Wikipedia talk:Meetup/Evansville/Wiknic/2012

Discussion

I think Josh's library idea sounds like an excellent one. Having it on a library lawn would attract non-Wikipedians who might be interested in finding out what we're up to, and we can promote Wikipedia then (are there wireless hotspots, too, where we can show newcomers how to edit?). One concern I would have there is what to do about the meal-- I'm assuming hot dog grilling is frowned upon on library property; perhaps one of us could make a quick run to McDonald's though, and order 69-cent burgers for everyone-- I'd be cool with being the one who does that. It's looking like the best dates for this will be 16 Jun or 30 Jun; please specify what time you like if you haven't already. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 21:11, 12 May 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for all the input on the date; we'll meet on Saturday, June 30th. Time to decide what time and where. People from Indy, which meal would be easier for you to make it to? Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 22:25, 17 May 2012 (UTC)

I'm not Indianapolis, but either time works for me. I'm looking to get some photos southwest of Evansville (for example, one of my Hovey Lake area photos at National Register of Historic Places listings in Posey County, Indiana is about a mile away from the site that is supposed to be pictured), but I can easily get those beforehand or afterward. Nyttend (talk) 21:06, 21 May 2012 (UTC)

In that case, I nominate West Branch library as our meetup place-- it's on Franklin St., right at the heart of what was once the town of Lamasco. There are lots of historic sites nearby, and a hike around town to try and find them could be fun to do as a group; sort of like a scavenger hunt. And let's keep Mt. Vernon in mind for next year's meetup-- I like that idea, too! Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 15:26, 7 June 2012 (UTC)

Invitations

http://www.facebook.com/events/305646582851018/ Invite your friends! Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 15:57, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Future Wikimedians Active in Local Regions of the United States (WALRUS) activities!

We'd like to invite further local participation in the Wikimedians Active in Local Regions of the United States (WALRUS) committee, our monthly IRC meetings, and the associated wikimediaus-l mailing list, to help advance real-life Wikimedian activities in the US, including Wiki Loves Monuments photography in September and Wikipedia Loves Libraries meetups in October/November.--Pharos (talk) 17:10, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

All, don't forget to subscribe to this list-- and let's share any photos you think are relevant. I was having too much fun to take pictures! The next southern Indiana meetup will be in Bloomington...possibly as early as this fall, or as late as next summer. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 23:40, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Event planning - things needing attention yet

This is awesome, guys! Thanks for helping make this possible!

Here's a list of things we need to figure out-- please chip in where you can:

• Carpooling:

  We have folks coming in from out of town:

  • Indy: Lori, Brenda
  • Bloomington: Nyttend, Anand, Ben
  • Australia Huntingburg: Sarah
  • Fort Branch: tlws

  Please make arrangements to carpool if you can; I know there's been a request for a Bloomington carpool.

Proposing this schedule:

• noon to 1: lunch, meet each other, show anyone we run into how to edit Wikipedia
• 2-4: photo scavenging around historic Evansville for anyone interested (if it's sunny), or hang out in library basement or outdoors; I can bring Balderdash, Taboo, etc.

Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 21:33, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. What places would you suggest for photographs? I've photographed every site at National Register of Historic Places listings in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, but I'd be open to other historic sites. Nyttend (talk) 00:38, 27 June 2012 (UTC)

Good question-- I've posted topics at the Indiana and Indiana history WikiProjects to see if anyone has suggestions. I do know for a fact that the Evansville city flag on the Evansville, Indiana article is inaccurate, but the only genuine version I know is in Mayor Weinzapfel's office, and I doubt he'd have an audience there with a bunch of strangers on a Saturday simply for them to take a photo of a flag. ;) Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 04:44, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

