Wikipedia talk:Meetup/NYC/January 2008

Pre-planning
To see the initial basis for this page, got to Wikipedia talk:Meetup/NYC/Main. User:ScienceApologist is organizing this, and first raised the idea at the November meeting.--Pharos 17:58, 13 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Isn't this really the 6th NYC meetup? One in 2004, two in 2006, then the picnic, then the November meeting.--ragesoss 18:07, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, it is :) People had been calling the picnic "3", so I sort of globbed onto that.  Then I researched the history and found there was a small meetup in 2006 (the only record of it exists on a talk page), and I've conveniently explained it away on the template as a "mini-meetup".  I don't know; do you think we should change the whole ordering system now?--Pharos 18:19, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

In case I'm not back by December 1
I'm going to take an unexpected trip over the next 1-2 weeks which will probably keep me away from the computer. In case I'm not back by December 1 or so, it would be good for someone else to take care of the invites. Please enhance Meetup/NYC/Invite list with the all the people I spammed last time (check my contribs), with the exception of User:Bellagio99, who asked not to be on the list. Then, kindly ask User:Cbrown1023 to run their bot and spam the people on the list with Meetup/NYC/Invite. Also, please request a geonotice similar to the last one and make sure to leave a personal note about it to User:Gmaxwell, because otherwise it might not get activated. Thank you very much for your help with this.--Pharos (talk) 04:03, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
 * No need to worry about this. I'm taking care of it now.--Pharos (talk) 07:49, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Add items to agenda
Please add any new ideas you have to the agenda.--Pharos (talk) 21:20, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Anyone interested in an IRC discussion?
There is probably going to be an online IRC roundtable organized by the Wikimedia Chapters Committee in December on how to officially deal with chapters in the US and their relationship with the Wikimedia Foundation — the US chapters being likely to be much less formally organized than the international chapters. This discussion should range over some of the same ground we covered in the last meeting. They're looking for representatives from the two nascent US chapters right now, which are us and the Pennsylvania one. So, who's interested in joining this discussion?--Pharos (talk) 21:32, 21 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I'll be happy to.Mitch32contribs 21:42, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Dinner after the meet-up
I suggest, instead of Sezz Medi, aGreek place called "The Symposium" on 113 Street between Broadway and Amsterdam (closer to Broadway). It is inexpensive and has a nice atmosphere for a discussion, with a very large cental table suggesting its name. It also has pretty good Greek food, with plenty of choices for timid palates, vegetarians and everyone. http://www.geocities.com/symposiumrestaurant/ -- Ssilvers 00:12, 4 December 2007 (UTC)


 * The Symposium is indeed great, but it is a bit smaller than Sezz Medi. I think either one would work well, but we should get reservations beforehand either way. ScienceApologist (talk) 19:53, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

I guess we'll make reservations (wherever we eventually settle on) a week or two before, when we have a better estimate of attendance.--Pharos (talk) 07:53, 14 December 2007 (UTC)


 * I suggest deciding in advance so that latecomers (like me) know where to go. Also, by reserving in advance, you know that the place will be available to host us.  Best regards -- Ssilvers (talk) 18:08, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

IRC meeting tomorrow
There is an online IRC meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 2.00 pm local time (19.00 UTC) at #wikimedia-chapters. This will be between New York City Wikipedians/Wikimedians (and possibly those from meta:Wikimedia Pennsylvania as well) and members of the Wikimedia meta:Chapters committee, on the subject of how chapters can be organized in the US, and their form of relationship to the central Wikimedia Foundation. (All chapters founded in the past have been national chapters outside of the US). Everyone is invited to bring questions and proposals, and to participate!--Pharos (talk) 00:33, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
 * In case anyone has been confused by the UTC time, the meeting will start ~10 minutes from now.--Pharos (talk) 18:47, 9 January 2008 (UTC)


 * How does one participate? -- Ssilvers (talk) 18:53, 9 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Download Chatzilla and enter #wikimedia-chapters (this might be difficult for people who are new to this, I know).--Pharos (talk) 19:02, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Now that the meeting is complete, the discussion is available for everyone to read at meta:Wikimedia New York City/Chapters Committee.--Pharos (talk) 21:37, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Historical site in Pupin
Since Pupin is a National Historic Landmark, and I am a very committed member of the National Register of Historic Places project, I was wondering if it might be possible to get a picture for the article of whatever room it was in Pupin where the atom-splitting took place. Anyone know? Maybe it's in the NHl application linked. Or is that classified? Daniel Case (talk) 21:30, 11 January 2008 (UTC)


 * The cyclotron room (where this occurred) is very much off-limits. If you press hard enough, you might be able to get someone to let you in, but it's doubtful.ScienceApologist (talk) 18:54, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

Recording
I will make an audio recording when I am there. I should be there at the start of the 'official' meeting. Thanks for all your work, Pharos.-- David  Shankbone  23:08, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

Geo notice
I don't know if it will automatically cycle off, but someone might want to turn off the geo notice advertising today's meetup.  MBisanz  talk 03:39, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

Notes on ScienceApologist's presentation
I took notes on ScienceApologist's presentation, "Pseudoscience on Wikipedia," at the Meetup, and typed them up when I got home.

I could post them on the project page, unless ScienceApologist has any objection.

These are just my own personal notes; I didn't record it. But I got down a few important ideas. Nbauman (talk) 05:14, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

Next (March) Meeting?
I didn't see anything on this in the meeting summary. Did I miss it? BusterD (talk) 12:34, 15 January 2008 (UTC)


 * We thought the vote should be extended to people who were not present at the particular gathering but nevertheless have a presence on Wikipedia. --Scottandrewhutchins (talk) 15:10, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Very sensible. Good call, if I may say so. I look forward to the next meeting, since I was unable to attend this one. I support the vote for Pharos's offer to serve as chapter president. BusterD (talk) 15:20, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

Summary of Meeting
Would someone please post more information about what happened at the meeting, other than the Pseudoscience presentation? Thanks! -- Ssilvers (talk) 15:39, 15 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I've added everything from my somewhat sketchy notes, as well as all I can recall from memory. If I've left anything out, everyone please feel free to contribute it!


 * Amazingly, Nightscream actually took a video of almost the whole discussion, so stay tuned for that if we can get the technical details sorted out.--Pharos (talk) 20:16, 16 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks, very helpful. An idea: perhaps we can compile a list of Meet-up participants' fields of interest on Wikipedia (just users who want to be listed) and use it as a networking tool to assist each other?  If so, I'll start by saying that I contribute most regularly to WP:MUSICALS and WP:G&S.  Best regards, -- Ssilvers (talk) 20:21, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

Three cheers for Pharos
Congrats on President - you've worked really hard and deserve our thanks. -- David  Shankbone  18:50, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I'll honestly try to do my best in representing us to WMF, as well as local institutions.--Pharos (talk) 20:07, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

Yiddish Encyclopedia Donations
How are the donations going for the Yiddish encyclopedia to be digitized? I might be able to get my parents' synagogue to donate the money, if we still need it. Let me know if anyone thinks this is a good idea. --volt4ire (talk) 23:55, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
 * We haven't started collecting donations yet, because I had planned on assisting them in setting up a PayPal account first (it's a very small organization that runs it), so that they could accept online donations. Of course, any help would be appreciated.--Pharos (talk) 06:55, 18 January 2008 (UTC)

Letter to Chapters Committee
Here it is, as promised. Please feel free to review/comment before I send it in.
 * Wikimedia New York City/Letter to Chapters Committee.--Pharos (talk) 06:57, 18 January 2008 (UTC)