flickr: Beach650Most days, we're hiding from the rain in our Portland, OR office. But this fall, NTEN staff is traveling all over the country to various NPTech events. Here's a list of where we'll be and where we want to be. Are you going?

Holly Ross, NTEN

That's right, I said it.

What I really mean is that open source, as we knew it, is dead. Over the last decade, what we've been talking about when we say "open source" is "open code" -- a set of zeroes and ones that we can configure to our heart's desire.

But, have you ever implemented an open source solution? We have here at NTEN. We use all kinds of open source tools, including our content management system, Drupal. Sure, it's highly customizable -- by a highly trained staffer, or a highly paid consultant. The code was free, but we paid consultants tens of thousands of dollars to get our implementation up and running.

To me, open source code isn't necessarily any better than proprietary code. The costs, in time and money, are just placed elsewhere. The old arguments for open source software adoption are dead to me.

But please: promise to read the rest of this before you start sending me hate mail.

Well, she did it. Holly's remake of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" video played on two 30 foot screens in front of a packed house at the opening plenary of the 2009 NTC. At the end of it, she received a standing ovation.

Now it's time for you to do your part: we expect you to make this video so popular, Holly actually gets the chance to meet Beyonce. Get to it, kids! (And thanks again for your support of our scholarship campaign.)

We sent today a letter to our members announcing some changes here at NTEN.

After a very wonderful time at the helm, I have decided to step down as Executive Director, effective November 1, 2007. The board has appointed Holly Ross, NTEN's Program Director, to become the next ED. You probably know Holly well already. For many years, she has been the soul and spirit of NTEN. I am thrilled she has agreed to take NTEN to the next level; you are in great hands with her.

The NTEN Board has invited me to join in November as a Board Member. I am excited and grateful to continue to be part of the field and involved in NTEN's health and well-being in that capacity.

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