Hi Keith and List, Thanks very much for your eloquent contribution Keith. You have identified very well the tortuous journey we have all been travelling in trying to understand what OpenVPMS is all about. What you see on the web site and read on the list is created by vets and technicians not spin doctors and advertising executives so please forgive the oversight of not acknowledging supporters such as yourself who see our vision clearly without wishing to jump fully into the pond yet. There are others like you who have supported us financially for the very same reason and we are indebted to you all as we are the subscriber users and founding sponsors. Peter

On Tue, 12 May 2009 23:58:55 +1000, Keith McKellar Stewart

wrote:

> Peter > > Dear Sir > > OpenVPMS is a brilliant concept (and one which isn't without risks - as if

> I > need to tell you...), and one in concept I fully support. Many of us, who > have have been using various propietary veterinary software 'packages' for

> years, if not decades, realize *after being informed*, that OpenVPMS is a > radical new development and concept in the future of 'veterinary software'.

> If one were 'informed', then one would recognise that this is in fact not a

> new concept, but one which in other areas, has grown with and alongside of

> commercial software. Take for instance the growth of open source projects

> such as Mozilla (Firefox et al) and all the various linux operating system

> permutations. For many commerical software applications there are open > source and, if not free, yet affordable, alternatives for many of the > diverse ranges of applications (eg openoffice vs M$ office, or Paint/Gimp > vs > Photoshop and many many others). Many of these 'open source' projects > have > now become 'main stream'. But they have grown alongside of and benefited > from the giants such as microsoft and apple et al. This, I am sure will > happen with OpenVPMS. As commercial systems such as netvet, vetaid, > vetcare, > rxworks, vision, cornerstone etc have grown and matured, we, the end users

> have discovered ways, we never thought of, that these commercial 'packages'

> have benefitted our practices. Maybe some of the basic reasons that > OpenVPMS exists, is not to reinvent the wheel, but because of a number of > other factors - some of which maybe are principally financial, (Like > micro$oft, many of our veterinary software providers, exist, seemingly for

> unjust financial gain with inverse support to cost ratios). Another reason

> may be that vets, being independent types of people, like to customise, > their software for their own reasons, and don't want to fit a 'cookie > cutter' type of model. Others are pure computer geeks who love dabbling in

> software and design. Others are aware of, and are happy to use a > multitude > of councellor type concept, within a community of like minded people. > > Whoever you are in openvpms, for those pioneers before us, I thank you. > You > indeed have taken many risks, some of which I am personally not capable of

> taking - financial, time, energy, emotional etc. To show my support, this

> year I have contributed to openVPMS financially, as you have acknowledged,

> but not as a primary end user, as of this date, but as a supporter (if not

> potential user). For one reason or another many of us have 'stuck' with > the various propriety software systems available, (much to our chagrin). > That may not always be the case. And this needs to be recognised. > > On the OpenVPMS website the following is stated: > * > **"Who owns OpenVPMS?* > > *OpenVPMS is a not for profit organisation built around the development and

> supply of open source Veterinary Practice Management Systems.* > > *OpenVPMS is owned by its members. A committee populated by members, > manages > its operation.* > > *OpenVPMS is structured as a not-for-profit organisation whose members are

> comprised of:* > > 1. *Users of its products (eg. Veterinarians using the Open VPMS web > application to manage their practices). * > 2. *Developers utilising the open source code to create other products > or > add to the existing web application. * > 3. *Interested parties such as associated industry (e.g. Veterinary > pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, microchip registries and > wholesalers). * > 4. *OpenVPMS is run by a board of Directors that manage the business > from > day to day. The Directors are either involved in or have an interest in

> the > veterinary profession and contribute a mixture of vision, expertise, > funds > and industry knowledge to the overall goals of the organisation."* > > Nowhere is it stated as an acknowledgement, that those who contribute from

> the profession may not *yet *be users of OpenVPMS. That is a bit sad, as

> it excludes, such as myself, who believe in the concept, who support you in

> 'spirit', but as yet are not end users. Some may get a bit narky, at this

> point and say, "Well if you're not for us, you're against, us", not knowing

> the individual reasons why someone hasn't jumped on board the OPenVPMS > ship. So be it. Such is the nature of uptake of new technologies and > concepts. There will always be pioneers with the masses who follow. It's

