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--- public:eastmids [2018/08/09 20:52] – Add agenda for Aug 18 meeting PeteB
+++ public:eastmids [2024/05/03 21:37] (current) – Add May 2024 meeting PeteB
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-:-)====== MERG East Midlands Area Group News ======
+:-)
-[[:public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]]\\
+====== MERG East Midlands Area Group News ======
-[[:public:start|Index to other public pages]]\\
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/areagroups|Return to Area Groups Index]]\\
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/knowledgebase|More about our Knowledgebase]]\\
+**This is the public page, members please check here for the latest news
+[[areagroups:emag:eastmids|EMAG Members Pages]]**
-Joint area group coordinators - Brian Norris, Pete Brownlow and John Gowers
+Joint area group coordinators - Pete Brownlow and John Gowers
-To send us an email, use the [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=2|MERG East Midlands Area Group contact form]].
+To contact us, use **[[https://www.merg.org.uk/contactus.php?t=1&n=36|Contact MERG ]]** and please indicate East Midlands Area Group in your message
 For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=55|area group forum]].
@@ Line 14: / Line 17: @@
 ----
-====== AUGUST MERG East Midlands area group meeting ======
+====== May 2024 East Midlands face to face area group meeting ======
-**Saturday 11th August 2018 from 10:00**
+Here is the agenda for our May 2024 area group meeting, which has a Railcom theme.
-Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester.
+**Sunday 19th May 2024 from 10:00**
-Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David's 'O' gauge garden layout, Victoria to Beckenham Junction.
+Please note that this meeting is on the **Sunday** for a change. This is due to venue availability, but may also allow some who have other regular commitments, or have to work, on Saturdays to get along.
-Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
-Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own packed lunch, .
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
-The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
+You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away and there is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away.
+Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I will add a Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website.
+More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. Please remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about, and so we know how many people to cater for.
 ----
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:40 - The Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger Barker
+  * 10:45 - Introduction to Railcom - what it is and why you might use it - Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:00 - Railcom in detail - Michael Smith
+  * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 12:00 - Railcom continued - Michael Smith
+  * 12:30 - Setting up Railcom on JMRI, and demo of Railcom in action on the MSM layout - Pete Brownlow
+  * 13:00 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic.
+The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and running. This uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout set up and running, to demonstrate Railcom and other MERG systems in use.
+Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 gauge layout and MSM are both DCC.
+During the afternoon, Michael will be on hand for further discussions and demonstrations of Railcom.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc.
+----
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, a week or so before the meeting, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting).
+----
+----
+====== March 2024 East Midlands face to face area group meeting ======
+Here is the agenda for our March 2024 area group meeting.
+**Saturday 16th March 2024 from 10:00**
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station.
+Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us.
+The Bassetlaw Railway Society are not charging us for the use of the room, but we will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the cost of teas & coffees and biscuits, and make a donation to the Society.
+Access is step free, but the entry door to the clubrooms is probably not wide enough for a powered wheelchair.
+For those coming by train, there are reasonable arrivals from east (9:50), west (9:20) and north (9:38). From the south, there is one from Peterborough and Newark arriving at (8:45) and one from Kings Cross and Grantham arriving at (8:51), so you will be waiting a while before the meeting starts, but as railway enthusiasts you can of course enjoy watching the trains pass by during your wait. :)
+Parking is now: £6.25 at the station, £4.95 at [[https://victoriaroadcarpark.com]] or £4 at Cobwell Road, DN22 7DD [[https://parkanddonate.co.uk]], 3 mins walk.
+There is a Costa Coffee on the station, a convenience store 2 minutes walk away and Retford has many excellent eating places, just 12 minutes walk away, or you may bring a packed lunch.
+There is no Wi-Fi at the venue, so a Zoom connection will not be possible. If presenters need to access something online, we may be able to use mobile phone hotspots, 4G coverage permitting.
+More details of parking and how to find the clubrooms will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place.
+----
 **AGENDA**
@@ Line 36: / Line 106: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
-  * 10:30 Welcome - David Straker
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 Introductions and group news
+  * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt
-  * 11:10 Kit locker Update - Judi Rastall
+  * 10:50 - MERG news - John Gowers (MERG chairman)
-  * 11:30 Short coffee break
+  * 11:00 - The CANXIO - Pete Brownlow
-  * 11:45 What I'm doing and planning with DCC and CBUS - Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 12:00 - The Raspberry Pi Pico - David Jones
+  * 12:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic.
+During the afternoon our chairman, John Gowers, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about MERG committee matters etc.
-  * 12:30 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided)
+The Bassetlaw Railway Society modelling rooms will be open, where the main 00 gauge layout will be operated by society members and other layouts will be on display, including a newly started N gauge, a nearly ready O gauge and a Triang TT.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc.