Just got an idea — we could try to photograph some sites that appear in the Vanderburgh County Interim Report, the local edition of the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. It's 18 years old, so some places will have been demolished, but there likely are a bunch of decent photo spots if we feel like it; if we're going for historic spots, it says in the intro that there are 253 "Outstanding" sites, so that means over 150 different places that don't appear on the NRHP list. We might be able to obtain a copy at the West Branch Library, aside from the online copy. If you can't get to the online copy (it seems to have a dynamic URL), go to this page, navigate to page 3, and click on the image of the cover for the Vanderburgh County report. Of course, given the predictions of 106°, we may not feel like going outside too much...Nyttend (talk) 22:21, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

Excellent idea! And excellent point-- I'll be sure to bring Balderdash and Taboo in the event of severe heat. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 22:38, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

Don't worry about Taboo; I've already packed it. Nyttend (talk) 23:57, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

I heard it's going to be 100 plus again. A cool place indoors somewhere sure sounds great! Crtew (talk) 23:52, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

If anyone's up for a trek down Franklin Street, this is the path we'll take. If not, I'm game for games. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 14:45, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Food

This event can't happen without your support. Please sign up to bring something!

• Meeting space - YHoshua
• Chili and bowls/cups/etc - Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)}
• Two bags of cheddar cheese - Nyttend (talk)
• Two to three medium bags of Fritos - not claimed

*Cookies - tlws Can bring chocolate chip. ;) How many?

• Sounds like we've got twelve people signed up; give or take a few. Two or three dozen should cover us. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 23:15, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

• Turkish Berek (It's a vegetarian pastry with cheese.) Crtew (talk) 23:50, 29 June 2012 (UTC)
• Ice + drinks- not claimed
• Games - Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} and Nyttend
• Strawberries -- Vmenkov (talk) 04:32, 29 June 2012 (UTC)
• Sandwich materials: bread, salami, lettuce, tomato, lime pickle. —Ben Kovitz (talk) 07:00, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Thanks! Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 22:43, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Regrets

I've been holding out hope that my family could pull together on this one, but it looks like us Indy suburbanites won't be able to make it, I'm extremely sad to say. We've had a scheduling conflict that makes it nearly impossible to make the three hour drive down. I wish very much that I could be there & know that I'll be there in spirit! Will there be updates on the US Midwest mailing list? : ) Best wishes for a great event! HstryQT (talk) 01:46, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Sure, I'll make sure something comes across afterward! Maybe some photos or something. Speaking of which...I need to buy some new rechargeables... Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 02:45, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

As much as I hate doing this, I can't possibly get out in this heat tomorrow. We were planning on getting the AC fixed in the van today so it would be possible, but there is a piece missing and it can't be fixed until next week. I almost had a heat stroke just driving to the store a few miles down the road, let alone driving all the way to Evansville. Heat waves like this are seriously killer! I hope that everyone has a great time and be super careful in this heat!
Much love, tlws —Preceding undated comment added 04:21, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Well that isn't cool at all, literally! Very sorry to hear about your A/C disaster! It is rather hot out; I got out today and had to roll up the windows with the A/C on full blast-- so I don't blame you in the least. Hopefully next year it won't be quite so hot when we do this again. Thanks for the note, though! We'll miss your cookies, but at least it's for the better! Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 06:20, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Drinks

Can anyone be responsible for bringing drinks tomorrow? Thanks! Also, if you get lost or have questions, feel free to dial call me at this number. We will serve lunch just after noon and probably spend most of the day indoors due to the ozone alert, heat warning, fire weather advisory, burn ban, and triple-digit temperature. Yay, Evansville, for having super-hot summers, right? There are no computers in the room we'll be in, so bring a laptop with if you can. I can't make any guarantees of whether you will be able to connect flawlessly, but the computers in the library can be used if you have an EVPL library card. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 04:10, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Also, a reminder that we are on Evansville time-- Central Daylight. That's one hour slower than most of Indiana, so please make a note of that if traveling from Bloomington or somewhere else outside the vicinity. Bob the WikipediaN ^{(talk • contribs)} 04:13, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Let me check with my carload (BenKovitz and Vmenkov) and see what we can do. Remembered the time zone issue; thanks for the reminder. Nyttend (talk) 11:28, 30 June 2012 (UTC)