Electromagnetic Field - User contributions [en]

Feedback

2014-09-02T08:39:20Z

Jane C: /* Suggestions */

{{link-banner}}
Please let us know what went well and what didn't go well at EMF this year. We really do care about your feedback and we'll try and improve this for next time.

Add your feedback below:

== Good Stuff ==

* Location
* Badges
* Variety of talks
* Showers [+2]
* Hand washing facilities
* Parking
* Shuttle trailer to car park
** ... and shuttle to BLY railway station. Made coming by public transport a doddle.
* Power & data infrastructure - pretty much rock solid throughout! [+2]
* Speedy response of volunteers/organisers to problem resolution
* Service at the bar was good (while the drinks lasted), and it was very nice to have ''multiple'' indoor social spaces, esp for people who wanted a quieter lounge as well as louder bar.
* Floor panel roads [+2]
* String lights (cut through to showers was awesome!) [+1]
* Ability to hire tables/chairs/marquees/hay bales etc. - were all good quality, too.
* Kids workshops

== Stuff that could be improved ==

* Buy more beer! [[User:Russ|Russ]] ([[User talk:Russ|talk]])
* Toilets... 'nuff said! [[User:AndyB|AndyB]] ([[User talk:AndyB|talk]]) [+2]
** Agreed - I've seen portakabins (like the shower blocks) that containing proper flushing loos. They're ''much'' less stinky and likely to block up than the portaloos we had, which didn't always seem willing to drop their loads into their collection tanks, leading to nastiness and health hazards (even without the pumping contractor being rubbish)
** Additionally, LIGHTS in the toilets. Having to use my phone / badge as a torch to see what was going on while i cleaned off the toilet before sitting down was particularly difficult. [[User:Thinkl33t|Thinkl33t]] ([[User talk:Thinkl33t|talk]]) 20:05, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
* Make sure that drinking water is clearly labelled as such
* More food and drink options
** Eg. non-caffeine / low or no sugar options
** Chips!
** Jacket potato vendor
** Healthy 'green' food
** also possibly going on later, a lot of the places shut up shop quite early.
* Survey positions of lanes/tents/DKs as early as possible before items arrive and mark out.--[[User:Sully|Sully]] ([[User talk:Sully|talk]]) 12:06, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
** This was planned but we were let down by the rather poor state of mobile GIS software.
* Make it longer! There was loads of cool stuff I didn't have change to check out :( After all that work everyone does, it was a shame I couldn't experience it all! ([[User:Chewie|Chewie]])
* Visibility of presentations in tents (brighter projectors/darker tents??) ([[User:StuartL]]) [+1]
* washing points over drains/soakaway so the ground doesn't get muddy ([[User:Chewie|Chewie]]) [+2]
* Mark out/allocate spaces for villages who had pinpointed locations on maps ([[User:Markp]]) [+1]
* Use more plasma screens in stages instead of projectors ([[User:Markp]]). Or (better, as then the speaker can point to things) black fabric shades for the screen or marquee roof
* Improved arrangements for washing and washing up (and handling the waste water from that) [+1]
* Provide sanitizer gel dispensers at water points and near loos
* Distribute and display paper schedules (even if their might be some last-minute changes) [+2]
* Much more workshop activity (more hands-on electronics and physical making) [+5]
* Do have component vendors (maybe at their cost for marquee/power/space)
** This is very difficult without a clear list of what will sell, as CPC was arranged to appear but wanted advisement ([[User:Stanto]])
* Pick a flatter site (for ease of disabled access)
* Ask speakers for bio's to include with their abstracts. Given them an abstract length up-front instead of editing it in an ad hoc way. Confirm acceptance to speakers and workshop organisers earlier.
* Make and enforce a clear music curfew (say from midnight or 1am or 2am to 8 or 9am or 10am), to defend those sleeping from (eg) the technoevangelists and the drunk [+3]
* Loos not so near food vendors (pong + visible urinals offputting) [+3]
* stronger enforcement/signage of quiet camping area [+3]
* an explicit invitation (with clear instructions) to report Code of Conduct violations in open ceremony, brochure, Twitter, etc. We had no direct reports to Team Comfort, but several anecdotal tweets after the event -- when it's much too late. [[User:Martind|Martind]] ([[User talk:Martind|talk]]) 20:58, 1 September 2014 (UTC) [+1]
* quieter, less-enclosed and more spacious bar (I suffer from social anxiety when I'm closed in with crowds, so I had a very sober emf!)�. [[User:Jane C|Jane C]]
* use our collective knowledge of technology to sort accessibility issues
**ring-fence money for things like closed-loop in the stages early on.
**Build some kind of working system for preventing able-bodied people from using the disabled loos and showers (radar keys that only work when the loo is empty�?) [[User:Jane C|Jane C]]

