Wikipedia:Meetup/NYC/May 2009

The 13th New York City Meetup event was held on Sunday May 17, 2009 in the Columbia University area. This was the eighth of the meetups with a session dedicated to discussing Wikimedia New York City issues.

What, Where, When, and How?
There was one public meeting in the afternoon at Columbia University, where we took further steps to organize the Wikimedia New York City local chapter, and provided a salon-style forum for discussion of Wikipedia and Wikimedia issues.

Additionally, there was an optional post-meeting dinner at the Symposium restaurant.

Main public meeting (to discuss Wikipedia issues and Wikimedia NYC chapter issues):
 * 1402 Pupin Hall, Columbia University. Enter the Columbia campus at 116th Street and Broadway.  Pupin Hall is located in the Northwest corner of the campus, next to the large building under construction.  Take the elevator to the 13th floor and then walk up one flight of stairs. Meeting to be held in the library at the east end of the hall. 2:30 PM - 5:00PM

Optional post-meeting meetup

 * Meetup at Columbia, and then walk together to The Symposium, a Greek restaurant. After dinner, we can return to Pupin Hall for an observing session with the telescopes on the roof, weather permitting. 5:00 PM onwards.

Late arrival info and Transportation
If you plan on arriving late, and are concerned about not finding your way to the group, you can drop your mobile phone number ahead of time at Special:Emailuser/Pharos (e-mail will not be able to be checked during the actual meetup time; leave requests ahead of time).

Nearby subway stations:
 * 116th Street–Columbia University (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) (That's the number 1 train)

Agenda
Bring your own ideas!
 * Follow-up on ideas raised in the March meeting.
 * How the WMF Chapters meeting in Berlin went
 * How Open Everything NYC went


 * Chapter business
 * Membership process for Wikimedia NYC (we're currently sending in the first of our incorporation filings)
 * Planning for the "Wiki-Conference New York" large-scale regional meetup for ~100 people at NYU this summer (in association with our 3rd annual WikNYC Picnic)
 * Grants! What we've applied for from the Wikimedia Foundation
 * Mechanics of regional cooperation inside the chapter area (Hartford and Philadelphia) as well as possible expansion (DC and Boston)
 * Setting a summer date for Wikipedia Takes the Subway 2
 * Setting up more of Wikis Take Manhattan 3, as well as events planned in Philadelphia and Hartford
 * Nascent "Open Education League" of New York, that Wikimedia NYC can hopefully be a partner in (we may have some guests from this group also, and a roundtable discussion)
 * Working with local institutions to improve the quality of Wikipedia articles
 * The slightly delayed Wikipedia at the Library classes at the NYPL
 * Fundraising and merchandise issues
 * Draft of the new standard Chapter Agreement proposed by the WMF


 * Speakers and roundtable discussions
 * David Shankbone on establishing a Wikimedia New York City Photography Corps. for events - discussion of interest; obtaining NYPD press passes (to get beyond crowd barriers) and working with the New York Press club
 * User:Ed Poor suggested a discussion on neutrality vs. bias. -- Ssilvers (talk) 18:36, 8 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't really think there will time for this, but I though it would be interesting to discuss this idea: Have the processes that worked well when WP was small, scaled up to work well for the humongous size it is now? — Becksguy (talk) 19:47, 10 May 2009 (UTC)

Likely attendees

 * I'll hopefully be here. Meetare Shappy Cunkelfratz! 14:53, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Becksguy (talk) 15:13, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
 * It will be a priority for me to attend, since I've missed the last few due to travel. -- >David  Shankbone  15:15, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
 * I have a friend coming into town and, though I will be there are the beginning, I'm going to have to leave early to meet him into my apartment. -- >David  Shankbone  13:16, 15 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Since i missed the last one i am going to try extra hard to make it Staffwaterboy Critique Me Guestbook Hate Comments  20:31, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Pharos (talk) 13:18, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Really want to come. As my plans for the night of 5/16 just changed, I should be in the city for 5.17. StarM 23:18, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
 * DGG (talk) 02:18, 26 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Mblumber (talk) 03:18, 27 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Jim.henderson (talk) 00:17, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
 * It took several days in the hospital to recover from Berlin (and the Middle East, where I went afterwards), but I can make this. Daniel Case (talk) 21:55, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Robert Greer (talk) 18:08, 4 May 2009 (UTC) I could not make it.
 * Salmon1 (talk) 23:55, 4 May 2009 (UTC)) and Tom will attend.
 * Gosgood (talk) 16:43, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * User:Ed Poor (talk) Can we talk about neutrality vs. bias? 18:23, 8 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ford MF (talk) 15:49, 10 May 2009 (UTC)
 * User:Thewideeyedwanderer (talk) 15:49, 10 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Mitchazenia : Chat   Trained for the pen 19:11, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Ssilvers (talk) 13:36, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Possible attendees

