*Please consider adding to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box!*
Dear Ruben Safir,
I hope this mail finds you and your family well during these difficult times. Normally, I spend a lot of time on the road, getting to hear firsthand how people in the free software community are doing, and learning about their lives, challenges, and ideas. I have been missing that! I think everyone has faced some adversity, but not all equally. I can only hope your burden has not been too heavy.
It has, however, been remarkable to see examples of how people have stepped up to help each other and their communities. **If you are in a position to help others, please consider free software in your giving plans.** It is incredibly important during this time.
The nonprofit sector in our home state is reporting $8.6 billion in losses so far. Fortunately, your support and the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) [responsible, top-rated financial management][1] have enabled us to weather the storm. But we can't just tread water right now. We need to expand all areas of our work -- advocacy, legal, and technical -- to show that software can be used to make us safer, and to keep us connected, *without* sacrificing our freedoms. With your support, we've already demonstrated what free software in action can do:
* We [showed the world][2] how to quickly turn an in-person gathering -- like [LibrePlanet][3], a conference with over thirty talks -- into a fully online event [using only free software][4], all the way down through the boot firmware on the streaming servers.
* We [launched a videoconferencing service][5] for FSF associate members at [jitsi.member.fsf.org][6], powered by free software from the JavaScript to the metal (which we own ourselves), backed by the FSF's commitment to your privacy. It's been described by members as "a fantastic service," "reliable," and "high quality."
* We worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor and FSF board member Gerald Sussman to prove that [top-notch classes][7] for over twenty students can be taught remotely without Zoom, using BigBlueButton.
* The community around our [Hackers and Hospitals][8] project built a list of 85 freely licensed designs for protective equipment and other pandemic supplies, inspiring and enabling 3D printer owners -- including the FSF -- to help with production.
We have shared and will continue to share our expertise in these areas with others. I'm so proud of our staff and the free software community for pulling off such timely accomplishments, while still campaigning against [Digital Restrictions Management][9] and [software patents][10], enforcing the GNU General Public License to keep code free, and providing free software development infrastructure used by thousands worldwide.
We all appreciate you, because it's the support of individuals like you that has made this work so impactful. Can you take the next step by [joining as an associate member][11]? You can start for as little as $10 per month ($5 for students), or $120 per year. Your vote of confidence will help us achieve our [summer goal][12] of 200 new members. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy [all the member benefits][13], which include merchandise discounts, a bootable membership card, and use of the videoconferencing server. [11]: https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1 [12]: https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1 [13]: https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits
The dire need for free software awareness due to the pandemic-driven increase in reliance on technology won't end when the novel coronavirus is finally under control. The momentum of this experience will drive more changes to social patterns and practices going forward. Our voice defending your freedom needs to be loud, to stop this software-driven train from going off the rails.
Thank you for standing with us, and for your own leadership in advocating for the necessity of free software at a time when the value of freedom is being questioned. Those of us who cherish freedom and understand how technology can take it away must stand up together for what's right. We know that putting free software into action works -- now we just need to do it on a much larger scale, and not stop until it is the standard everywhere.
Yours in freedom,
John Sullivan Executive Director
P.S. Please speak up for freedom by using the hashtag **\#UserFreedom** on your favorite microblogging service, and pledge your support for the free software movement today. See [fsf.org/share][14] for how to follow the FSF on various networks.
[14]: https://www.fsf.org/share
-- * Follow us on Mastodon at , GNU social at , Diaspora at , and on Twitter at . * Read about why we use Twitter, but only with caveats at . * Subscribe to our RSS feeds at . * Join us as an associate member at . * Read our Privacy Policy at .
Sent from the Free Software Foundation,
51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1335 United States
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
Please consider adding info@fsf.org to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box!
Dear Ruben Safir,
href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1">src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2020/spring/1-world.png" alt="Let's fight for a world with software freedom" style="width: 260px;">
I hope this mail finds you and your family well during these difficult times. Normally, I spend a lot of time on the road, getting to hear firsthand how people in the free software community are doing, and learning about their lives, challenges, and ideas. I have been missing that! I think everyone has faced some adversity, but not all equally. I can only hope your burden has not been too heavy.
It has, however, been remarkable to see examples of how people have stepped up to help each other and their communities. If you are in a position to help others, please consider free software in your giving plans. It is incredibly important during this time.
The nonprofit sector in our home state is reporting $8.6 billion in losses so far. Fortunately, your support and the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) responsible, top-rated financial management have enabled us to weather the storm. But we can't just tread water right now. We need to expand all areas of our work -- advocacy, legal, and technical -- to show that software can be used to make us safer, and to keep us connected, without sacrificing our freedoms. With your support, we've already demonstrated what free software in action can do:
We showed the world how to quickly turn an in-person gathering -- like LibrePlanet, a conference with over thirty talks -- into a fully online event using only free software, all the way down through the boot firmware on the streaming servers.
