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How communities are helping

Who were helping me?
Open source software communities, I found are really open. Several open source communities helped me a lot. A lot of people I am very much thankful.

In 2006, after more than 20 years of involvement in many implementations of financial and logistic systems, I don't feel comfortable with software of most market leaders. I am interested in parties who are working on fundamental better software.

In july 2006 I googled 'project management' and 'iCal'. As I liked to improve my own organisation. I visited www.hansdekker.com. A site which more focusses on content than on technique. Plus good insights in project management. I was curious what software enabled Hans to built this site.

In august 2006 Hans Dekker answered me via e-mail: 'I use Drupal'

Surfing the internet made me write an e-mail to a certain 'Dries' I found on an participation list from a Drupal conference. As this was closed for signing up, I tried to get more information via a single e-mail. Dries answered me that there was a barcamp after the conference on sunday 23 september 2006.
I joined this come together. Where I was struck by the positive fanatic behaviour of participants. And their open-minds towards improving information systems.

Very soon I entered the some Drupal fora.
I got help from all over the world:

  • Durval Tabach arquiteto from Brasil, gave me confidence that I could get a Drupal-installation working on our Apple Macintosh.
  • Peter Wolanin, confinced me that it was good to use the fora, instead of e-mailing.
  • Bert Boerland answered me with great detail.
  • Ber Kessels was receiving me over a dinner and has been helpfull in many occasions.
  • Roel de Meester and Dries Buytaert trained my son Stan and me.
  • Rene de Boer helped me to convince me a Linux installation was to be reached for me.

This was till spring 2007. After Froscon, August at Sankt Augustin/Bonn and Drupalcon in september at Barcelona the amount of people helping me is getting so much that for sure I forget people who helped me in many ways: Joe Golden, Joeri Poesen, Eric Stielstra, Gaele Strootman, Jo Wouters, ....
To all mentioned above: thank you!
In summer 2007 I decided to try to get more new people interested in open source software. As stated in the mission this 'Learn Open Source' training/meeting. Since I am being helped a lot by these communities.

And last community to mention. And for sure not the least: Gera, Ruud, Geertje en Stan. I love you for all accompaning support, and for sure the patience you are giving me all the time I am living my dreams.