Wikipedia talk:Meetup/Birmingham

Date/Time/Place

Folks! It's Christmas! So happy that stuff! Any date, time, place suggested for this infamous meeting? Cheers -- Szvest 22:24, 25 December 2005 (UTC) ^{Wiki me up™}

The date is 21 January 2006. The place and time have not been arranged. If you have any excellent suggestions for either add them to the main page. Thryduulf 23:25, 25 December 2005 (UTC)

Thanks Thryduulf for the info. I've got no idea about places in the city! Cheers -- Szvest 23:57, 25 December 2005 (UTC) ^{Wiki me up™}

Location

A large, sociable, conversational pub is best. Ideally one that offers food. And that doesn't show football etc.

I propose The Square Peg (JD Wetherspoon), Temple Court, 115 Corporation Street B4 6PH. Google Maps Link —Theo (Talk) 21:31, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

Does it have a big screen? (Wetherspoons often do) Sorry to harp on about it, but the best way to avoid sport is to pick a place which doesn't have a big screen. Anyone from Birmingham here who knows a place that would fit the bill? Yourself Theo? Cormaggio 10:08, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

I do not recall a big screen. I am not planning to visit Brum any time soon so I cannot check myself. Any volunteers? —Theo (Talk) 10:33, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

Was there a few weeks ago. No big screen. It's usually busy, though. And it's a weird, long thin shape, which would make it awkward for an reasonably large group. Cheap food though. On the Talk:Birmingham page, I recommended Raphael's (sp?), by the Central Library. Proto t c 12:00, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

Raphael's is usually quiet but ok, Square Peg is ok but as has been stated... it gets busy and is often unsuitable for a chit chat, too many strange folk. I will have a think about a suitable location, lots of smaller pubs and bars that are nice and are unlikely to be packed, can someone state criteria?. Nick Boulevard 23:47, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

Nick, yes, please do have a think and a look around - for criteria, I think the opening of this section says it best. Cheers. Cormaggio ^@ 17:39, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Date

I propose Saturday, 21 January 2006. —Theo (Talk) 10:09, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

Not that I disagree, but why so late? Cormaggio 16:34, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

Late in January or so long after the London meetup? If the former: because that is the first Saturday in January that I can attend. If the latter: because anything within a couple of months of the London meetup seems too soon for those that will attend both and December is never a good time for finding conversational social venues. Would Saturday 26 November be preferrable (although this may still hit Christmas social bookings)? —Theo (Talk) 18:12, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

'Twas the latter I was talking about and I had thought of both those points - November would be fine for me but I'm quite happy with January and that way we know we're out of the Christmas rush - sport the only possible obstacle (y'know Liverpool v United or something) Cormaggio 19:21, 20 August 2005 (UTC)

I for one would prefer January to November - the winter term at school is never a good one for me -- Francs2000 | Talk 14:24, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

I don't know much about football, but the Premiership fixtures for January [1] don't appear to show anything major for that weekend. Also, the 6 nations doesn't start until February and the only international Cricket on that day is Australia vs Sri Lanka in Sydney. Thryduulf 14:42, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

Uh... "nothing major" except the aforementioned Man Utd v Liverpool. It's not scheduled for live TV, but nothing beyond January 15 is. If we're lucky they'll move it to the Sunday; if not, it might well be on Prem Plus. By the way, Blues are at home that day, but Villa are away at Spurs, so if that game is on Prem Plus there might be some interest. --rbrwr^± 15:00, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

Finalising date, time and location

Right, if this is going to happen, we need to finalise location and time. There seems to be agreement on the date, so I've added it to the template. How about 12:00 midday to start the meet? This should give everyone enough time to reach Birmingham, and allows plenty of time for the meet. Warofdreams talk 02:52, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

12:00 PM sounds reasonable. - Szvest 03:18, 28 December 2005 (UTC)  ^{Wiki me up™}

Wherever we choose will be minutes from New Street Station, so 12:00 noon sounds good. Greg Robson 10:59, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

Well, thats decided then. But somebody who knows Birmingham needs to choose a place. Andreww 08:48, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

Somewhere nearby the train station would be a good idea. Cheers -- Szvest 09:09, 29 December 2005 (UTC)  ^{Wiki me up™}

I can have a look and see what places are suitable when I go back for new year. I shall update with a shortlist in a few days. Greg Robson 09:18, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

Topics for discussion/activities

Suggestion 1

Of course, this will mainly be a social meeting, but at m:Wikimedia UK it has been proposed that it should include a business meeting for the Wikimedia UK chapter - and hopefully it will also include a celebration of the hard work put in by several users to set it up! We might also like to have a quiz, or some other focus for the meetup - any thoughts? Warofdreams talk 03:00, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

I've been thinking about doing a quiz based on en.wp. Would people like a paper copy each or should I bring my laptop for people to gather round? Thryduulf 12:13, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

Archaically, paper is probably the more convenient approach. I am rather hoping that we will be too many to huddle effectively. —Theo (Talk) 10:13, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

Paper - I am a cyberphobic ;)! Cheers -- Szvest 11:44, 6 January 2006 (UTC) ^{Wiki me up™}

The quiz is now written - hopefully its neither too easy or too difficult! Thryduulf 14:57, 20 January 2006 (UTC)

Suggestion 2

I think it would be a good idea to give each one a couple of minutes to express their concerns about wikipedia individually. ^{Wiki me up™}

Final Location if nobody disagrees

If nobody disagrees, then I would like to suggest a final location of The Square Peg. It is a pub of the Wetherspoons chain, and one of the few pubs in the city centre. Reasons for it include:

• Nicely placed between New Street, Moor Street, and Snow Hill stations. No more than 5 mins walk from either.
• Fairly spacious and it should not be incredibly busy that day.
• It serves food as well as drink :)
• The pub (like most others in the chain) reflects the local history of the area, to be interesting for visitors.

Here is a Google Maps link [2], but it is slightly wrong, the actual location is on the corner of Bull Street and Corporation Street, just to the south.

If I here no major diagreement in the next day or two, I would like to put this on the project page. At that point I will make a better map with stations and the true location for people to use. Greg Robson 23:42, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

Looks good to me. Thryduulf 10:56, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

I've added the location to the infobox. Warofdreams talk 12:28, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Ride sharing

Anyone going from anywhere East of Brum to Brum in a car? (Thinking; Cambridge, Norwich, that kind of area). Might be good to have people who are driving to list where they are coming from? - FrancisTyers 23:16, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Sorry I can't help you on that one. I'm coming by train from Yatton/Bristol (depending whether there are any trains from Yatton that connect nicely). Thryduulf 23:38, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

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I'm going on a Central Trains train from Leicester London Road. Should be getting in reasonably early so I can take advantage of shops. Morwen - Talk 16:59, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Updated to reflect completed meeting

I have moved to meeting page to Birmingham1 as seems to be style with other meetups. I forgot the other attendees (alcohol numbs the mind!). But as usual, edit and improve! Greg Robson 17:16, 22 January 2006 (UTC)