Steven Brown
Sun, 12/23/2007 - 20:26 — stevebrown
What is your motivation for being a member of the Drupal Association?:
I started in telecommunications around 1983, running a BBS from my house. First at 300 baud, then 1200 ... then my first Internet access in 1986.
My initial interest running a BBS, and later interest and work with the ISP's of the early 90's in the US, was the way this new medium could be used to break down barriers between people. Different countries, ideologies, languages. Secondly, as a way for people with similar interests from all over the world to be able to communicate.
I know this sounds mundane now after 10+ years of ubiquitous Internet access - but in the mid-80's, this was WOW.
I see one aspect of Drupal as a way top open up venues of communication to a wider audience. To me, this is once again, a big wow. If this can be promoted, it is something that I feel is a Good Thing.
What are the primary goals you would like to work on?:
After much thought, I am modifying my primary goals. While I still feel that promoting methods for non-profits to use Drupal is worthy, I feel my time might be better spent utilizing my core skills - that of UNIX and network administration. I would like to work on the Infrastructure side of Drupal. Goals would be - Maintaining systems, documenting them, growing, long term planning, budgeting, and increasing stability.
This seems to fit the role of Server Infrastructure Coordinator from the chart posted by Dries.
What strategy will you employ in order to accomplish said goals?:
I would use my 15 some odd years of UNIX and network systems admin work and my management and business experience to help develop a list of short and long term goals. I would evaluate and assess the capabilities of others in the group, and work on how these goals could be accomplished with the resources we have. Communication is important. Involvement of others is important.
What yearly budget would you need in order to accomplish said goals?:
None that I can think of right now. If I get really involved some sort of travel budget could be useful as it may be worthwhile to fly out to Oregon to look over the existing infrastructure, meet face to face with people at the OSL.
What strengths/experience you have to help you accomplish the goals?:
Degree in Computer Science. Internet user since 1986. Computer user since 1982. Being involved mostly with small-medium businesses, I also have a good grasp on what it means to make every penny count -- being frugal, without being chintzy. I've never worked in a "whatever it takes, here's a pile of cash" business. So, I'm pretty good with thinking about what to do with the budget I have. Started using Sun equipment in 1986. Background in systems administration with mixture of experience in many OS variants - SunOS, Solaris, BSD, SGI IRIX, Linux, FreeBSD, Digital UNIX, AT&T Sys V, etc. Board member and VP of Engineering of medium sized ISP (2-3 million gross revenue a year, 10k+ users) responsible for 24x7 uptime that actually involved keeping *paying* customers happy. Controlled budget, set long and short term goals for updates and replacement of hardware. Run own business. Incorporated, board of directors, do all finances, book keeping, taxes, filing of IRS/state tax forms. Lead Engineer and manager for groups ranging in size from 5-15 people. Past responsibility for diverse networks of servers, access servers, routers, firewalls. Past responsibility for wide area networks consisting of mixtures of DS-3, DS-1, ISDN, and DSL. Experience with Cisco equipment, and mixed routing environments (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP all existing together)
How long have you been using Drupal, and how'd you get your start?:
Just about a year. I got started looking at CMS systems, and how it could be used to setup a site for a non-profit so members could easily update and post new information.
Have you made existing community contributions, and if so, what?:
Still a little new, honestly. Trying to help people in the forums lately with basic newbie install questions.
How much time can you invest in your Drupal Association work?:
16-20 hours/month
Apply for Board of Directors membership:
Apply for Board of Directors membership
Statutes:
I have read and understood the Statutes of the Drupal Association. I am prepared to participate by following those statutes.
Comments
Clarification...
$12k-$18k per year... is that implied that the Drupal Association would need to pay you this in salary? The Drupal Association is all volunteer-run, so a salary won't be in the mix, I'm afraid...
Your server background looks quite impressive. However, you'd be running against an incumbent for the Infrastructure Manager position. Dries has a couple of other infrastructure-related positions at http://buytaert.net/drupal-association-organization-chart-2008-wishlist. Have you considered something like a Server infrastructure coordinator to work with OSL?
Modification
Well, I think coordinator might be a better start.
Somehow I was under the impression Infrastructure Manager was filled for 2007, but open for 2008.
I dropped the budget. Then again, I also dropped the time I can spend working on this. Honestly I can probably spend more time than that, but if I find myself in a position where I need to get a job then my time becomes more limited. Amazing how that works, eh? I didn't realize every position is volunteer. I don't know how people can spends large amounts of time unless their company/employer is backing them or they just don't need money.
Somehow I imagined Infra-Manager would be something that takes a couple days a week of time. Maybe it's less intensive than I think. I was just concerned about committing to something that is very time intensive, and then in three months going "oh, I got a job and now I don't have any time"
Somehow I was under the
Somehow I was under the impression Infrastructure Manager was filled for 2007, but open for 2008.
That is correct. The infrastructure manager position is open for 2008.
infrastructure team
Hi Steve,
I don't recognize your name and a few searches through Drupal.org didn't give me any useful results to get to know your involvement better so I'm hoping you can ammend your application to link out to your Drupal.org profile. I also hope you'll excuse these questions if I'm forgetting your contributions. Have you joined the infrastructure mailing list and read much of the archives from them? It sounds like your experience would be really valuable there. There are also a bunch of issues in the infrastructure queue that could use your help. I think it would be really valuable to have you clarify your involvement with those two areas and, if you haven't already, subscribe to the maililng list and help out there.
Thanks,
Greg
Infrastructure
I actually joined the infrastructure list about a week ago. I've been reading the messages, but that's about it. I have looked over the mailing list archive, and the development list archives. Like I said in the app, I'm pretty new to Drupal. I think this would be a drawback as far as going for board level IM, I really should get a little more involved and pick up on how things work here.
Then again, maybe from that position I could just sit back and learn and worry about higher level stuff - documentation, server design and implementation, and catch on to the day to day as time goes on. Sure, I could throw in a check mark unofficially on the board-member Infrastructure Manager position. I do think there would be a person running for that seat with more Drupal background than me though.
I'm looking over that queue now, and all I have to say is wow. Can that be right ... issues from 30-40 weeks back with no comments or updates. I could easily see someone spending a lot of time on this stuff.
http://drupal.org/user/161788
I also had my company sign up a couple weeks ago or so for a Drupal Association Organization Level membership.