We launched a videoconferencing service for FSF associate members at jitsi.member.fsf.org, powered by free software from the JavaScript to the metal (which we own ourselves), backed by the FSF's commitment to your privacy. It's been described by members as "a fantastic service," "reliable," and "high quality."
We worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor and FSF board member Gerald Sussman to prove that top-notch classes for over twenty students can be taught remotely without Zoom, using BigBlueButton.
The community around our Hackers and Hospitals project built a list of 85 freely licensed designs for protective equipment and other pandemic supplies, inspiring and enabling 3D printer owners -- including the FSF -- to help with production.
We have shared and will continue to share our expertise in these areas with others. I'm so proud of our staff and the free software community for pulling off such timely accomplishments, while still campaigning against Digital Restrictions Management and software patents, enforcing the GNU General Public License to keep code free, and providing free software development infrastructure used by thousands worldwide.
We all appreciate you, because it's the support of individuals like you that has made this work so impactful. Can you take the next step by joining as an associate member? You can start for as little as $10 per month ($5 for students), or $120 per year. Your vote of confidence will help us achieve our summer goal of 200 new members. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy all the member benefits, which include merchandise discounts, a bootable membership card, and use of the videoconferencing server.
The dire need for free software awareness due to the pandemic-driven increase in reliance on technology won't end when the novel coronavirus is finally under control. The momentum of this experience will drive more changes to social patterns and practices going forward. Our voice defending your freedom needs to be loud, to stop this software-driven train from going off the rails.
Thank you for standing with us, and for your own leadership in advocating for the necessity of free software at a time when the value of freedom is being questioned. Those of us who cherish freedom and understand how technology can take it away must stand up together for what's right. We know that putting free software into action works -- now we just need to do it on a much larger scale, and not stop until it is the standard everywhere.
Yours in freedom,
John Sullivan
Executive Director
P.S. Please speak up for freedom by using the hashtag #UserFreedom on your favorite microblogging service, and pledge your support for the free software movement today. See fsf.org/share for how to follow the FSF on various networks.
*Please consider adding to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box!*
Dear Ruben Safir,
I hope this mail finds you and your family well during these difficult times. Normally, I spend a lot of time on the road, getting to hear firsthand how people in the free software community are doing, and learning about their lives, challenges, and ideas. I have been missing that! I think everyone has faced some adversity, but not all equally. I can only hope your burden has not been too heavy.
It has, however, been remarkable to see examples of how people have stepped up to help each other and their communities. **If you are in a position to help others, please consider free software in your giving plans.** It is incredibly important during this time.
The nonprofit sector in our home state is reporting $8.6 billion in losses so far. Fortunately, your support and the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) [responsible, top-rated financial management][1] have enabled us to weather the storm. But we can't just tread water right now. We need to expand all areas of our work -- advocacy, legal, and technical -- to show that software can be used to make us safer, and to keep us connected, *without* sacrificing our freedoms. With your support, we've already demonstrated what free software in action can do:
* We [showed the world][2] how to quickly turn an in-person gathering -- like [LibrePlanet][3], a conference with over thirty talks -- into a fully online event [using only free software][4], all the way down through the boot firmware on the streaming servers.
* We [launched a videoconferencing service][5] for FSF associate members at [jitsi.member.fsf.org][6], powered by free software from the JavaScript to the metal (which we own ourselves), backed by the FSF's commitment to your privacy. It's been described by members as "a fantastic service," "reliable," and "high quality."
* We worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor and FSF board member Gerald Sussman to prove that [top-notch classes][7] for over twenty students can be taught remotely without Zoom, using BigBlueButton.
* The community around our [Hackers and Hospitals][8] project built a list of 85 freely licensed designs for protective equipment and other pandemic supplies, inspiring and enabling 3D printer owners -- including the FSF -- to help with production.
We have shared and will continue to share our expertise in these areas with others. I'm so proud of our staff and the free software community for pulling off such timely accomplishments, while still campaigning against [Digital Restrictions Management][9] and [software patents][10], enforcing the GNU General Public License to keep code free, and providing free software development infrastructure used by thousands worldwide.
