My tl;dr is that I like the idea and would like Fedora to participate in some regard if possible.

1. Do participants propose projects or do projects propose their own work? The page to submit a project was here, but I was confused since it seemed like it was targeted for program participants, not mentors / projects.
2. Are there pending Outreachy costs that are not yet on the budget website? We have a lot of budget left for this fiscal year, but I didn't see an Outreachy stipend there. Pinging @bex for that one.
   • If we have a lot left over, being a sponsoring organization seems like a good idea for effectively demonstrating Fedora's commitment to diversity and inclusion with the remainder of the diversity budget.
3. I reviewed the mentors guide, but it wasn't clear to me if a financial contribution is required to participate as a project. If we propose a project in Fedora, does it require a financial stipend from Fedora?

It's a tight turnaround, but I think it would be nice to see Fedora participate as a project.

I am game for us trying this, however, I think we need to clarify the question about where projects come from. I think it is unlikely we can get a project vetted with a good mentor by the end of this month, however we can put this on the calendar for next year.

I haven't received a bill for Outreachy. If we are funding one from this group, we should get a budget entry made. Can someone do that? I am happy to help.

My tl;dr is that I like the idea and would like Fedora to participate in some regard if possible.

Do participants propose projects or do projects propose their own work? The page to submit a project was here, but I was confused since it seemed like it was targeted for program participants, not mentors / projects.

Projects propose their own work and choose one mentor, mid of February is the time where students will choose which projects they want to get involved.

Are there pending Outreachy costs that are not yet on the budget website? We have a lot of budget left for this fiscal year, but I didn't see an Outreachy stipend there. Pinging @bex for that one.
If we have a lot left over, being a sponsoring organization seems like a good idea for effectively demonstrating Fedora's commitment to diversity and inclusion with the remainder of the diversity budget.

I reviewed the mentors guide, but it wasn't clear to me if a financial contribution is required to participate as a project. If we propose a project in Fedora, does it require a financial stipend from Fedora?

It is not required a financial contribution. Participating and contributing financially are two different things, we can do both or only one of them it's up to us.

I am game for us trying this, however, I think we need to clarify the question about where projects come from. I think it is unlikely we can get a project vetted with a good mentor by the end of this month, however we can put this on the calendar for next year.

Actually, I agree with you @bex, 16 days may not be enough for us to propose something but it's worthy to consider it for next year.

I haven't received a bill for Outreachy. If we are funding one from this group, we should get a budget entry made. Can someone do that? I am happy to help.

I'm willing to help, just let me know what do I need to do.

@jonatoni said…
Actually, I agree with you @bex, 16 days may not be enough for us to propose something but it's worthy to consider it for next year.

Perhaps we can mark this ticket as "blocked" until later this year, when it makes sense to revisit.

Perhaps we can mark this ticket as "blocked" until later this year, when it makes sense to revisit.

Maybe this year we can sponsor them.

Perhaps we can mark this ticket as "blocked" until later this year, when it makes sense to revisit.

Maybe this year we can sponsor them.

But I see that you and bex pointed we don't have much time left for this year, right?

Perhaps we can mark this ticket as "blocked" until later this year, when it makes sense to revisit.
Maybe this year we can sponsor them.

But I see that you and bex pointed we don't have much time left for this year, right?

We don't have time to participate, but participation and sponsoring the scholarship are two different things. This means: we can participate and not sponsor RGSoC, we will not participate but we can sponsor RGSoC, or we can participate and sponsor RGSoC.

Perhaps we can mark this ticket as "blocked" until later this year, when it makes sense to revisit.
Maybe this year we can sponsor them.

But I see that you and bex pointed we don't have much time left for this year, right?

The year ends on February 28 and begins again on March 1 for budget and January 31 for participation.

Once ticket #51 is closed, I think we can decide if this is something we want to pursue. If enough budget is remaining, I would like to consider a sponsorship tier.

This ticket is now unblocked. @bex updated the FY18 D&I budget from #51. Our budget is 85% spent, leaving $1,381.93 USD.

Bronze package

Reviewing the sponsorship packages, the lowest package is $1000 USD as a bronze sponsor. I'm open-minded to using a majority of our remaining funds for this FY as a sponsor, and this can test the waters for our participation as a project (open for teams to participate in) next year.

