Wikipedia talk:Meetup/NYC/January 2009

Date

The date of the meeting is Martin Luther King Jr. day, there is no school the following day and most likely no work. For people who can't go because they need to make it back for Monday, there is most likely no conflict. Sam ^Blab 23:27, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

Great! I hadn't even realized this, and hopefully this can open it up to more folks. To clarify, MLK Day is the day after (on Monday), so we won't be conflicting with MLK Day at all.--Pharos (talk) 23:30, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

Recording

Will anybody be videotaping this meetup like last time? ayematthew ✡ 23:31, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

Probably. If you're coming and don't want to be photographed, though, we can keep you out of the frame.--Pharos (talk) 23:39, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

I can't come, but I was just wondering. ;) ayematthew ✡ 23:42, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Wikipedia Takes the Subway thoughts

Sam has a fun idea, and I plan on participating, but I wonder if maybe we should think smaller and more modestly about this. This would be more on the scale of Wikipedia takes Angers and Wikipedia takes Rennes which were directly associated Wikipedians coming into French meetups, than the larger Wikipedia:Wikipedia Takes Manhattan events.

I don't know, maybe we should do this on the same morning of the meetup, or otherwise simplify it in some way? What do you folks think?--Pharos (talk) 02:59, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

I guess you're talking about pictures of each station? I mean as far as I am concerned there's only a limited amount of notable stuff in the system. Certain stations have interesting features (Lower East Side – Second Avenue jumps to mind) but otherwise it would seem to be very dull. I guess just like other projects we would have to come up with a list. --Mblumber (talk) 03:50, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

As I understand it, Sam's intention is to make a list of a number of stations throughout the system that haven't been photographed yet. I guess this approach has its ups and downs, and there are other ways it could be focused maybe. I don't want to discourage anyone with positive ideas, though, and personally I am up for anything, but maybe it would be easiest, as I say, for him to think smaller here, like maybe only along one train line and/or the New York Transit Museum.--Pharos (talk) 19:35, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

Photography is technically permitted in NYC Transit Authority trains and stations per Section 1050.9 of their Rules of Conduct: Photography, filming or video recording in any facility or conveyance is permitted except that ancillary equipment such as lights, reflectors or tripods may not be used. Members of the press holding valid identification issued by the New York City Police Department are hereby authorized to use necessary ancillary equipment. All photographic activity must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Part. However, post 9-11 security concerns are high in mass transit facilities and I have heard that some photographers have been stopped and questioned. Before doing this, it might be a good idea to contact the Transit Authority or MTA to advise them of this activity so that they and the NYPD transit police are aware of this project. Also, anyone that takes photos in the subway should have government issued ID (state issued drivers license for example) for their own protection. Individuals without proper ID can be detained by authorities pending identification. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but preparation for potential problems is key. Someone with press credentials does not normally need to worry about this, obviously. — Becksguy (talk) 04:28, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

Yes, this is a concern that has been in the back of my mind as well.--Pharos (talk) 19:35, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

I'm planning on just using a regular camera, no lighting or tripod. I have indeed made a list of all subway stations without photos, and planned out 5 or 6 routes that will cover the needed stations. Sam ^Blab 20:07, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

And on doing it the morning of the meet, it's set to be on MLK day, so work might be cancelled for some people. Also, I wouldn't be able to make it in the morning, which would be quite disheartening. Sam ^Blab 20:09, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

It's a dull business, all right. I took hundreds of pix inside the subway this year, the majority merely looking out the door at the platform. Rarely turn on the flash, lest it irritate or alarm someone, and never carry a tripod. Nobody ever asked why or what I was photographing. Also took at least a hundred of the outside of stations. Mostly I'm on my way to somewhere, follow the subway line in the street, and snap each station if I don't know Wiki already has a shot. Pleasant business as long as I'm travelling anyway; harder to understand why people would want to get up in the morning, meet, and then go off specifically for the purpose.

Anyway, working to midnight most nights, I won't get out in the morning, hence won't join in any case. Do have fun and take care to do your work in such a way that others will like the pix. Dark and blurry ones are a waste of everyone's time. If you don't get the northernmost half dozen stations on the IRT Broadway line, I'll snap them on my way to Yonkers come springtime. No hurry; no big deal. Jim.henderson (talk) 20:58, 22 December 2008 (UTC)

Well, I guess since pretty much everyone who might join in the photography will be at the Sunday meeting, we can discuss whatever specifics then.--Pharos (talk) 20:38, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

Wikimedia NYC approved by the Chapters Committee!

And with this edit it is done, and the Chapters Committee has OK'd our bylaws and chapter application. Now, we just have to wait for the WMF board to hopefully come to a final decision, which will probably be before our Jan 18 meeting. The next steps, if that goes well, will I think be (1) incorporation, (2) setting up the membership system, and (3) holding a business meeting and formal elections.--Pharos (talk) 19:45, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

Huzzah! --Mblumber (talk) 19:47, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps we can schedule a business meeting at the next meetup? Sam ^Blab 19:51, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

The annual business meeting will have to come after incorporation and membership are worked out, so I think that'll wait till March or perhaps May. Of course, that doesn't mean we can't start planning now.--Pharos (talk) 03:21, 29 December 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Wikipedia Loves Art

This event is coming up real soon real soon in February at the Brooklyn Museum, and if things work out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well. This month-long event starts Feb 1 and the public event at the Brooklyn Museum is Feb 7; we don't know yet when the Met might set their public event for.

Anyway, I want to open this project and its discussion pages to NYCers, because so far our on-wiki conversation has been mostly with the UK folks. Thanks!--Pharos (talk) 16:02, 2 January 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia: The Missing Manual

I still have around a dozen of those, by the way. I gave out whatever I could a few meetups ago and I haven't made it back since. If anyone wants to distribute them, let me know. Enigma^msg 02:15, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

Meeting tomorrow!

A final reminder, folks. Our meeting is tomorrow afternoon. See you there!--Pharos (talk) 18:16, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

Possible next meetup

The recent NYC and Connecticut meetups have not had large turnouts. Anybody willing to try one more time? (I might be able to come if..) we have it on February 16 (President's Day). Most people are off work, and may be able to come. If this is a possibility, we should start planning it out now. iMatthew // talk // 17:53, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Note, the location doesn't matter to me. iMatthew // talk // 18:08, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

We usually meet every other month, so that would put us in March. Sam ^Blab 18:12, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

If it's not sometime between March 9 and March 14, then don't expect to see me there. TML (talk) 04:34, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

In March, I think it really works best one the 3rd Sunday, what we've been having the past 2 times. That would be March 22nd. However, I'm cool with March 14th, the Saturday before. Sam ^Blab 12:15, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

The next chapter meetup/meeting will be in March, but if a few people find themselves in Manhattan on a day in February and want to get together for lunch or beverages or whatever, that's fine too. Of course, given my location, that's comparatively easy for me to say. Newyorkbrad (talk) 13:01, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Actually, we're going to be having a special event Saturday February 7 in Brooklyn, connected with Wikipedia Loves Art at the Brooklyn Museum and including a business meeting with some visiting Wikimedia Foundation folks, and likely also the evening before in Manhattan at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. More on this soon, or you can just look at the front side of this page for a preview.--Pharos (talk) 14:30, 26 January 2009 (UTC)