We all appreciate you, because it's the support of individuals like you that has made this work so impactful. Can you take the next step by [joining as an associate member][11]? You can start for as little as $10 per month ($5 for students), or $120 per year. Your vote of confidence will help us achieve our [summer goal][12] of 200 new members. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy [all the member benefits][13], which include merchandise discounts, a bootable membership card, and use of the videoconferencing server. [11]: https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1 [12]: https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1 [13]: https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits
The dire need for free software awareness due to the pandemic-driven increase in reliance on technology won't end when the novel coronavirus is finally under control. The momentum of this experience will drive more changes to social patterns and practices going forward. Our voice defending your freedom needs to be loud, to stop this software-driven train from going off the rails.
Thank you for standing with us, and for your own leadership in advocating for the necessity of free software at a time when the value of freedom is being questioned. Those of us who cherish freedom and understand how technology can take it away must stand up together for what's right. We know that putting free software into action works -- now we just need to do it on a much larger scale, and not stop until it is the standard everywhere.
Yours in freedom,
John Sullivan Executive Director
P.S. Please speak up for freedom by using the hashtag **\#UserFreedom** on your favorite microblogging service, and pledge your support for the free software movement today. See [fsf.org/share][14] for how to follow the FSF on various networks.
[14]: https://www.fsf.org/share
-- * Follow us on Mastodon at , GNU social at , Diaspora at , and on Twitter at . * Read about why we use Twitter, but only with caveats at . * Subscribe to our RSS feeds at . * Join us as an associate member at . * Read our Privacy Policy at .
Sent from the Free Software Foundation,
51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1335 United States
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
Please consider adding info@fsf.org to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box!
Dear Ruben Safir,
href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frspring2020&pk_source=email1">src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2020/spring/1-world.png" alt="Let's fight for a world with software freedom" style="width: 260px;">
I hope this mail finds you and your family well during these difficult times. Normally, I spend a lot of time on the road, getting to hear firsthand how people in the free software community are doing, and learning about their lives, challenges, and ideas. I have been missing that! I think everyone has faced some adversity, but not all equally. I can only hope your burden has not been too heavy.
It has, however, been remarkable to see examples of how people have stepped up to help each other and their communities. If you are in a position to help others, please consider free software in your giving plans. It is incredibly important during this time.
The nonprofit sector in our home state is reporting $8.6 billion in losses so far. Fortunately, your support and the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) responsible, top-rated financial management have enabled us to weather the storm. But we can't just tread water right now. We need to expand all areas of our work -- advocacy, legal, and technical -- to show that software can be used to make us safer, and to keep us connected, without sacrificing our freedoms. With your support, we've already demonstrated what free software in action can do:
We showed the world how to quickly turn an in-person gathering -- like LibrePlanet, a conference with over thirty talks -- into a fully online event using only free software, all the way down through the boot firmware on the streaming servers.
We launched a videoconferencing service for FSF associate members at jitsi.member.fsf.org, powered by free software from the JavaScript to the metal (which we own ourselves), backed by the FSF's commitment to your privacy. It's been described by members as "a fantastic service," "reliable," and "high quality."
We worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor and FSF board member Gerald Sussman to prove that top-notch classes for over twenty students can be taught remotely without Zoom, using BigBlueButton.
The community around our Hackers and Hospitals project built a list of 85 freely licensed designs for protective equipment and other pandemic supplies, inspiring and enabling 3D printer owners -- including the FSF -- to help with production.
We have shared and will continue to share our expertise in these areas with others. I'm so proud of our staff and the free software community for pulling off such timely accomplishments, while still campaigning against Digital Restrictions Management and software patents, enforcing the GNU General Public License to keep code free, and providing free software development infrastructure used by thousands worldwide.
We all appreciate you, because it's the support of individuals like you that has made this work so impactful. Can you take the next step by joining as an associate member? You can start for as little as $10 per month ($5 for students), or $120 per year. Your vote of confidence will help us achieve our summer goal of 200 new members. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy all the member benefits, which include merchandise discounts, a bootable membership card, and use of the videoconferencing server.
The dire need for free software awareness due to the pandemic-driven increase in reliance on technology won't end when the novel coronavirus is finally under control. The momentum of this experience will drive more changes to social patterns and practices going forward. Our voice defending your freedom needs to be loud, to stop this software-driven train from going off the rails.
Thank you for standing with us, and for your own leadership in advocating for the necessity of free software at a time when the value of freedom is being questioned. Those of us who cherish freedom and understand how technology can take it away must stand up together for what's right. We know that putting free software into action works -- now we just need to do it on a much larger scale, and not stop until it is the standard everywhere.
Yours in freedom,
John Sullivan
Executive Director
P.S. Please speak up for freedom by using the hashtag #UserFreedom on your favorite microblogging service, and pledge your support for the free software movement today. See fsf.org/share for how to follow the FSF on various networks.
