[kwlug-disc] Meeting Location Shortlist

Paul Nijjar paul_nijjar at yahoo.ca
Mon Aug 21 21:39:39 EDT 2023 

To other LUG members: we will be meeting at 100 Garment St this
Thursday, also at 6:30pm.

If you want to join us then please RSVP to me by Wednesday at 6:30pm.
The space is controlled-entry, so you need special instructions to get
in.

Also: does anybody have a projector that we could test with?

- Paul


On Wed, Aug 16, 2023 at 08:19:26AM -0400, Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc wrote:
> 
> To other LUG members; we will be meeting at the UW LIB 329 space on
> Thursday at 6;30pm.
> 
> There won't be any formal meeting there, but if
> you want to see what the space looks like and how you would get there,
> you are welcome to drop by. We have the space booked until 8pm but I
> doubt we will be there that long. I am thinking 30 minutes to an hour
> at most?
> 
> Note that the campus will be very very quiet, because it is the tail
> end of their summer exam period and many students have fled.
> September/October will be quite different.
> 
> If people want a similar field trip to the Garment St location then
> let me know and I will try to arrange something.
> 
> - Paul
> 
> On Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 09:31:14PM -0400, John Steel wrote:
> > Would it be possible to do a test call in the Dana Porter location sometime in the next couple weeks to see what it would be like? I can bring a tripod, webcam and Jabra puck microphone. 
> > 
> > On Wed, Aug 2, 2023, at 9:36 AM, Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc 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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> > > kwlug-disc-owner at kwlug.org to contact a human being.
> > > 
> 
> -- 
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> Housing: https://unionsd.coop
> Blog: http://pnijjar.freeshell.org
> 
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