==Suggestions==
* Ask for an optional email address for each ticket to go on your announce only mailing list. Only the person that bought the tickets got your emails and they were slow to forward them on meaning most messages were recieved too late.
* A talk (a bit like lightning talks) where people are given 5-10 minutes to share what they did with the previous event's badge. (If someone sends me the competition winners/runners up, I'll co-ordinate it) [[User:MatS|MatS]] ([[User talk:MatS|talk]]) 07:54, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
* Pre-paid accounts for spending money on food/beer/whatever to negate need for cash ([[User:Markp]])
* Have a fleet of communal wheel-barrows to help people transport their stuff from car to campsite [+1]
** Stepney City Farm have a fleet of broken wheelbarrows – fix ’em, use ’em, everybody wins! ([[User:Andylolz]])
* contactless payment gear for food, beer, workshops
* forewarn food vendors to expect all-day demand, not just mealtimes, so they can stock and staff appropriately [+1]
* pinboard (offline) notice board everyone can contribute to (lost property, mini event notices eg rocket launches, would like to meet.., etc) [+1]
* Ask people who want to give workshops if they'd be happy to give more than one session - the blacksmiths' output was extreme, but even giving two or three sessions would greatly increase the % of attendees who could sign up.
* Sign-ups some kind of "express preference" systems, so most people (including those who don't check email regularly) can get at least one of their top choices, rather than first-come-first-served.
* Board games tent in the evenings [+3]
* Poker tent
* Be less ambitious with badge functionality [+2]
** And provide full documentation of features/functionality [+1]
** And sample code for each function
** Perhaps a back-to-basics through-hole design that comes with soldering iron, solder and instructions?

Feedback

2014-09-02T08:38:17Z

Jane C: /* Stuff that could be improved */

{{link-banner}}
Please let us know what went well and what didn't go well at EMF this year. We really do care about your feedback and we'll try and improve this for next time.

Add your feedback below:

== Good Stuff ==

* Location
* Badges
* Variety of talks
* Showers [+2]
* Hand washing facilities
* Parking
* Shuttle trailer to car park
** ... and shuttle to BLY railway station. Made coming by public transport a doddle.
* Power & data infrastructure - pretty much rock solid throughout! [+2]
* Speedy response of volunteers/organisers to problem resolution
* Service at the bar was good (while the drinks lasted), and it was very nice to have ''multiple'' indoor social spaces, esp for people who wanted a quieter lounge as well as louder bar.
* Floor panel roads [+2]
* String lights (cut through to showers was awesome!) [+1]
* Ability to hire tables/chairs/marquees/hay bales etc. - were all good quality, too.
* Kids workshops

