Hello,

I’ve newly returned from the annual Wikimania conference in Italy only to find the UK has decided to leave the European Union.

Whatever your views of Brexit, the sharing of Open Knowledge globally remains an important area of cross-border collaboration and it was great to see that working so successfully & positively for the last few days.

With that in mind, and to keep the momentum going, we have two Wiki Social meets lined up for July; one in Edinburgh on the evening of Thursday 14^th July and one in Glasgow on the afternoon of Saturday 16^th July.

Have you been editing Wikipedia for some time? Do you have ideas of how you’d like to see the Wikimedia movement progress in Scotland?
Have you just begun? Do you feel confident in editing Wikipedia? How can we help you progress?
Have you never edited Wikipedia before but would be interested in taking your first steps in learning how? Are you aware of Wikipedia’s new Visual Editor interface which makes editing as easy as using MS Word or Wordpress blogging?
If you have attended one of our training sessions / edit-a-thons, have you continued to edit Wikipedia since that time? Again, how can we help you progress?
Are you interested in training others? Or in including assignments within courses?
Are you interested in learning more and chatting informally with like-minded individuals?

These meetups are informal gatherings with no formal agenda, but please feel free to add any topics that you'd like to raise for discussion on the event pages.

About the meetups

The meetups are intended to include any interested Wikimedians who find themselves in Edinburgh or can make their way to Edinburgh on the day. Anyone who has attended previous meetups in Glasgow or Edinburgh are encouraged to return to meet new faces! It will be a social gathering for Wikimedia enthusiasts, where we...

Have a bite to eat and a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic!).
Chat about Wikipedia and any other topics we fancy!
Explore how we can encourage others to engage with Wikipedia and arrangements for future Wiki meetups.

This is mainly a casual social event. You can expect to meet some keen Wikipedians, however this is also an open invitation to anyone interested in finding out more about Wikipedia, other Wikimedia projects, projects re-using Wikipedia, and other collaborative wiki projects. Feel free to come along and raise these discussions!

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Edinburgh/11 - Add your name to this page if you’d like to come or email ewan.mcandrew@ed.ac.uk to confirm your place.

1. EDINBURGH: Thursday 14th July 2016 5.30-7.30pm

Location: The Jolly Botanist, 256-260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh Click for Google Maps view

Point of contact: Ewan McAndrew (Email: ewan.mcandrew@ed.ac.uk)

Agenda

5.30pm to 7.30pm - Wiki meetup in the Jolly Botanist.

Location

The Jolly Botanist is extremely accessible via train for those travelling from outside the city via Haymarket station, and via bus for Edinburgh residents. It offers food, drinks (tea, coffee & alcoholic beverages), and WiFi and should give us plenty of room to meet and have a chat after work!

From its website:
"The Jolly Botanist, located in the West End at Haymarket – voted “Best new Pub 2015”. With an old Victorian style interior, the bar has a very welcoming & distinctive feel. While you are working through all the gins we have on offer, why not try our food menu which has a range of beautiful main meals, snacks & fantastic sharing platters.
The Jolly Botanist extends his warmest welcome to YOU, in Edinburgh-Haymarket’s newest dining room and intoxicating liquor emporium! Scouring the globe for rare botanicals and extraordinary liqours, our bewinged and exquisitely suited explorer The Jolly Botanist has returned to offer rare and experimental delights for the demanding paletes of his many patrons. Here, thirsty travellers will discover one of Edinburgh’s most vast and illustrious selections of gins, whiskeys and cock–tails. And for those in need of hearty sustenance, we have procured the finest flavours from the land and sea, prepared with absolute distinction, and designed to excite even the most critical tongue! So come. Experience first-hand the Jolly Botanist, in all his intriguing and gastronomic glory!"

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Glasgow/8 - Add your name to this page if you’d like to come or email ewan.mcandrew@ed.ac.uk to confirm your place.

2. GLASGOW: Saturday 16 July 2016, 4pm-6pm

Point of contact: Ewan McAndrew (Email: ewan.mcandrew@ed.ac.uk)

Optional Activity - Take in the Glasgow School of Art tour

"Mackintosh at the GSA Tour: Join our daily hour-long tours to visit our collection of original Charles Rennie Mackintosh furniture. View rare artwork by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, back on display as part of the daily tour."
Let me know asap if you would like to attend this as places on the tours need to be booked in advance.
Cost: £8

Location of Wiki meetup @ 4pm: CCA Terrace (upstairs) cafebar, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD.

CCA blurb: "CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts is Glasgow’s hub for the arts. Our year-round programme includes cutting-edge exhibitions, film, music, literature, spoken word, festivals, Gaelic and performance. At the heart of all activities is the desire to work with artists, commission new projects and present them to the widest possible audience.”

Please feel free to invite a friend or forward to someone you think maybe interested in finding out more about Wikimedia.

If nothing else then these are just both extremely nice venues to relax in and spend a pleasant Summer's afternoon/evening with a hot or cold beverage (or two).

Hope to see you there.

All the best,

Ewan