that EFF-National
has acknowledged a source of some of the tension, which was in the
attempt to bring already intensely independent regional groups
into a kind of homogenized entity. A confederation of independent
groups seems much better, and when you think of it, that's really
the American tradition. So I think you'll see more tasking and
less fighting.
 
One other note: I'm not sure that EFF-Austin has done as good a
job as it might of communicating about goals, plans, accomplishments,
etc. in this newsgroup. I expect that you'll see more from directors
here ongoing, and I hope that more of you will participate in the
dialog.
 
>I've sent my money to the national group and heard the cries for
>volunteers from the local group.  I do what I can and when I can,
>but cannot afford the burnout that comes from over extension.
>I will continue to send my money to Washington and meet with the
>locals, but still wonder if I am gettting what I need from either.
 
Please do continue to articulate your concerns. If you aren't getting
what you need, of course, we (the EFF-Austin directors and the rest
of the membership) won't know unless you tell us. Let's activate
this newsgroup as the online forum it was intended to be!
 
>
>Am I being reasonable?
 
Always, Bob!  :-)