== Stuff that could be improved ==

* Buy more beer! [[User:Russ|Russ]] ([[User talk:Russ|talk]])
* Toilets... 'nuff said! [[User:AndyB|AndyB]] ([[User talk:AndyB|talk]]) [+2]
** Agreed - I've seen portakabins (like the shower blocks) that containing proper flushing loos. They're ''much'' less stinky and likely to block up than the portaloos we had, which didn't always seem willing to drop their loads into their collection tanks, leading to nastiness and health hazards (even without the pumping contractor being rubbish)
** Additionally, LIGHTS in the toilets. Having to use my phone / badge as a torch to see what was going on while i cleaned off the toilet before sitting down was particularly difficult. [[User:Thinkl33t|Thinkl33t]] ([[User talk:Thinkl33t|talk]]) 20:05, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
* Make sure that drinking water is clearly labelled as such
* More food and drink options
** Eg. non-caffeine / low or no sugar options
** Chips!
** Jacket potato vendor
** Healthy 'green' food
** also possibly going on later, a lot of the places shut up shop quite early.
* Survey positions of lanes/tents/DKs as early as possible before items arrive and mark out.--[[User:Sully|Sully]] ([[User talk:Sully|talk]]) 12:06, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
** This was planned but we were let down by the rather poor state of mobile GIS software.
* Make it longer! There was loads of cool stuff I didn't have change to check out :( After all that work everyone does, it was a shame I couldn't experience it all! ([[User:Chewie|Chewie]])
* Visibility of presentations in tents (brighter projectors/darker tents??) ([[User:StuartL]]) [+1]
* washing points over drains/soakaway so the ground doesn't get muddy ([[User:Chewie|Chewie]]) [+2]
* Mark out/allocate spaces for villages who had pinpointed locations on maps ([[User:Markp]]) [+1]
* Use more plasma screens in stages instead of projectors ([[User:Markp]]). Or (better, as then the speaker can point to things) black fabric shades for the screen or marquee roof
* Improved arrangements for washing and washing up (and handling the waste water from that) [+1]
* Provide sanitizer gel dispensers at water points and near loos
* Distribute and display paper schedules (even if their might be some last-minute changes) [+2]
* Much more workshop activity (more hands-on electronics and physical making) [+5]
* Do have component vendors (maybe at their cost for marquee/power/space)
** This is very difficult without a clear list of what will sell, as CPC was arranged to appear but wanted advisement ([[User:Stanto]])
* Pick a flatter site (for ease of disabled access)
* Ask speakers for bio's to include with their abstracts. Given them an abstract length up-front instead of editing it in an ad hoc way. Confirm acceptance to speakers and workshop organisers earlier.
* Make and enforce a clear music curfew (say from midnight or 1am or 2am to 8 or 9am or 10am), to defend those sleeping from (eg) the technoevangelists and the drunk [+3]
* Loos not so near food vendors (pong + visible urinals offputting) [+3]
* stronger enforcement/signage of quiet camping area [+3]
* an explicit invitation (with clear instructions) to report Code of Conduct violations in open ceremony, brochure, Twitter, etc. We had no direct reports to Team Comfort, but several anecdotal tweets after the event -- when it's much too late. [[User:Martind|Martind]] ([[User talk:Martind|talk]]) 20:58, 1 September 2014 (UTC) [+1]
* quieter, less-enclosed and more spacious bar (I suffer from social anxiety when I'm closed in with crowds, so I had a very sober emf!)�. [[User:Jane C|Jane C]]
* use our collective knowledge of technology to sort accessibility issues
**ring-fence money for things like closed-loop in the stages early on.
**Build some kind of working system for preventing able-bodied people from using the disabled loos and showers (radar keys that only work when the loo is empty�?) [[User:Jane C|Jane C]]

==Suggestions==
* Ask for an optional email address for each ticket to go on your announce only mailing list. Only the person that bought the tickets got your emails and they were slow to forward them on meaning most messages were recieved too late.
* A talk (a bit like lightning talks) where people are given 5-10 minutes to share what they did with the previous event's badge. (If someone sends me the competition winners/runners up, I'll co-ordinate it) [[User:MatS|MatS]] ([[User talk:MatS|talk]]) 07:54, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
* Pre-paid accounts for spending money on food/beer/whatever to negate need for cash ([[User:Markp]])
* Have a fleet of communal wheel-barrows to help people transport their stuff from car to campsite [+1]
** Stepney City Farm have a fleet of broken wheelbarrows – fix ’em, use ’em, everybody wins! ([[User:Andylolz]])
* contactless payment gear for food, beer, workshops
* forewarn food vendors to expect all-day demand, not just mealtimes, so they can stock and staff appropriately [+1]
* pinboard (offline) notice board everyone can contribute to (lost property, mini event notices eg rocket launches, would like to meet.., etc) [+1]
* Ask people who want to give workshops if they'd be happy to give more than one session - the blacksmiths' output was extreme, but even giving two or three sessions would greatly increase the % of attendees who could sign up.
* Sign-ups some kind of "express preference" systems, so most people (including those who don't check email regularly) can get at least one of their top choices, rather than first-come-first-served.
* Board games tent in the evenings [+2]
* Poker tent
* Be less ambitious with badge functionality [+2]
** And provide full documentation of features/functionality [+1]
** And sample code for each function
** Perhaps a back-to-basics through-hole design that comes with soldering iron, solder and instructions?

