Meeting place research
January 9th, 2008
While I was running around today, I checked into some possible venues for the meetings. Here is what I found out:
- The college discourages meetings in the common area, because it is a popular study area. Even worse news, there is no Tuesday availability for the rest of the semester or for summer. The best they can give us is “maybe Thursdays.”
- I tried City Hall, and the Council Chambers are available for $15 an hour. There is WiFi, and it is a huge fancy room with access to tables and a white screen, but no projector.
- I stopped in at the Caribou to see if they had a secluded area to use. They have access to SpitWSpots. They would love to help us out by sectioning off the front area which would probably seat about 20. We would be able to catch dinner, also. Tuesdays are quiet for them, even better.
- The Refuge Chapel has a little evening coffee shop. I talked to them and was told we could meet there. If there is too much noise with the video games, another room next door was offered, and even use of the church downstairs. There are fluffy couches and tables we could use. They also get SpitWSpots, which is free with an hourly relog.
I’d like to hear some feedback on these options.
The front section of Caribou can be a little noisy just because of the acoustics, if I recall correctly. If not, it may be a good place for a little food! On the other hand, many are (or should be) careful with food and, especially, drink around their Macs.
I think the coffee shop at Refuge Chapel may be a little noisy especially depending on who comes in and my memory is that the fluffy couches and tables may be too soft or too few for a larger group. I’d have to stop in to check it out again. It’s nice of Darren to let us use the chapel. I haven’t been in it to check it out. SpitwSpots’ office is a couple hundred feet from it.
City Hall would mean instituting dues to pay for it. Strict time limits (as at the library) are often inconvenient when someone needs extra help or wants to talk a little more afterwards At some point, dues may be needed to help support expenses anyway. I think the City Hall could be a backup if a collection could be taken to help pay for it.
Do I understand that non-common area classrooms at the college are also not available? Too bad.
I would say that a couple of these may be worth a try but that everyone should continue looking for another regular meeting place. I’ll try to remember to keep my eyes open for one.
Stephen
The caribou sounds promising.
The refuge chapel cold be good but may be noisy but you never know unless we try it out.
I talked to the guy who set up the network at the Refuge Chapel, and he doesn’t recommend it because “the kids hack it too much.” I’m not sure if that’s something we can work around.
Have you tried Captain’s Coffee? What time do they close? We held a Lower Peninsula Fruit Growers meeting there once (in the afternoon) and it was a wonderful place for a meeting, although I should mention that Ty Gates is an officer of the LPFG : )
Jan