 * I'll be in NY but might not be available that day. I will see. Andre (talk) 09:07, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Depends on how my summer plans work out - but I wouldn't bet on making this one. TML (talk) 05:01, 25 April 2009 (UTC)
 * May be possible, may. — Dispenser 02:08, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'll try to make it. - JAF1970 (talk) 05:09, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I've missed several meetings, maybe I will try to show up. --Blue387 (talk) 10:40, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Something has come up. Better luck next time. --Blue387 (talk) 17:58, 17 May 2009 (UTC)
 * --Polaron | Talk 20:24, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Depends on how much dissertation I get written between now and then.--ragesoss (talk) 20:49, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Alas, not this time. Have fun, everybody.--ragesoss (talk) 23:56, 16 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Depends on the schedule on that day. However, I will try ALL my best to go there.  --Montgomery&#39; 39 (talk) 11:01, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm away for most of the weekend, but may be able to make it for dinner. Looking forward to it! LordAmeth (talk) 20:35, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * If I'm not busy.  Simon KSK  12:53, 11 May 2009 (UTC)

Regrets

 * I attend these as often as possible, but I have a relative's law school graduation out-of-town to attend this weekend. :( Newyorkbrad (talk) 01:35, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry.  MBisanz  talk 22:21, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but I work on Sundays. Pastor Theo (talk) 22:27, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * An excellent excuse in your case.--Pharos (talk) 21:53, 14 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Not quite in New York yet.— Ryūlóng ( 竜龙 ) 00:20, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I would love to but I will be back in Boston by then! Grunge6910 (talk) 01:05, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I will be quite busy on that particular Sunday, unfortunately.  Enigma msg  01:45, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nightscream (talk) 14:20, 4 May 2009 (UTC) Sorry, but if I'm not working, I have family visiting from Italy, and will spending time with them.
 * Sorry, I'll have an upcoming exam soon after that weekend, got to study... --Lilaac (talk) 15:25, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Won't be in New York until June, and I have to attend a wedding on one day. DanTD (talk) 19:54, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Called for rehearsal from 2-6. It's Un ballo in maschera this time. --Scottandrewhutchins (talk) 21:08, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry, other plans that weekend. :( Glass  Cobra  22:47, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nope. Will be on vacation far far away. -- Y not? 16:28, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * As much as I'd love to meet some of my fellow NYC-area Wikipedians, I'm afraid that this planning/committee/Wikimedia business doesn't really interest me. Very much looking forward to another Wikis Take Manhattan, though, if I'm still around when that happens. LordAmeth (talk) 19:59, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hey, you're welcome to just come to our dinner at The Symposium that evening if you want.--Pharos (talk) 20:13, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I can't attend this, but I'd like to get in on a future subway photography event...if you guys set a date for Wikipedia Takes the Subway 2, would someone mind dropping a note on my talk page with the details? I'm a pretty avid city photographer. FlyingPenguin1 (talk) 21:25, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Bah, I'm in the city right now, but I leave on Sunday. &mdash; Werdna  &bull;  talk  05:24, 9 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry, it's the 17th of May, I'll be in Bay Ridge that day. JolieRouge001 15:27, 13 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Life's what happens when you make other plans...Disappointed because I was looking forward to it
 * Sorry Tom and I, we cannot make it this time (Salmon1 (talk) 23:40, 16 May 2009 (UTC))

Attendees of record

 * ''Wikipedians/Wikimedians, from the sign-up sheet.


 * User:Becksguy
 * User:Daniel Case
 * User:DGG
 * User:Gosgood
 * User:Jim.henderson
 * User:Likebox
 * User:Mitchazenia
 * User:Pharos
 * User:Ran
 * Rodolfo
 * User:ScienceApologist
 * User:Shappy
 * User:Ssilvers

Chapter formation
Our Treasurer User:MBisanz has sent in the first of our filings with the New York State Education department. Once they give the go ahead, he will be able to file our Certificate of Incorporation with the NYS Secretary of State's office to establish us as as a NYS not for profit corporation. This could take a few weeks. Next steps will be establishing a membership system, and then holding elections. We will also apply for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3), which will give donors the ability to deduct contributions to us, which will help us to do fundraising.

Chapters meeting
User:Daniel Case and User:Pharos gave a report on their rendezvous with our 21 fellow chapters at the Chapters meeting in Berlin.

It was decided to support the mandate of the interchapter 'Chapter Agreement Committee' in the furtherance of their discussions with the Wikimedia Foundation. The purpose of the committee is to create a standard agreement between chapters and the foundation that will describe what the powers of the chapters are in terms of activities, fundraising and other matters.

Wiki-Conference New York
The 1st 'Wiki-Conference New York' will be held at NYU, and we will invite a broad participation from across the region and North America generally. Our very provisional date under current discussion is the weekend of July 25-26.

It was decided that the 3rd annual 'WikNYC Picnic', to be held the same weekend as the conference, would return this year to Central Park.

We will look into getting accommodation for out-of-town conference participants at NYU dorm facilities.

User:Becksguy, User:DGG, User:Gosgood, User:Pharos and User:Ran agreed to join a committee to organize the event. There was discussion about forming a Standing Planning Committee of chapter members who would spearhead planning for periodic events like this.

Becksguy on adjusting to growth
User:Becksguy led a wide-ranging discussion exploring the various ways processes that worked well when Wikipedia was small are having difficulty scaling up to work well for the humongous size it is now.