Team:Comfort

2014-08-24T17:38:09Z

Jane C: /* Conflict resolution */

{{ Infobox Team
| name = Comfort
| desc = Safe spaces, accessibility, conflict resolution
| lead = Jane
| email = comfort@emfcamp.org
| needvolunteers = yes
}}

(We're still busy with early preparations, but will soon document our team and activities here. In the meantime you can contact us at ''comfort at emfcamp.org'' if you have any questions.)

== The Team ==

{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!User
!Role
!Interests
|-
|Jane
|[[User:Jane C]]
|Team lead
|accessibility, conflict resolution, safer spaces/inclusivity
|-
|martind
|[[User:martind]]
|Deputy
|Mediation, conflict resolution
|-
|John
|[[user:JHR|JHR]]
|Henchperson
|
|-
|-
|(dr)cable/walpole
|[[user:drcable|drcable]]
|???
|Trans/Queer/Womane&NB saftey.
|-
| (your name here)
|
|
|
|}

== Safer spaces ==

EMF is taking everyone's comfort and well-being seriously. We already know from our last event that our community is kind, curious, and considerate. However with every large social group there may be misunderstandings and disagreements, and we want to ensure that everyone can find the support they need to feel safe. This year we have a clear [https://www.emfcamp.org/code-of-conduct Code of Conduct] (which we may refine as we learn more), and our team members are experienced and level-headed individuals who are always open for a chat.

We recognise that power imbalances exist in society - where possible, we support punching up rather than down.

Since this is the first time we have a Comfort team we're starting things slowly and not become too ambitious too quickly. We will have a physical space to deal with any issues that arrive in a safe and private manner–details of this are being confirmed.

As part of our activities we also want to be in close contact with a number of key teams who address related concerns -- First Aid, Infodesk, and others. Do approach us for a chat!

== Accessibility ==

Jane is the team lead on accessibility (Hi!).

We want EMF to be safe and accessible for everyone and we welcome feedback on things that go wrong so we can do better next time around. If you said you had accessibility needs when buying a ticket, you should have received an email checking up on that. If you haven't, or you have any concerns, please email comfort@emfcamp.org

There will be a more accessible camping area designated. This will be closer to toilets/showers and parking. There are five step-free toilets (at all three toilet sites) and one step-free shower.

Parking spaces closest to the site will be reserved for folk with mobility issues and it will be possible to bring your car onto the site if you arrive Thursday evening. For anyone arriving on Friday or later, please email comfort@emfcamp.org and we will arrange someone to help unload and bring your gear onsite.

Issues identified as not possible this year, but desirable for next time:
*closed-loop for stages
*golf-cart taxis

== Conflict resolution ==

Our conflict resolution policy is drawn from this document: http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment/Responding_to_reports

The responses to reports will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but threats to physical well-being will result in calling in security and/or police and will be grounds for expulsion from the camp.

In short, when an incident is reported, we aim to:
*respond quickly
*focus on the behaviour not the person when talking to all parties
*take a written report - either by asking the person reporting to write down what has happened or by transcribing their verbal report. This should include specific information about the person doing the harassing including who they are, what they did, when it happened, where it happened, surrounding circumstances and other people involved.
*ask the person it happened to if it is okay if Team Comfort and the core orga team discuss the incident further.
*if appropriate, have a meeting consisting of Team Comfort/core orga team to decide on an appropriate response to the incident
*feedback to all people involved swiftly. This will include the following: a) what happened? b) what are we doing about it? c) who is doing this and when?
*keep records of incidents, so as to be aware of repeat offenders (if an individual repeatedly breaches the Code of Conduct or refuses to accept being called on their behaviour penalties will escalate).
*make a public response via twitter showing we do not condone harassing behaviours
*Team Comfort are here to help. Please contact us if you feel upset or want to feedback regarding any incident or response to it.
*post-event: discuss what worked and how our CoC/response to incidents can be improved.

