[kwlug-disc] Meeting Location Shortlist

Paul Nijjar paul_nijjar at yahoo.ca
Wed Aug 2 22:08:11 EDT 2023 

Sure. If you or somebody else wants to put that together, then I am
game. Make a proposal on the mailing list and we can organize to hold
a meeting there.

But don't volunteer me for this initiative; as is abundantly clear, I
can't manage to organize one meeting location, never mind 12 per year.

Jason: That portable projector and screen might come in handy for our
meetings. We might be able to project against a wall at 100 Garment
Street but we do not know how well it will work.

- Paul

On Wed, Aug 02, 2023 at 11:05:19AM -0400, Doug Moen wrote:
> Random locations each month? Sounds plausible. We could have a pool of volunteers who can host at various locations. This addresses the problem of a single volunteer not being reliably available every month of the year. But it increases coordination costs.
> 
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2023, at 9:59 AM, Jason Eckert wrote:
> > The outside event we had back in 2018 was pretty fun too: https://twitter.com/the_unix_guru/status/1069794045239668736
> > We could always meet at random-selected secret outdoor locations each month with equipment (I have a portable projector/screen), wearing conspicuous hoodies ;-)
> > 
> > On Wed, 2 Aug 2023 at 09:39, Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc <kwlug-disc at kwlug.org> wrote:
> >> At this point we have two potential meeting locations. Thanks to the
> >> KWLUG members who offered them. I am trying to keep their identities
> >> confidential, but they can out themselves if they wish.
> >> 
> >> Now the question is which (if either) we choose, and how we make that
> >> decision. As a first step I am posting a writeup below, in the hopes
> >> it will provoke some discussion and opinions. I also have
> >> some pictures, but I have not posted them anywhere. If there are
> >> particular things you want to see then let me know.
> >> 
> >> If you have thoughts/preferences/opinions you can post them here or
> >> send them directly to me. In a week I will summarize what I heard.
> >> 
> >> August's meeting will be online. September is up in the air, but it is
> >> plausible that could be the first in-person (or hybrid?) meeting. 
> >> 
> >> - Paul
> >> 
> >> KWLUG Meeting Locations
> >> =======================
> >> 
> >> 100 Garment Street
> >> ------------------
> >> 
> >> This is a community meeting room on the third floor of a condo. A
> >> KWLUG member lives in the building and has agreed to host us each
> >> month.
> >> 
> >> The building is a 5-10 minute walk from Victoria and King in
> >> Kitchener, so is close to downtown.
> >> 
> >> Capacity: 15 people comfortably, 20 at most. The space is pretty small
> >> and there is furniture there we cannot move.
> >> 
> >> Availability: There is no formal booking system, so there is some
> >> chance we could be displaced. However, the host thinks this is not
> >> likely. 
> >> 
> >> Reliability: We are reliant on the host to be present for every
> >> meeting.
> >> 
> >> Access: The building is wheelchair accessible. To get to the meeting
> >> room one has to be let in the door (there is controlled access) and go
> >> up an elevator. It is not clear whether we can put up signs on meeting
> >> nights, but the host thinks it may be possible.
> >> 
> >> Internet: There is public wifi, and possibly a second wifi we can use for
> >> streaming. There is no wired internet available.
> >> 
> >> Parking: Parking onsite is expensive. There is an underground parking
> >> garage which costs $2.50 for 30 minutes, so the average KWLUG attendee
> >> can expect to pay $12.50 per meeting. There is a small amount of
> >> on-street parking on Oak Street, and some parking available in
> >> downtown Kitchener.
> >> 
> >> Transit: there is an LRT station at Victoria and King St.
> >> 
> >> Streaming/Equipment: We would have to provide a projector, and
> >> whatever equipment we want to use for streaming. The host may be able
> >> to store some equipment at their condo, but maybe not a lot.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> University of Waterloo Dana Porter Library
> >> ------------------------------------------
> >> 
> >> This is a classroom space in the Dana Porter library ("the sugar
> >> cube") at the University of Waterloo. The specific space is LIB 329.
> >> It is being offered by a KWLUG member who works at the university.
> >> 
> >> Capacity: 30+ people. It is a full classroom with row seating.
> >> 
> >> Availability: It should be fairly reliably available, although there
> >> is no booking system. There are other classrooms we might be able to
> >> use if we are displaced.
> >> 
> >> Reliability: Unclear. We are probably reliant on a UW employee to host
> >> us. The proposing host has offered to host us, or help look for
> >> replacements if they are unable to attend. There are a few other
> >> people who work at UW. 
> >> 
> >> Access: The building is wheelchair accessible. There are elevators to
> >> the space. We will probably not be able to put up signs. 
> >> 
> >> Internet: There is wifi available that requires a name and email to use.
> >> People who are affiliated with a university can use Eduroam.
> >> There may be some chance of getting our own SSID but this is unlikely.
> >> Wired network for streaming might be possible, but is not arranged.
> >> 
> >> Parking: There is no free parking anywhere near UW. There are paid
> >> parking lots for $5/evening.
> >> 
> >> Transit: there is an LRT station at the university. 
> >> 
> >> Streaming/Equipment: There is a projector with HDMI input. We would
> >> have to provide other streaming equipment, and carry it back and forth
> >> to meetings.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Unlikely Locations
> >> ------------------
> >> 
> >> ### Community Hub at St John's the Evangelist
> >> 
> >> This is not available Monday evenings. It could be a possibility if 
> >> we were willing to switch meeting nights.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> ### SDG Hub in Downtown Kitchener
> >> 
> >> 
> >> This is a new space. The booking fee for the large room is $400/hour.
> >> There is a smaller room for less, but they currently do not do evening
> >> bookings.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> ### Public library spaces
> >> 
> >> These may be available but not reliability. Prices vary from $50 at
> >> some remote libraries in Kitchener (eg Forest Heights), to $150 for
> >> two hours at the Waterloo Public Library.
> >> 
> >> ### Churches, Public Schools
> >> 
> >> In addition to a booking fee we would need to purchase liability
> >> insurance. This may be possible but it seemed frustrating the last
> >> time we looked because we are not a registered organization.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> ### KWartzlab
> >> 
> >> The space is inaccessible (on the second floor) and there are no large
> >> meeting spaces (maybe 15 people at most?). A KWartzlab member would
> >> have to host.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Other Places to Investigate
> >> ---------------------------
> >> 
> >> ### Workhaus or other coworking spaces
> >> 
> >> This would likely be expensive, but may be worth investigating.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> ### Restaurants
> >> 
> >> This is likely not reliable, and there would be an expectation that
> >> people purchase food and drink.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> ### The Working Centre
> >> 
> >> The Queen St Commons building has hosted a few events since the end of
> >> the pandemic, but Paul no longer has strong connections there. The
> >> space is also somewhat inaccessible, although there are ramps at the
> >> back.
> >> 
> >> St John's Kitchen is probably out of the question. 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> -- 
> >> Events: https://feeds.off-topic.kwlug.org 
> >> Housing: https://unionsd.coop
> >> Blog: http://pnijjar.freeshell.org
> >> 
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