[kwlug-disc] Meeting Location Shortlist

Thu Aug 10 09:05:38 EDT 2023

I'm going to offer my $0.02 on behalf of the old guys in the group (I think
I might be one of them)..  I don't have a preference for either site but I
do have a shopping list of what I would personally look for if I was left
in charge of finding a site...  cue the Grumpy Guy music soundtrack...

Please have parking.  Prefer free, but cheap is ok if necessary.

Please, no stairs..  Before I discovered a good spot on Duke St. to park, I
had to use the parking garage at Market Square.  One night I got locked in
the parking garage stairwell and ended up going up and down all the floors
a couple of times before I could get free.  Thankfully I had my asthma
puffer with me, but there were a few moments when I wasn't sure if they'd
find my body in the morning.

Good wi-fi is always nice as I like to take notes on my laptop and upload
them as I go, or sometimes I want to research more about the evening's
topics.

Having a desktop surface that will hold my laptop, and a place to plug it
in as it has an old battery is also nice.

I realize that I'm asking a lot here, so I do bang my head on the floor for
our meeting organizers and the hard work that they do.  I talked to my wife
and we agreed that when we win the megabazillions lottery we will build a
meeting/maker/hangout nerd building that KWLUG can use for free.  Fair deal?

Cranky.

On Thu, 10 Aug 2023 at 08:50, Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc <
kwlug-disc at kwlug.org> wrote:

>
> I understand that this is the August lull and many people are on
> vacation, but does anybody who is around have opinions on one meeting
> location vs the other? I feel I have a preference but do not want to
> poison the discussion.
>
> - Paul
>
> On Wed, Aug 02, 2023 at 09:36:45AM -0400, Paul Nijjar 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
>
> --
> Events: https://feeds.off-topic.kwlug.org
> Housing: https://unionsd.coop
> Blog: http://pnijjar.freeshell.org
>
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