@Brainiac, thanks for your comments. Some comments inline, IMHO. :-)<br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 6:45 PM, [Brainiac] <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:arebacollins@gmail.com" target="_blank">arebacollins@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">@aki your reasoning will self destruct just at its definition stage, here is an example.  
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<div>i install ubuntu/debian servers and a whole ecosystem around them, i manage this through a set of open source products like webmin and virtualmin, i control network infrastructure with the assistance of apps like squid, i manage mail using ... and so on and so forth. If there is a contribution i can make to the world from Kenya, it might just be around those circles. Do i qualify into the association? probably not. </div>
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<div>If you were to replace squid with a localised version proxy, or mailman then you&#39;d be developing something for local and outside use . But as a support person, you install the above technologies for a function, therefore you would be no different than a support person installing and configuring a juniper/cisco box. How then would you want to be part of the local developer scene?  </div>

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<div>So i head deeper and begin apps on frameworks, drupal, joomla, cake, symphony, ROR... am i doing something Kenyan? well, depends on how you look at it. If im using a framework, only thing kenyan about the resultant product is the business logic, virtually everything else will be generated. </div>
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<div>Firstly, yes you are doing something different. The final product/solution/application has not been created for you by someone else, and you will be using the available tools to create something with various functionality. Secondly, If you so choose and have the time, you could go deeper to create from scratch.</div>

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<div>further on, can it be argued that then even the tools we use to develop are not original? something like phpinfo() for instance is a function built by someone else.... </div></blockquote>
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<div>If you want to, you can develop the tools, this can be a long term strategy. We don&#39;t have any, so our choices are too limited.</div>
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<div>so when we look at it critically, we all need each other. Lets not look down upon the guy taking a joomla template and changing the logo and css. he is a techie in his own right, as is the guy bored with gnome (read ken kasina :-) ) and wants to do something of his own... </div>

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<div>No one is looking down at anyone, rather I was trying to separate the conflicts of interest. Why any person who takes a joomla template, change the logo and CSS want to be a member of the local Association. To be specific, what value would they bring forth ? If they create the templates, logos, etc, then they are surely welcome.</div>

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<div><u>Now picture this scenario:</u></div>
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<div>Anyone and everyone who is in IT is in the Association. They all meet, what level of discussion would we get? </div>
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<div>- It would be a similar situation to that of BarCamp. Everyone&#39;s in it but hardly anyone leaves with an aim to do something focussed.</div>
<div>- Everyone is interested in showing what products or solutions they have on offer. But all these are versions not done locally, just vendor talk.</div>
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<div> A focussed group in the Association with specific targets and needs:</div>
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<div>- Share common discussions and goals on what needs to be done and how.</div>
<div>- Set deadlines and complete localised projects </div>
<div>- Run a common platform</div>
<div>- The benefits are too many.</div>
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