> not helpful to start pointing fingers or lampooning people who may be > reticent to follow. > > The *small* number of vets who joined together in the recent Sydney > seminar, > surely have benefitted from the experience of seeing how far OpenVPMS has > developed. OpenVPMS has matured, but is yet a teenager, and needs to > develop > to full maturity. Some are happy to be engaged with a teenager, others > wish > to be married to someone a bit more maturite. (I digress). OPenVPMS has > 'dropped' into the veterinary scene. But this is only a drop in the ocean,

> or a pebble in a pond. The ripple that OpenVPMS has created needs to be > sustained and be added to. The Sydney seminar was a 'learning curve' for > me, a non-user, but was one in which spurred me on to envsion greater > things > for OpenVPMS. I wish all who sail on the good ship *Openvpms *well and may

> her passage through the straits of time and the icebergs of cynicism, and > distain be made easier by those who support her. > > OpenVPMS is a community, but in some ways a community with a number of > leaders and interested parties. One of these leaders is Tony de Kaiser, > who > also acts (with a number of hats) as an implimentor. I would like to make

> a suggestion that all interested 'implimentors' be given space on the > website to advertise their interest and services. Also it would be helpful

> to have a timeline sequence of how one moves from a commercial product to > openVPMS. eg: 1) do part of download, install yourself, and have an > implimentor come in at a particular stage, 2) employ services of commercial

> impliemtor from day one, 3) some sort of sequence and costs involved.... > are > there links to computer techs who are interested in this kind of work? > Some of these matters were raised in Sydney, but need greater exposition. > As a new community you need to realise not all understand the model, and > the > various options as to how to go about changing from their current software.

> > One of the above questions is asked on the website: > > *What about Support?* > > *As mentioned above OpenVPMS does not deliver direct support services to > end > users but will sponsor and contribute heavily to openvpms.org which > provides > online forums, knowledgebases and FAQ services.* > > *This source of information has grown quickly and become a centralised > source of knowledge to all users and developers. We also maintain and > foster > direct relationships with accredited business partners who can provide > specific services to you ranging from training, technical support, system > integration and development support. This network will grow quickly again > providing you with choice. Obviously these services will incur various > charges outside of your annual subscription fee. Again you will have a > choice on the partner you wish to deal with based on financial, > geographical > or other factors.* > My question is - who are these *accredited business partners? *(Sorry > Tony... I know you well....) Again where is a detailed description of what

> happens when one ventures into OVPMS from netvet or rxowrks or vetaid etc > etc?? Some illustrative examples of those who have done so would be > helpful. > > The night is late and so must retire.... good night.... > > > Cheers > > > > 2009/5/12 Peter gooey > >> Hi All, >> This is just a gentle reminder to any of you who are installing or have >> installed OpenVPMS in your clinic that you need to be a current >> subscriber >> to our organisation, this is an essential requirement of the license. I >> think there may be some confusion about how and to whom this is payable. >> Some people thought that they were paying their subscription as part of >> the >> overall cost of installation if they used an IT professional however this

>> is >> not the case. >> Remember that the OpenVPMS organisation's role is to provide the software

>> (or more specifically the Business Framework which is at the heart of >> what >> you are using) and the subscriptions are the only source of income we >> have >> to continue our work. You are free to engage whomever you wish to install

>> the software and help with training (most often those who demonstrate >> their >> commitment and expertise in these forums) but the fees you pay these >> professionals are strictly for their services only. >> We believe that within an ethical profession such as ours the >> subscription >> process should not have to be policed and we have set it up as an honour >> system. It is most important that if you are currently using OpenVPMS and

>> are not a subscriber you should take steps to remedy that situation as >> soon >> as possible. You can either contact me directly by email or go to the >> subscriptions page here: >> http://www.openvpms.org/subscription-form >> Of course you can also subscribe (as many have already done) just because

>> you believe in what we are doing and you want to see our project succeed.

>> Remember we are a not-for-profit organisation. If you would like to learn

>> more check out our "about" and FAQ page again: >> http://www.openvpms.org/about-openvpms >> Regards >> Peter >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OpenVPMS User Mailing List >> users@lists.openvpms.org >> To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: >> http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users >> Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the >> OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu >> > > > >

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