[kwlug-disc] KWLUG - The Kitchener Waterloo Linux User Group new content notification: 2010-01-07 22:09

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Greetings mail-forum-merge,

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Recent content - 1 new post
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1. kwlug meetings - location facilities criteria.
Published Blog entry by bswitzer
[ http://kwlug.org/node/719 ]

The following appears to have been well received by kwlug as an
accurate
description of what kwlug looks for in meeting location facilities.
Comments for refinement are most welcome - please post them to
kwlug-disc.
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Wherever we go, we're going to need to manage and meet the expectations
of whomever our hosts are, particularly if the space is free - show
that
we are relevant to the K-W community within which that free space sits.
We also need to know what sort of meeting space we'd like to see.
Some thoughts to seed the discussion:
- cost of entry must be absolutely free.
- reasonably nearby parking of sufficient size must be free.
- on a main bus route.
- big enough, for, say, 40 people, on average.
- chairs; perhaps some tables for those with laptops; projection screen
- QUIET. Working Centre noise is what drove us to look for alternative
sites.
- preferable, but we seem to manage if the site doesn't have them to
hand: projector, some form of sound system (unless the space is small
and quiet enough to not need them.) Best if microphones aren't needed.
  - white board? Meeting signs to direct people? One of those giant
pads of paper and stand?
- would be nice if larger alternate on-site space were available by
pre-arrangement for the better attended topics, e.g. MythTV.
- would be nice if there was space on-site to grab a bite rather than
having to go elsewhere. Such would also probably facilitate our 'ask
your neighbour' recommendation. Would space, but no restaurant, be
acceptable?
- personally I'd prefer to be in K-W, and not the heck the other side
of Kitchener.
- Free internet access present. Of some reasonable speed. We have shown
that we can largely do without, at the Working Centre, but I don't
think
people really want to. Enough netbooks are present that I think given
two relatively equal choices - one with access, one without, the
internet location will be chosen hands down. Even if only for the
presenters to be able to show us the web site of whatever they're
presenting on.
- not at the Universities - aside from the cost of parking, I think we
collide with similar groups already on campus, and they have a slightly
different direction than kwlug. (Nothing prevents people from attending
both.) kwlug seems focused upon 'downtown everyman', not post-secondary
students / academia. No offense to anyone.
There's another aspect that I think we should also discuss. Manulife
would have been a fantastic place to meet, probably a really nice
setting and environment, but perhaps off-putting to some. On the other
hand, the Working Centre, given its raison d'etre, is inherently
visible
and welcoming to newcomers. Not as stark as a
gymnasium but probably not as swank as Manulife. Does the kwlug
community have a preference or leaning towards one environment or the
other?


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