Grants:Project/Rapid/Bay Area WikiSalon Series II

Socialize with community members
Yes. We provide 2.5-3.0 hours as an opportunity to socialize, with each attendee deciding on their own how much time to devote to socializing, editing, learning, presenting, etc.
Recruit new editors
Yes. We encourage new editors to attend. We promise to have experienced editors on hand to mentor them.
Increase skills for existing editors
Yes. We offer opportunities for existing editors to increase their skills.
Add or improve content
Yes. Attendees are always welcome to improve content at any time during the event. Due to the flexible nature of the venue, attendees can choose to add or improve content even during presentations or when everybody else is socializing. Free Wi-Fi is available at all times. There are booths, couches, cubbies, chairs, coffee tables, counters, and stools for everybody to create their own space.

Project Plan

Activities

What is the purpose of the meeting and why is it important to your community?
Please see our planning page at Bay Area WikiSalon for some of the design and collaborative discussion around the idea.

We launched in April of 2016.

The San Francisco Bay Area has a natural connection to Wikimedia given that the Wikimedia Foundation headquarters are here. It is widely recognized as a cultural and intellectual hub for the United States. Thus, there is a lot of latent interest in Wikipedia, and particularly from people with special talents, resources, or notoriety who could be helpful in unusual ways. However, there is no chapter and until we started this monthly meetup there was no regularly scheduled gathering of Wikimedians.

This series of events serves as a foundation to strengthen and grow the volunteer community in the Bay Area. We plan to have a healthy mix of interesting speakers (especially to draw in newcomers) and a healthy mix of downtime for socializing and Wiki editing.
If applicable, what benefits have you seen from doing this kind of meeting in the past?
At our inaugural WikiSalon we attracted an eclectic mix of cisgender, transgender, and non-binary folks; editors and non-editors; newbies and experienced; disabled and non-disabled.
How will you let participants know about the meeting?
We are advertising through locally targeted geonotices on the English Wikipedia and on Commons, two meetup groups (Wikimedia Tech by the WMF and Bay Area Wikipedia), Facebook events, mass messaging to user talk pages, WMF email groups, linkedin posts, via our growing mailing list, and by word of mouth.
How will you keep participants engaged after the meeting is over?
We are collecting names and various contact methods (user name, email address, cell phone number). Since these meetings are every other month, we will have the opportunity to see engagement from repeat attendance. At an individual level, further engagement is possible but the organizers limit themselves to these events as far as funding is concerned.
Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?
The plan was originally conceived by Ben Creasy (talk · contribs) and Peteforsyth (talk · contribs). Checkingfax (talk · contribs) has since done a lot of the heavy lifting in organizing, much of the content was organized by Nikikana (talk · contribs), and WMF employees Slaporte (talk · contribs) and others have hosted or helped us at the Foundation headquarters by providing their gracious support. We have some new co-organizers who have come onboard in the past year.

Impact

Note: In addition to your project-specific measures of success, you will also be asked to report on some Global Metrics at the end of your final report. Please keep this in mind as you plan, and we'll support you as you begin your project.

We are tracking attendance and reporting on the events at the Wikipedia page en:Wikipedia:Bay Area WikiSalon

Number of total participants:
First event with two brief presentations had 40, second with no presentation had 15. A typical WikiSalon will have some kind of introduction program such as a presentation or workshop. We expect our average monthly attendance to be 33. The Wikimedia Foundation office and location has a certain cache' that is attracting a full house.
Number of people who will help organize the event:
Five main people are committed: Ben Creasy (User:Ben Creasy), Wayne Calhoon (User:Checkingfax), Stephen LaPorte (User:Slaporte), Lodewijk Gelauff (User:Effeietsanders), and Avik Dutt (User:Quantumavik).

Budget

We do not want anybody to feel discouraged from coming because of an obligation to help cover the cost of food and drink, or the cost of their own transportation
The Wikimedia Foundation headquarters is providing their 16th floor Chip Deubner Lounge space for free
Our only anticipated expenses are food, beverages, ice, plus limited transportation scholarships
For our first couple of events, we solicited funds from the organizers and spent at least US$125 to US$300 on food and beverages. We are asking for US$2,000 for an average of US$285 per event. On a per person basis, this is a tremendous bargain when compared to the cost of a Wikiconference, Boot Camp, etc.
We requested donations at the first two events and we will continue to explore financial independence through donations and sponsorship

We expect a packed house now that we are meeting at the new Wikimedia Foundation offices

Food & beverage = $7/meetup x 33 people x 7 meetups annually = US$1,617
Bus/train tickets to reimburse participants for travel to/from meeting (if needed) = $8 x 5 people x 7 = US$280
Contingency = US$103

Total amount needed for 12 months: US$2,000

Endorsements

Support - as co-organizer. Checkingfax (talk) 10:29, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - the BAWS are very important to the Bay Area Wiki scene Nikikana (talk) 00:34, 11 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - Bay Area WikiSalon conversations with food are helpful and generative. Scott WorldUnivAndSch (talk) 15:16, 15 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - I've attended the majority of BAWS meetings since the first in the series, and have found them valuable. Funcrunch (talk) 15:17, 15 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - Here's a photo I took from the WMF headquarters. Dllu (talk) 19:34, 15 July 2018 (UTC)
Support- I have attended a Wikisalon and it was very valuable. I was able to meet experienced editors that helped me plan and facilitate my editathon. Fifthcoastbobcat (talk) 21:54, 15 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - It is important for events like WikiSalon to occur, as they enable the creation of a true community that keeps Wikipedia going. 2601:645:4100:F774:453:37F:1832:447C 01:57, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - I've enjoyed staying in touch with Bay Area Wikimedians. Wouldn't be possible without these salons. Eekim (talk) 05:24, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - I really enjoy meeting in person and learning from more experienced editors. Ismenelik (talk) 14:57, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - These meetings have been helpful to me in meeting other Wikipedians and in encouraging me to contribute. I especially appreciate the educational sessions Lsaine (talk) 15:56, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - It's an extremely informative community event that adds value to my life and work. Zoekschiffer (talk) 16:55, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - The Bay Area WikiSalon is of paramount importance to not only bonding community members, but also providing an excellent introduction to non-Wikimedians. Jasper Deng (talk) 05:49, 17 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - As a new editor, I've found the BAWS empowering; they have encouraged me to become a more active contributor. Stussll (talk) 06:16, 17 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - I like coming to the BAWS, as a toolmaker, I get to see what other people are working on and receive inspiration on how to help. Maximilianklein (talk) 17:30, 17 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - Lumifjall (talk) 19:55, 22 July 2018 (UTC)
Support - It is easy to support this small amount of money for events with a history of success which have been organized by highly engaged Wikimedia contributors and community organizers. Blue Rasberry (talk) 13:12, 31 July 2018 (UTC)