It is likely that the Duty Officer will handle night-time incidents. Duty Officers are all from the core orga team.

== Links ==

TODO: misc background reading (need to collect from our internal discussions)

Team:Comfort

2014-08-24T17:09:13Z

Jane C: /* Accessibility */

Team:Comfort

2014-08-24T17:04:25Z

Jane C: /* Safe spaces */

Team:Comfort

2014-08-24T17:00:02Z

Jane C: /* The Team */

EMF Milliways Dome Pledge

2014-08-22T14:51:21Z

Jane C:

At every hacker/maker camp in europe you'll find Milliways, the restaurant at the end of the universe. Or in our case the end of the field.

Milliways are a volunteer run kitchen who tour around the camps cooking for anybody who wants food in return for donations. They have a full kitchen and even bake bread in the middle of the camp! This year Milliways are helping EMF by providing food and cooking equipment to all our set-up and tear-down volunteers, as well as reprising their usual role as a fun place to hang out and get fed. In return, EMF is providing a large marquee for them.

Milliways have an AWESOME giant geodesic dome they bring to the camps to use as shelter - both for people eating, and for people to relax under in the evening. They're bringing it over from Germany but it costs a lot of money to do so. We'd really like to help them out but the EMF budget is totally exhausted, so we're having a whip-round to try and raise a bit more money.

If you'd like to sit under a massive geodesic dome and drink beer next weekend, please donate a little money to the cause.

'''Plan:''' Try and raise some money to help cover Milliways costs bringing over a huge geodesic dome

'''Costings:''' They're already paying for it, but we'd like to raise £500 to help them out

'''Pledges''' (please edit to add your support)
* £25 - Jontyw
* £20 - Jane C

'''Total: £25'''

Villages:Women and non-binary

2014-08-15T07:53:02Z

Jane C:

{{Village
|Name=Women and non-binary village
|Description=Village for women and non-binary people to camp, cook and chat together and feel a bit more secure.
|Contact=Drcable
|Activities=

* Campingolely
* cooking
* chatting
* Possibly some talks and/or workshops
}}
This is a village for women and non-binary people to chat, camp and cook together and people identifying solely as men (be they cis or trans) are asked to respect this. The idea behind this village is to offer a space where people who face some of the same issues can meet with each other. Presentation will not be policed and it goes without saying that trans women are welcome. While we ask you to respect the personal space of people using this village, intention and behaviours are what counts. We recognise that the campsite is limited in terms of space and privacy. If you accidentally wander in, that's not a problem, but if you are asked to leave, please take that request seriously.

The village will be identified with a sign and some bunting – details of this are being finalised and will be posted here.

Villages:Oxhack

2014-07-08T10:20:25Z

Jane C:

{{Village
|Name=Villages:Oxhack
|Description=Oxford Hackspace
|Contact=Jane C
|Activities=members are working on various cool projects including a mobile, wearable 3Doodler, a human-sized robot. We'll also be bringing our trebuchet, plenty of paper for folding, sewing machines and a JS Joust set and hopefully creating some slit scan photography from JS Joust games.
}}

Villages:Oxhack

2014-07-08T10:17:01Z

Jane C: Created page with "{{Village |Name=Oxhack |Description=Oxford Hackspace |Contact=Jane C |Activities=members are working on various cool projects including a mobile, wearable 3Doodler, a human-si..."

{{Village
|Name=Oxhack
|Description=Oxford Hackspace
|Contact=Jane C
|Activities=members are working on various cool projects including a mobile, wearable 3Doodler, a human-sized robot. We'll also be bringing our trebuchet, plenty of paper for folding, sewing machines and a JS Joust set and hopefully creating some slit scan photography from JS Joust games.
}}