Agenda 8Apr11/Steve's Report

Activities to report

Report – Wiki Academy Bristol

All day event that took place at the Merchant Venturer’s Building at the University of Bristol on 19th March 2011.

Attendance – Fluctuated during the course of the day between 14 and around 22 people

Teachers/Trainers included the following Wikipedians: Roger Bamkin, Alex Stinson, Martin Poulter, Rod Ward, Steve Woods, William Avery

Introduction/Conclusion: Steve Virgin

Attendees included: members of the Amana Education Trust (Somalia); a group of people associated from Bristol Girl Geek Dinners organisation (which is around Masters & PhD students at the two universities); a couple of University Professors; Reps from the NUJ in Bristol; members from the Bristol Wireless Cooperative; Knowle West Media Studio rep (also a Girl Geek Dinners member); a local IT geek/developer; a retied lecturer with connections to the Somali community; Jez@Hotwells local Wikipedian; organiser of a social media collective called BRRISM (or Bristol Social Media); Digital Media Manager of the Arkive project; Digital Media Manager of the Medical Research Council.

Objectives for the day were to explain and outline

The focus of the day was on thinking strategically about mutual benefit, learning more about the process of editing & drumming up interest that can be built on for subsequent events where some of these volunteers can be involved in training people to edit and contribute. Attendees will: 1. understand the aims of Wikimedia UK and how they overlap with those of their own organisations; 2. understand the diversity of value created by the Wikimedia projects (not just the encyclopaedia); 3. think of specific things their organisation or group can do Details of what parts were taught across the day can be found here

http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Wiki_Academy_1

Conclusion

A fairly successful & enjoyable day was had by all. One regret was the new museum opening in Bristol in July called M-Shed, where a member of the museum staff failed to attend despite promising to do so. A second regret was the failure to attend by someone from the Bristol Cathedral Choir School.

However, a success is how I would categorise it. An excellent start by the Bristol Wikipedian community in building an outreach program to promote Wikimedia & Wikipedia across the city.

Highlight – Roger Bamkin’s presentation on QR Codes at the Derby Museum

Martin Poulter's Interview on this event on BBC Radio Bristol: http://infobomb.org/briswiki190311_0720.mp3

Here's a blog post by an attendee - Digital Media Manager of the Media Research Council http://digitalbydefault.com/2011/03/20/watching-the-wikipedians/

Have added 14 photos from the day featuring speakers & audience to Wikimedia Commons

Approval of Draft Invite to send to members to get them to attend AGM

see earlier email sent on Monday at 3.55pm to Board list for attachment

Offer of free recording of AGM

Recently joined the UK Chapter - Sam Downie His website http://www.dsoundz.co.uk/ Testimonial = he helped me coordinate all media locally for Jimmy Wales event in January (in terms of recording it all)

Outstanding actions

• AT to work with SV on sending out AGM notices.
• SV to work with JS on inviting speakers for the AGM/Annual Conference