[Talk-GB] Two dozen mapping parties

[Dave F.]

Andy Robinson (blackadder-lists) wrote:
> A few comments and observations from setting up some of the previous
> parties.
>
> The location doesn't really seem to matter. People will come if it's
> advertised well and a core group agree to attend. Then things seem to click.
> Having a novel idea, like a mini bus, canal boat, cottage, bbq, hot tub (you
> get the idea) seems to add an extra incentive and help add some "fun"
> factor.
>
> Saturdays were always the best attended days of general mapping weekends.
> I'd suggest that some events are focused just on the one day. The obsessive
> mapper will always come in early or leave on the Sunday if they want to
> anyway. You do however get the occasional local family who will come along
> to a Sunday, but they generally on attend for a couple of hours in the
> morning or after lunch.
>
> Where there is a local social group, even if its only three mappers who get
> together now and again, then you have the makings of a good Saturday morning
> mapping party. Those of us in the Midlands will be doing a few of those this
> year to knock off areas of the Black Country and hopefully complete Dudley
> and its surrounds this year. Meeting around 10am on a Sat and then doing a
> couple of hours of mapping before lunch in the pub, goes down well and then
> those that want to carry on mapping for another couple of hours afterwards
> can do so before heading home. No venue is needed, no wifi, etc. Just
> somewhere to meet at the start (coffee shop etc) and an idea for a pub
> (sometimes we see who finds one while mapping before lunch). Obviously this
> format doesn't really work for newcomers, we get around that by inviting
> newcomers to a social evening or one of the occasional workshops. Of course
> newcomers can always tag along with someone to be shown the ropes. It also
> only works within reasonable travelling distance for the local group.
>
> I think Peter's idea of having a sponsor column is excellent. The "sponsor"
> might not necessarily be financial, it might just be the group arranging
> things. Laying on food and drink at lunchtime appears to go down very well.
>
> Big parties (Manchester and Milton Keynes were two of the best attended
> events I've been too) where there are 20+ mappers are excellent but not so
> easy to manage. These ones do need some funding and a good venue. Not all
> the 20+ are productive though, some OSMer's like to sit around and socialise
> while connected via wifi, which is cool and helps build relationships and
> communication, but does't increase the mapping in the locality, though it
> might help fix some code or develop something else, so linking a hack event
> and a party may work. Plenty of advertising to the OSM community and good
> consensus support for the location and actual weekend chosen are key.
> Certainly the London folks should be considering one of these big ones and
> I'd suggest Luton would perhaps be logical, but as I've said before the
> location isn't that critical in my experience.
>
> We also should think "themes". Presently our mapping parties have
> principally been focused on "the map". If on the other hand you set up a
> mapping party for a particular group of people, then you can map something
> of common interest. The roads will get done as a by product. In this way we
> reach out to some new groups. These events don't always need to be on the
> ground either, some, like our West Midlands gritting routes, just needed
> communication and a social or two to work.
>
> My wish list for the future (and therefore support for) includes:
>
> A party for cyclists
> A party for hillwalkers (like the Lakes one Nick W set up a couple of years
> ago)
> An "OSM MAP DAY" where everyone is focused on doing some mapping which
> culminates in a mass meet-up at some location(s). Top of a hill, pub, border
> crossing......
> An OSM "MapCamp" where we literally take over a campsite and have fun (plus
> some mapping).
>
> You will see that most of what I'm suggesting above is focused more on the
> social fun side of things than "having to get a dull place mapped". As I
> said at the start, my experience is that even the most apparent dull place
> rarely is. We all thought Sunderland would be a bit difficult but for me it
> turned out to be one of the best and most interesting. If everyone is having
> fun then things just seem to get mapped anyway.

This is useful info, thanks.

Do you split up into smaller groups of say, 2 or 3 or do you walk around 
on mass?

Are there any printable leaflets that explain what OSM is about to hand 
out to people who are inquisitive about what we're doing?
It would help pacify & convince them that we're not 'casing their joint 
for a rob'.

Cheers
Dave F.