Engine room

Welcome to the engine roomThis is a place to ask about and discuss the inner workings of the charity. To discuss our external projects and activities, see how you can get involved or suggest ideas that could help our charitable mission, head over to the water cooler.

2013 2014 2015

Date of 2016 AGM

Those who follow such things might like to note that the next AGM is expected to be be held on 9 July 2016, in London. --MichaelMaggs (talk) 13:36, 17 November 2015 (GMT)

This date has now been confirmed. --MichaelMaggs (talk) 19:06, 16 December 2015 (GMT)

• It is a shame that this will be the third year in a row the AGM has been held in London. This is not the best way to encourage participation from and demonstrate a commitment to the whole of the UK - and I speak here as a London-based member. Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 00:52, 20 December 2015 (GMT)

Black Cultural Archives

I am discussing a possible editathon with Black Cultural Archives in the new year. Edward Hands has promised to train and I have recruited some other Wikipedians to attend. It would be good to have the support of WMUK in the venture. Once I have agreed the date with them, is there anything I need to do to make it an "official" WMUK event? Philafrenzy (talk) 11:24, 30 November 2015 (GMT)

Yes, I would be happy to be a trainer for such an event, presumably at their HQ in Brixton, London. Edwardx (talk) 11:39, 30 November 2015 (GMT)

@Philafrenzy: Once a date has been settled, it can be added to the events page. If you can estimate how many attendees there will be, we can send booklets to help people learn editing skills and merchandise. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 13:20, 4 December 2015 (GMT)

Thanks, I will know more in the next couple of weeks. It will probably be in Feb. Philafrenzy (talk) 20:34, 4 December 2015 (GMT)

Count me in too! Leutha (talk) 09:32, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

Sure! Philafrenzy (talk) 15:23, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

This is now scheduled with them for Sat 13 Feb 2016, 10-4. I will be creating a page somewhere detailing it shortly. They are going to promote it through social media etc. Philafrenzy (talk) 15:45, 15 December 2015 (GMT)

Draft page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetups/UK/Black_Cultural_Archives Philafrenzy (talk) 13:29, 22 December 2015 (GMT)

Error trying to update address

I'm trying to update the address on my membership record by following the link in the most recent saved email I have (from when my membership was due for renewal in October). I am treated only to the generic make a donation page with the error "You do not have permission to edit this contact record. Contact the site administrator if you need assistance." Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 16:11, 4 December 2015 (GMT)

Hi Thryduulf, I have replied by email. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 16:38, 4 December 2015 (GMT)

Thank function

Why doesn't the "thank" function work on this Wiki? We are thanking each other like maniacs on Wikipedia. Or is it just me? I have a captcha on my contributions here, perhaps that interferes. Also, the red notification seems to be permanently on despite having clicked on the linked edit at the top. Philafrenzy (talk) 15:23, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

captcha seems to have disappeared for that edit. Philafrenzy (talk) 15:24, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

Hi Philafrenzy, it's not just you the thank function has been broken for a while. It does feel a bit strange not having it working here after using it regularly on Wikipedia. I've nudged our developers to take a look and see what the issue is. Thanks for flagging it, the issue had fallen off the radar recently.

As for the red notifications, would you be able to write step-by-step what you do and how it's not working so I can pass it on? Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 16:16, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

What I see next to my name at top right is a red "3" indicating I have three notifications dating back to 29 May. But that never updates, nor is it possible to make it go away. Do others see the same? --MichaelMaggs (talk) 16:28, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

Yes, I now have 2 and neither will disappear no matter where I click. Philafrenzy (talk) 17:27, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

If you click on the red number and then 'all notifications' at the foot of the drop-down type box does that change anything? Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 17:34, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

Yes, that works thanks. Philafrenzy (talk) 17:58, 9 December 2015 (GMT)

It's a roundabout way of sorting it, so I've asked our developers to take a look. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 15:28, 10 December 2015 (GMT)

I can get rid of the red notification as you suggest, but I still can't use the thank function for sending thanks. I always get the message "Thank action failed. Please try again".--MichaelMaggs (talk) 19:04, 16 December 2015 (GMT)

Same problem here, alas. Edwardx (talk) 11:44, 20 December 2015 (GMT)

@Philafrenzy: @MichaelMaggs: The wiki has been updated with a new version of MediaWiki and the thank function is now working again. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 11:24, 20 January 2016 (GMT)

Equipment loan - no contact point given

At w:Wikipedia talk:Meetup/Hitchin 1 there is discussion about borrowing a WMUK table-top banner. I have pointed them at the volunteer equipment page on this wiki, but that page is distinctly lacking in any specified contact method for people actually wanting to arrange to borrow any of the equipment (e.g. which email address or page on this wiki to use). I've guessed volunteering@ or a message on the water cooler, but it would be good if someone (Richard N or Karla perhaps?) could reach out to them on that page - especially if my guess is wrong. Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 23:26, 5 January 2016 (GMT)