Reasons I see why this is a good idea:

• Not enough budget to reach deeper into an existing effort, like another Outreachy slot
• Limited time left to deadline before funds expire (final decision required by Jan. 31, if I read @bex right)
• Demonstrates Fedora's commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion efforts across the open source community (to me, putting our money where our mouth is)

Even though we aren't directly participating, I like the idea of using our remaining budget. I would like to emphasize the need for follow-up next year to become a participating organization that offers a project(s).

Follow-up required

If we pursue this, I think a post on the Fedora Magazine or Community Blog is required as part of our own outreach efforts to this cause. I don't mean to "trumpet" our support, but I think it's a nice update for the community to know we are doing this (to be open and transparent).

Needs discussion

Since our window to finalize this decision is Jan. 31, we need to come to a decision about this ASAP. Since some of us are traveling in the next week, we should try and vote in the ticket, and follow up with @bex about how to finalize this, if we agree.

What do you all think? Any comments or feedback? +1s/-1s?

Without knowing anything about it I'd say +1, I've never heard of Rails summer of code i'm afraid (until the email and ticket) - would be nice to hear an opinion from someone who actually knows of it from different sources.

Sorry to bring this up so late, but one concern I have with this particular event is that Fedora' story for Rails is not great. Fedora packaging and Ruby have never really gotten along, and packaging up Rails turned out to be a fiasco. Right now, our advice is to install Rails via gem, which is fine but not particularly Fedora. (See https://developer.fedoraproject.org/tech/languages/ruby/ror-installation.html)

Additionally (and not coincidentally), I don't think we have any actively-developed Rails apps in infrastructure, and I don't think we ant to add new ones without a plan for support beyond the fellowship program.

That said, asciibinder for the new docs site is in Ruby — if the project can be Ruby but not a Rails app after all, maybe there's something there?

Sorry to bring this up so late, but one concern I have with this particular event is that Fedora' story for Rails is not great. Fedora packaging and Ruby have never really gotten along, and packaging up Rails turned out to be a fiasco. Right now, our advice is to install Rails via gem, which is fine but not particularly Fedora. (See https://developer.fedoraproject.org/tech/languages/ruby/ror-installation.html)
Additionally (and not coincidentally), I don't think we have any actively-developed Rails apps in infrastructure, and I don't think we ant to add new ones without a plan for support beyond the fellowship program.
That said, asciibinder for the new docs site is in Ruby — if the project can be Ruby but not a Rails app after all, maybe there's something there?

Projects can be in any language - Rails in the name is a legacy issue.

I believe the proposal here is to just sponsor this year and not do a project. I don't think we have enough mentoring resources to cover GSoC, Outreachy and RGSoC. I want to queue up some conversations this Summer around finding more mentors for these programs, pending the continuing interest in them.

My concern here is we were supposed to order new batch of Fedora Women stickers. Are we canceling/postponing that and proposing sponsoring RSoC instead?

Projects can be in any language - Rails in the name is a legacy issue.

Yes, exactly. For example last year I worked on Nextcloud, we used JavaScript, Angular JS (framework). If we will apply next year we can try something with Python or another language.

I believe the proposal here is to just sponsor this year and not do a project. I don't think we have enough mentoring resources to cover GSoC, Outreachy and RGSoC. I want to queue up some conversations this Summer around finding more mentors for these programs, pending the continuing interest in them.

Yes, this year we are too late to participate but we can sponsor them. I'm +1 to sponsor RGSoC because as Justin mentioned we will support diversity and inclusion efforts across the open source community.

@bee2502 said…
My concern here is we were supposed to order new batch of Fedora Women stickers. Are we canceling/postponing that and proposing sponsoring RSoC instead?

I thought we did order them earlier and had some leftovers from FWDs. I didn't remember discussing more stickers before this FY ended, but there will be a small amount left, enough to order more stickers if we need more.

Okay, I withdraw the concern. :)

FY deadline

Note @bex's email on the upcoming deadline for expenses in this fiscal year. In our next meeting, we should make a final discussion and vote for this ticket.

