Wikipedia:Meetup/Atlanta/Atlanta 8

Wiknic 2014

Date: July 6, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Venue: Blackburn Park
Address: 3501 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30319
Map of the location: Google Maps
Agenda

Meet and greet
Share thoughts regarding Wikimedia
- I've seen some cool initiatives from WikiProject Medicine (newsletter and free BMJ access) Wakebrdkid (talk)
- I've gathered interesting popularity statistics for WikiProjects Wakebrdkid (talk)
- I've been keeping tabs on Wikidata, but I need to gather an updated status report for the Lua modules and how many of the Wikicode scenarios we've discussed they can enable Wakebrdkid (talk)
Brainstorm activities for our group
- We've been encouraged to become an official group for the Piedmont region to receive funding for outreach activities. Check reports for other groups for ideas.
- What do we do for next WLM day now that we've covered most of downtown Atlanta for the historic building photography hunt?
Fun time

Discussion

Maybe Piedmont Park - We have discussed moving to a smaller park this year so it is easier to find everyone and for a change of scenery.

Please, please, a smaller park. With parking, or a shuttle. Closer to Athens? And cooler B^) - Neonorange (talk) 08:57, 9 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

How about Blackburn Park? Small and plenty of parking. The only downvotes on Yelp seem to be from cracks in the tennis court, which aren't a big deal for us. Wakebrdkid (talk) 22:19, 19 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Perfect! I've been there several times to watch SCA fighter practice. There's a very big shade tree right at the edge of the parking lot, near the park entrance. - Neonorange (talk) 23:38, 19 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

After looking at an aerial image of the park, and refreshing my memory, the big shade tree (along with other trees and an open area) is at the far end of the main entrance parking lot. No benches or tables. - Neonorange (talk) 02:01, 2 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

That sounds fine. Craig, Laura, and I will be there with a blanket and the banner. If we aren't there or you can't find us, give me a call: 706-540-2052. See you in a bit! Wakebrdkid (talk) 10:55, 6 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

We are here. At some tables under a tree with food near the parking lot. Quiet day. Kroger and Starbucks 200 yards away. Wakebrdkid (talk) 15:28, 6 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Attendees + Food

Currently bring-your-own-food, but we can make a sandwich run if anyone forgets since parking is easier at this location.

Add your name as " # ~~~ " if you have an username or else add " # Name"

Signed up

Tentative

—Gordon P. Hemsley→✉ 17:25, 21 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Sephiroth storm (talk) 08:42, 25 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Quebec99 (talk) 10:42, 5 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Regrets

Would've liked to come, but holiday weekend is already busy. Let me know next time, Cheers, TLSuda (talk) 16:50, 29 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I have to work that day. LadyofShalott 23:25, 1 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
My lupus is acting up today. Getting too hot can push it into a full flair so I am going to stay in an air conditioned environment today. I have family in Atlanta. With a Prius @ 50 mpg I don't hesitate to make that 2 hour drive. Please keep me posted on get togethers, particularly if an editing work session is planned. I can't find anyone in Hoover or its neighbor, Birmingham, who edits Wiki. Jenny (talk) 13:48, 6 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Summary

Despite two of our regular attendees not being able to make it during the holiday weekend, I'm really happy with how this event went. We had 5 editors and 2 guests in attendance, which broke the attendance record of 5 total for our first meetup two years ago. It was the first meetup for 2 of the editors.

Attendees

CraigJW (Craig)
Jinkinson (JP)
Neonorange (Phil and Dana)
Wakebrdkid (Michael, Laura, and Roxie the dog)
? (Juan)

I was expecting the new location to be an improvement, but it was a more significant improvement than I expected. We were able to sit at benches in the shade. Parking was very easy and close. It was easy to find each other. There were multiple food options within a quarter of a mile walk. We forgot to bring recreational equipment, but during lulls in the conversations we could watch the local SCA group practice.

After getting caught up with each other's activities, we had several discussions. Data about WikiProject popularity was a good conversation starter. We were all surprised at how popular the National Register of Historic Places and Disaster Management WikiProjects are. We looked at recent reports from several international, funded groups. Participating in library and university events focused on free knowledge, hosting edit-a-thons, and photography outings were all things we are interested in arranging. I'm going to follow up with Ganeshk and LadyofShalott about the necessary paperwork.

One of our new members, Juan, suggested a video might help with attracting new members. After some discussion, we settled on making a time lapse video that shows how an actual article progresses from stub to featured status. I've done a fair bit of data visualization work, so I'm going to prototype a simple, automated animation, and then we can polish it with proper editing and design. I'm going to send this summary out to the email list and then post some pictures here from the event later this week. Wakebrdkid (talk) 03:12, 7 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

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