[BLU/Officers] Next InstallFest

[Bill Ricker]

On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 11:32 PM John Abreau via Officers <
officers at lists.blu.org> wrote:

> I'd like to begin planning for the next InstallFest, at least as far as
> choosing the date. I'm thinking May or June would be best; I'd like to hold
> them at least four times a year if possible.
>

May 30 is a big NO for me; Aunt's memorial service in Maine.
I suspect the weekend before that (Memorial Day weekend) would be low
turnout even if well publicized because most folks have group/family plans.

What are your thoughts regarding possible dates? Do we want to stick with
> Saturdays, or perhaps alternate between Saturdays and Wednesdays?
>

Class days have the problem that parking spaces are at a premium. Since I
have to stick with just the 8' sectino of the garage, that's an even
greater restriction for me. If we did Wednesday, I couldn't bring lab
supplies, just what I can carry on T and shuttle.

Perhaps the Friday or Saturday immediately following a BLU meeting?
>

I've previously suggested the weekend after an MIT Swapmeet (3d Sunday,
April to October), as there are plenty of cheap used Windows laptops for
sale there. Giving flyers to the sellers and buyers might get a number of
folks to come buy to upgrade their OS.
(*When we were doing things at MIT, I was suggesting doing an Installfest
the same day in the afternoon immediately following the 9-12 Swapmeet.*)

Today's InstallFest was a bit of a disappointment. The main issue seems to
> be that we didn't publicise the event early enough or widely enough.
>

Right, we need to brainstorm where/how to publicize, on and off campus, on
and off line. And to whom.
E.g. The Ubuntu LoCo (Doc Mo &co) used to have contacts with community
resource centers; Worcester has Repair Café events as part of Reduce,
Reuse, Up-cycle.

This time around, I waited for confirmation of the room assignment before
> posting it to the calendar. Confirmation of the room didn't occur until
> essentially the last minute.
>

If the room reservation folks can confirm far in advance, great.
If not, posting a date with room TBA to calendar and publicizing on the
presumed-fixed date is better than not publicizing.

Next time, we should begin publicity once we've settled on the date,
>

right

and then print the poster, and flyers, once we know what room we've been
> assigned to.
>
> It might make sense to set up multiple large posters on the day of the
> event,
>

Right. One near bus-stop, one by floor 1 elevator, one by our floor
elevator, and a smaller one on the door.

and ordinary letter-size flyers a week or two before the event to promote
> awareness. Perhaps recruit a student volunteer to put up flyers, after we
> get permission to post them?
>

Might need the student to take them to get stamped permitted as well as to
post.

The ANSI E size poster was somewhat awkward. ANSI D is 22x34 inches, which
> should be fine. ANSI c is 17x22 inches, which seems far too small.
>

The awkwardness wasn't so much it was too large as it was coiling up harder
than the painters' tape could hold it flat.
Smaller would have less strength on the curl, but a more appropriate tape
might have done it.
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