My vote

+1 to $1000 USD Bronze sponsorship package

I may not be able to make the meeting this Friday, so I'm voting in advance. Knowing that we have a particular amount of budget left that isn't enough to fund other programs (like Outreachy), but it is still a significant amount, I'd like to see us contribute as a sponsor of this effort. I think we should file a new ticket (to follow up at the end of 2018) to evaluate opportunities to participate with Fedora projects.

+1 to $1000 USD Bronze sponsorship package from me as well.

+1 to the Bronze package

This is approved and Amita to open a ticket with council.

Why is this going to the council? My understanding was that Diversity was going to spend it's own budget on this.

If this is the case, it only needs to be coordinated with me for payment (if that is even still possible at this point).

Without regard to whether the council would support this ticket or not, I would be required to inform the council there is not additional money to allocate to this ticket as the council funds are fully committed. This money needs to come from Diversity this FY or this needs to be delayed until the next FY.

As a clarification. Council approval for spending is only needed when Diversity is either out of funds or wishes to do something that could be seen as questionable or risky. Money was allocated to Diversity for their activities.

Why is this going to the council? My understanding was that Diversity was going to spend it's own budget on this.

Yes, but we thought that we needed to open a council ticket to have council approval. Now we know that this is not necessary.

If this is the case, it only needs to be coordinated with me for payment (if that is even still possible at this point).

We have approved this ticket during our meeting that we had yesterday, we agreed to sponsor RGSoC 1000 USD (bronze sponsors). How can we help you with the payment?

Without regard to whether the council would support this ticket or not, I would be required to inform the council there is not additional money to allocate to this ticket as the council funds are fully committed. This money needs to come from Diversity this FY or this needs to be delayed until the next FY.

This money can come from this FY because we still have some money left.

I am going to push this sponsorship through. We can send stickers to be sent to participants. Do we want to send Fedora Hex stickers? Fedora Women stickers? We probably do not have time to get a custom sticker made.

Do we want to send Fedora Hex stickers? Fedora Women stickers?

Both of these?

I don't believe we are allowed two stickers

I am going to push this sponsorship through. We can send stickers to be sent to participants. Do we want to send Fedora Hex stickers? Fedora Women stickers? We probably do not have time to get a custom sticker made.

Since we don't have time for the custom stickers than I'm +1 to the Fedora Women stickers.

I'm not sure if FW stickers are the right choice since this is not women specific thing.

Rails Girls Summer of Code -> Fedora Women stickers +1 from me as well

We can send stickers to be sent to participants. Do we want to send Fedora Hex stickers? Fedora Women stickers?

+1, Fedora Women stickers for Rails Girls Summer of Code

+1 Fedora Women stickers

The bronze sponsorship has been paid.

Let me know when decisions about stickers are made so I can get them printed from the remaining budget this year.

Also, given that the program is not wholly women, I am starting to think that we should only send a Fedora Hex (or if we are going to be forced to buy this in next year) a new non-gendered diversity sticker. But I would prefer to pay for this in this year, if possible.

I am +1 to Fedora Hex Sticker for this year. How soon do we need a new (or preferably modified) sticker design if we want to use the funds from this year?

I am +1 to Fedora Hex Sticker for this year. How soon do we need a new (or preferably modified) sticker design if we want to use the funds from this year?

Fully approved and designed by next Thursday, realistically. It might be able to slip from that, but that is doubtful.

I need to order the stickers ASAP. What is the final decision about what will be sent?

We have votes ->
FWomen - Jona, Amita, Justin, nb - 4
FHex - Rhea, Bex, Bee - 3

But I read Bex's comment and it makes sense that the program is not wholly women, so I change my vote to Fedora Hex, so
FWomen Stickers - Jona, Justin, nb - 3
FHex Stickers - Rhea, Bex, Bee, Amita - 4

Let's go ahead with Fedora Hex stickers as Final decision based on current votes. Thanks.

@bex I hope this is sorted so I am going to close the ticket now. You can reopen it if there is anything to add.

Should Fedora be on this list of sponsors?

@jflory7 https://github.com/rails-girls-summer-of-code/summer-of-code/issues/481

Fedora is on sponsors page now! https://railsgirlssummerofcode.org/sponsors/