Idea for an offline social group

L.Jenkins

Not everyone is into sport or outdoor activities, night clubs or pubs. My idea is to propose a hacker/maker space for people whose interests are pretty much across the board. A space does not have to involve IT or computers in any way. It can be inclusive of anything.

We could meet up once a month and see what's going on with each other and if someone comes up with an interesting proposal that some or all of us come partake in, that would be cool. For example, someone suggests a photo project for an Arts display with the title 'Dublin Night Life' or 'Assymlum', we could go out and snap a few pictures and contribute to the project.

Other ideas to kick off would be something to do with creative writing or contributing articles to GCN. Even starting an online creative writing project for young LGBT teens.

Anyone like the idea or has it sparked anyones interest?

Annasopra

Itzy wrote: »

My idea is to propose a hacker/maker space for people whose interests are pretty much across the board.

What do you mean by a hacker/maker space?

L.Jenkins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace

A hackerspace or hackspace (also referred to as a hacklab, makerspace or creative space) is a location where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet, socialise and/or collaborate. Hackerspaces can be viewed as open community labs incorporating elements of machine shops, workshops and/or studios where hackers can come together to share resources and knowledge to build and make things.[1]

It is often associated with IT, but can set up to be inclusive of every interest and activity really.

Shakti

Sounds good itzy,
I follow this ...
http://makezine.com/

baby and crumble

This sounds really cool, I'd be up for it, if I have time, which in all fairness I don't buy oh well!!!!

Annasopra

Sounds good

I'm happy to turn up at things but not to organise

A suggestion though

On meetup.com - there are a few different LGBT groups -

http://www.meetup.com/dublin-international-gay-social/
http://www.meetup.com/Coming-out-and-Being-out-Meetup/

I think they could potentially be used

The DIGS one looks formal - suggestions have to go through organisers
The COBOM one looks more informal - I think anyone can suggest and no organiser approval is necessary

wonderfulname

I have time! Lets go make stuff!

Seriously though, this is definitely my kind of idea. Where would people meet? A designated space where people can do stuff or for coffee or such, where people can discuss doing stuff?

L.Jenkins

I suppose such meetups could be held once a month at weekends, so as many people as possible could attend.

rainbow kirby

Might be worth chatting to the gang at TOG?

wonderfulname

TOG looks fantastic, I love when you guys point me towards cool non LGBT related stuff on here. Would you believe I had been in need of such a space but had never heard of the term 'hackerspace' in reference to non coding stuff before?

L.Jenkins

There's the space in Drogheda as well. Maybe Boards could have one and use the TOG space if they'll let us. That's if we would need it.

wonderfulname

There would be a monetary contribution involved in that though, we'd need to gauge interest and organise some form of meet up before moving into that territory.

L.Jenkins

That's the problem. To shack up with any hackerspace, we'd have to pay. We could just meet somewhere in the city.

baby and crumble

Itzy wrote: »

That's the problem. To shack up with any hackerspace, we'd have to pay. We could just meet somewhere in the city.

Depending on what we wanted to do we could look into Outhouse? We could maybe have a look at reserving a room if we wanted to do a creative things or something. It would be pretty cool for people to share their skills and stuff. I mean once my thesis is handed in I'd be happy to do a presentation or workshop on collecting or writing a life story, considering that's my main area of research.

wonderfulname

Let's give that a bash so? Try set a date for some class of meet up and pin down it's aim to a degree?

Might get a bit more interest here if it moves on from a concept as well.

EDIT: I wouldn't be inclined to book either on the basis of internet interest, just sayin. I'm sure I have skills I could share or at the least concepts I wish to explore that would be of interest to others but I'm a bit mental so it would depend on the space as to whether it would be possible.

Annasopra

Outhouse charge for room rental

L.Jenkins

See there's a big difference between going out and paying for a meal or a few drinks and having a social event where people have to pay for the rental of a room.

I was hoping that a small group could be formed from the LGBT forum, which would eventually grow, but throwing costs for everyone into the mix might kill the idea before it even gets off the ground.

The idea itself would be to meet in a neutral location for an evening or weekend initially and discuss ideas on what we as a group would like to do and/or pay to do that. As I've said before, the idea is based on the hacker/maker space where people share knowledge and experience, but we apply it to other areas such as Art, Photography, Writing etc.

See someone might have knowledge of how best to manage finances or reducing waste, even where to go and take a few good snaps for an evening. Despite the impending weather we'll be faced with, things like this don't always have to be confined to indoor pursuits.

Shakti

I think your on the right track there Itzy have a 'meeting of interest' to claim the mental space for a creative association of people, I'm in Galway but would travel for such an event with a bit of notice and if someone out west wanted to carpool all the better. Location of first meeting? maybe someones flat, house, shed, basement (maybe not), backroom of pub etc.

L.Jenkins

It's a little late in the year to start planning, unless people would like to get together for a meet up before December. I'm thinking though, how about a meet up in late January?