I have 3 questions for everyone who hosted a local Wikipedia day event, and
I thought it might be a fun group sharing experience if people shared their
experiences on this thread:
1. How was attendance?
- About how many people came? How did it compare to your past events? Who
came, were they from nearby or from farther away, and how was the mix of
experienced editors and new participants?
2. What was exciting?
- What did you do for the first time at a wiki event? What amazing thing
happened? Who spoke or made a presentation that really impressed you?
What unexpected connection did you make?
3. What next?
- What would you do differently next year? What other potential plans do
you have locally, that may have sprouted or solidified from everyone coming
together for Wikipedia Day?
OK, and a bonus question:
4. How was the cake?
- What flavors did you get? Was it too dry, or just right? Did everyone
get a slice, did everyone get two slices? Would you like to get more cake
next time? Would you like to get more cake today? Can you recommend a
good 24 hour baker? How did you decorate it, and what made your cake
special through the words or image glazed on it?
Also, I heartily encourage everyone to upload your Wikipedia Day cake and
other event photos here, and in appropriate subcategories:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_Day_2019
Thanks,
Pharos
Hi fellow Wiki-Americans,
We'll meet for a pan-USA Wikimedia local activists chat ***tonight*** on
Tuesday, January 22 at 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern.
Big topics of discussion include Wikipedia Day local events and Black
History Month editathons!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Dayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Black_WikiHistory_Month#February_20…
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/310071168
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,310071168# US (New York)
+14086380968,,310071168# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 310 071 168
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aW692oRt5
Thanks,
Richard
(User:Pharos)
My fellow Wiki-Celebrants,
I would like to share Five Pillars of Wikipedia Day with you (entirely
idiosyncratic and my own)-
1. Wikipedia Day should be documented.
#WikipediaDay is the recommended hashtag to use on social media. Remember
to take photos, especially a group photo (with cake!), but also respect the
wishes of those who do not wish to be photographed. Consider putting
highlights of activities on social media throughout the event, and also
think about writing something blog-like more as a summary of the event
on-wiki, including if you have a grant report.
2. Wikipedia Day should be an opportunity.
This is probably the largest event of your year for several usergroups,
maybe not counting an editathon that is purely editing-focused. Use it as
an opportunity to help grow your local community, encourage people to take
up different roles in the usergroup, and plan out some of your activities
for the year of 2019 (including editathons, regular meetups that are
monthly or bimonthly, special events, and grant applications). Have a
sign-up sheet for attendees, and consider developing and encouraging people
t subscribe to locals mailing lists or social media channels as appropriate.
3. Wikipedia Day should be interactive.
Every Wikipedian is a gift to your event. Encourage everyone you can to
give a presentation of some sort. And please actively invite and encourage
them to do so, particularly those with underrepresented expertise. The
easiest way to do this with little planning is "lightning talks" - a series
of 3-minute or 5-minute talks that are mercilessly timed but that allow
everyone to share a little bit of their knowledge with the wider community.
4. Wikipedia Day should be fun and friendly.
You should foster a friendly and welcoming space for everyone. Try to
greet "new" people and make them feel part of the community. Consider
nametags if that helps people interact. Be mindful of the possibility of
inappropriate behavior or harassment, and know who are the organizers
within your group who will be responsible for enforcing friendly space /
safe space guidelines.
5. Wikipedia Day should have CAKE.
This reinforces all of the other pillars, and makes them more delicious.
Thanks,
Richard
(User:Pharos)
My fellow Wikimedians,
I apologize that due to the exigencies of Wikipedia Day, I was unable to
prepare arrangement for the WALRUS call.
I am proposing to postpone to Tuesday Jan 22 of next week, skipping over
Monday because of the MLK holiday.
We still welcome any usergroup that would still like to help set the agenda
and hold a "rotating presidency" for January and in coming months.
Happy Wikipedia Day everyone!
See my earlier 'Wikipedia Day Tips' if you'd like some suggestions for your
event.
Thanks,
Richard
(User:Pharos)
My fellow Wiki-Americans,
Please add links soon for your wiki-meetup pages for local events:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Day
And I'd also encourage you to create something like an Eventbrite page, so
that you can collect RSVP information from non-Wikipedians who see the
centralnotice banner.
We are planning to run the centralnotice banners from about January 7- 14,
so please get things ready with your pages before Jan 7.
Thanks,
Richard
(User:Pharos)