Re: November BLU Installfest - comments?

["John Abreau-19" <user=1489@nabble.blu.org>]

 When last we discussed this, Bill suggested early November for the 
next BLU Installfest, but preferably not November 3. How does everyone 
feel about November 10? 

Alternately, since the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a problem for some, 
how about Saturday, December 1? 


On 9/5/07, Bill Ricker <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> On 9/4/07, John Abreau <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> > Our next Installfest will be in November. I haven't scheduled it yet, 
> > because Bill Ricker pointed out recently that it would make sense 
> > to examine what other events are going on before picking a date. 
> 
> The Northeast Electronics Swapmeet calendar 
>   http://web.mit.edu/w1gsl/Public/ne-fleas
> has only 3 events listed in November, none "regional", all "local" but 
> not local here -- Cape, Western Mass, and NH, so no overlap from that 
> quarter. 
> [The big Regional show and MIT are the only ones a Cambridge 
> installfest should consider as potential source for computers thus 
> drain of installees. A W.MA installfest should consider N.CT and W.MA, 
> So.MA => So+E.MA, RI, if the show is known to carry goodly number of 
> used computers.] 
> 
> The other major source for off-retail parters/system-pieces are the 
> "computer shows". The regular PC/KG Marlboro/Wakefield show closed 
> after 26 year run,  but two other series survive. Neither show seems 
> to be announcing that far in advance, and seems to hit somewhere 
> (most) every weekend, so no serious collision worry there. 
>   http://www.coganfairs.com/  CT-RI-W.MA 
>   http://www.ncshows.com/schedule.html E.MA-S.NH-ME 
> [These would also be good places to have any members attending drop 
> fliers in the previous month.] 
> 
> > For the past few years I've scheduled them for the Saturday after 
> > the BLU meetings in February, May, August, and November. 
> 
> Probably for 2008 not this year -- the idea I've voiced at last few 
> installfests and on the ubuntu-ma list -- 
>    If we were to use a 3rd Sunday between April and October, we could 
> cooperate with Swapmeet  (perhaps on the NE instead SE side of MIT, 
> bldgs 34-38-36), or some other place over there. Cheap parts readily 
> available to installfest, installers readily available to  new-to-me 
> systems purchasers. 
>    Is Sunday doable? (For some folks, Saturday is sabbath.) 3rd Sunday 
> is sometimes before, sometimes after 3rd Wednesday. Could pick month 
> in 2008/4..8 such that 3rd Sunday is after 3rd Weds? 
>    We could do Saturday AFTER MIT on our "normal" schedule, if there 
> is any month 2008/4..8  where 3rd Sunday BEFORE  3rd Wednesday? 
>   I'd be happy to liaise with the MIT Swapmeet team. 
> 
> > What other events in November does everyone feel we should 
> > consider before deciding on the date? I plan on scheduling it 
> > for Saturday, November 24, unless there's a specific reason to 
> > avoid that date. 
> 
> That's *several* weeks after the last MIT flea market. I'd suggest 
> earlier in November, and handing out several fliers to everyone 
> selling older computers at MIT on Oct.21, for them to give to anyone 
> who wants Linux for the "new" boxen. 
> 
> I *should* have a priority meeting on Nov.3rd, but otherwise am 
> currently clear in Nov, excepting holidays. 
> 
> > Thanksgiving is on November 22, but I don't believe that's a problem. 
> > What does everyone else think? 
> 
> Well, some volunteers and some potential installers may have 
> long-weekend family obligations. Certainly I'd rather be at an 
> installfest than a mall that day, but those aren't the only choices. I 
> don't know my availability for so soon after such a major holiday yet. 
> 
> [Yes, Thanksgiving is a major holiday for some of us.] 
> 
> -- 
> Bill 
> [hidden email] [hidden email] 
>