I've made the contact details more prominent, which will hopefully help in future. They were buried a bit too low on the page. Rob has emailed volunteering@ and I'll reply to him now. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 13:15, 7 January 2016 (GMT)

Thanks Richard. I looked hard and didn't spot the contact point on that page, hopefully it will be harder to miss now! Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 02:09, 9 January 2016 (GMT)

Affiliate-selected WMF board posts

One of our privileges as a Wikimedia chapter is to vote in the chapter/affiliate election for the so-called "affiliate-selected WMF board posts". Candidate nominations closed this week, and the board now needs to decide which candidate or candidates we wish as a chapter to support. Members or volunteers who have views on this are welcome to provide input now, either here or by email to any board member.

You may like to have a look at the current candidates, here

• meta:Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016/Nominations

and their responses to questions from the community:

• meta:Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016/Questions

MichaelMaggs (talk) 10:20, 11 March 2016 (GMT)

Impact report

The impact report for our activities between 1 February 2015 and 31 January 2016 is now on meta-wiki: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Proposals/2014-2015_round1/Wikimedia_UK/Impact_report_form

Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 11:16, 8 April 2016 (BST)

Notice of 2016 AGM

The formal notice of this year's AGM went out to members on Thursday 16th June. If you haven't spotted it in your inbox yet, please check your spam folder. If you're not sure whether you are a member and should have received an email, please contact me at richard.nevellwikimedia.org.uk Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 16:45, 20 June 2016 (BST)

Newsletter - don't forget the text only version

I received my copy of the latest newsletter by email, thank you. However the text only version (which is what I see) leaves a little to be desired...

2015/Issue XX

Welcome to Issue XX of the Wikimedia UK Friends' Newsletter in 2015, bringing you the latest news from the chapter each month. Look
for features, interviews, news, updates and contributions from community members. There's plenty of opportunities to get involved
with the work of the chapter - and if you're doing something and you'd like to share it, send us your news and we'll publish it
here. For now, dear friend, read on...

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Lorem ipsum dolor sit: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

Quick updates
  In the News
  Community Chat
  Lorem ipsum dolor sit
  Lorem ipsum dolor sit
  Lorem ipsum dolor sit
  Lorem ipsum dolor sit
Available at: http://bit.ly/XXXXXX

It might be that I'm the only one reading the text only version, in which case this isn't disastrous, but I think it's also the version used by at least some screen readers. Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 13:15, 6 July 2016 (BST)

New volunteer equipment

WMUK is currently (July 2016) looking for input on what additional volunteer photography and AV equipment it should purchase. For details and to share your ideas see Talk:Equipment Loan Procedure#New Equipment?. Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 11:44, 22 July 2016 (BST)

Desysop request

Since I'm no longer active on this wiki, could a person with the bureaucrat flag kindly remove my sysop flag. Many thanks in advance. CT Cooper · talk 15:48, 16 August 2016 (BST)

Hi CT Cooper, I've gone ahead and removed the sysop flag. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 10:42, 17 August 2016 (BST)

Suggestions of potential events to attend

Project grants/Photographs covering African cultural events in London asks for suggestions of potential events to attend. My suggestion would be classic car rallies. A lot of wikipedia's car photos are taken of parked cars which tends to result in wide angle shots with messy backgrounds which tend not to look that great. Rallies where cars are driven allow you to get shots at longer focal lengths with cleaner backgrounds. A specific recommendation would be Great Dorset Steam Fair. As well as steam they have a lot of cars and bikes. I went there last year and was able to get stuff like this

Confirmation emails not arriving

Special:ConfirmEmail does not seem to be working for me. How long is the lag, typically? Please notify me in your reply. Thanks! Zazpot (talk) 20:18, 28 June 2017 (BST)

Hi @Zazpot:, thanks for letting us know. I've asked our developers to take a look. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 10:27, 29 June 2017 (BST)

@Richard Nevell (WMUK): thanks for this. Confirmation email still not received. Other emails to the same address seems to be reaching me fine. Zazpot (talk) 11:32, 29 June 2017 (BST)

It hasn't ended up in spam by any chance? It sounds likely that something's broken. Special:PasswordReset is working so the wiki is able to send out some emails, so it might just be an issue with Special:ConfirmEmail. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 12:14, 29 June 2017 (BST)

@Richard Nevell (WMUK): no, sadly not. I checked the spam folder before posting here (and have checked it again just now). Pressed the "Mail a confirmation code" button again today, just in case it had started working again, but still no joy. Will try signing up to the Bugzilla instance, so that I can follow up there. Zazpot (talk) 21:48, 4 July 2017 (BST)