-  * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker's 'O' gauge garden railway
+----
-  * in parallel with:
-  * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic
-  * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks to our host
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, a week or so before the meeting, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting).
 ----
+====== January 2024 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+Here is the agenda for our January online Zoom area group meeting.
+**Saturday 20th January 2024 from 10:00**
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+As before, we have found that regular breaks of roughly 10-15 mins worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  *  10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  *  10:45 - Essex Brick part 2 - getting into using YAAT for automation - Eddy
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  *  11:45 - My initial exploration of the Hornby HM7000 system - David Page
+  * 12:15 - QnA on the above talks
+  * 12:30 - Kit and other news
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
-This will the last meeting organised by me as area group leader, so hopefully somebody would like to step in and take over that roll.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Judi will have some kits for purchase, but can only bring a selection so If you want any specific kits, you would be best to order them in advance from the kit locker and specify collection at the Leicester area group meeting at the checkout page.
+For the help clinic session in the afternoon, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar.
-For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. If you know in advance what you would like to get sorted, let us know in advance so we can gen up on it.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
-If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply with full address details and directions to the venue. (If you have already done so - you should have received your confirmation email - please contact us if you have not received it)
+Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
-If you would like to come by train, please let us know if you need a lift from the station. If coming by train, please plan to arrive at Leicester station by 09:30 so that whoever comes to pick you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
+If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-All visitors, and MERG members from outside the East Midlands, are always welcome at our area group meetings.
+If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group.
 ----
-====== SUMMER 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ======
-**Sunday 15th July 2018 from 10:00**
+====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Kindly hosted by Judi Rastall at her place in Sutton on Sea.
+Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting.
-Come to the seaside for our Summer meeting! The weather forecast is hot and sunny.
+**Saturday 9th December from 10:00**
-The venue is about 5 minutes walk from the Prom, so you might like to bring the family for a day by the seaside, whilst we get on with the far more important stuff! Partners and families are welcome to use the other room for teas/coffees etc. whilst we are having the meeting.
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
-Judi can accommodate up to 20 people, so bookings are first come first served. If we become fully booked, we will keep a waiting list in case of cancellations. Note that the 20 limit is for the room where we have the meeting, any partners or family who would like to come along for a day at the seaside are additional to the 20 limit.
+As before, we have found that regular breaks of roughly 10-15 mins worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
-If you would like to come, please let us know as soon as possible. If you do decide at the last minute, it is still worth getting in touch as, with the longer distance that most have to travel, the numbers are usually less than more centrally located meetings.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Most of you will know that Judi is our Kit Sales Manager. This is an opportunity to see the huge MERG kit operation, how Judi manages the stock, processes the orders and sends out all those kits.
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  *  10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  *  10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown to exhibition layout - Eddy
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  *  11:45 - Update on my developments with DCC, CBUS and JMRI - Pete Brownlow
+   * 12:45 - QnA
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+For the help clinic session in the afternoon, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
+Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group.
+----
+----
+====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00**
-Sutton on Sea is on the east coast of Lincolnshire between Skegness and Grimsby. Parking is available on street near the venue. We have scheduled this meeting before the start of the peak summer season. Once the school holidays start, from late July, parking becomes much more difficult and there will be long queues on all roads into the resort on a Saturday morning – so come and enjoy the seaside before the mad summer rush.
+The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks to MERG and NVR member Russ Jenner for arranging the venue for us.
-This venue is less convenient for arrival by train. The nearest railhead is Skegness which is at the end of a long branch line and is an hour round trip from Sutton.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
-Tea and Coffee will be available, lunch can be purchased from local fish and chip shops (which are open on a Sunday), or bring your own if you prefer.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-Judi has been progressing her loft railway, so you can have a look at how it is getting on. It is OO gauge DCC, visiting locos and stock are welcome.
+There is a cafe on site, I will confirm arrangements, but most likely we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish.
+If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endeavour to have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience.
 ----
@@ Line 105: / Line 239: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
-  * 10:30 Introductions and group news
+  * 10:30 - Welcome to NVR and housekeeping - Russ Jenner
-  * 11:00 The Great Model Railway Challenge - TV Series - my experience By Marcus Dawson
+  * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions
-  * 11:45 Short coffee break
+  * 10:45 - CBUS and JMRI at Gwynne Junction - James Cunningham - including some or all of CANMIO Rev K, JMRI semaphore signalling, my JMRI touchscreen signal box and Railcom
-  * 12:00 Update from the committee – Martin Perry
+  * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 12:30 MERG kit news by Judi Rastall – News on new/updated kits, availability, what is coming
+  * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall
-  * 12:30 Progress on my layout - Judi Rastall - an update on progress with the loft layout
+  * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module - Pete Brownlow
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *
+  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
-  * 13:15 Lunch - Fish and chips from the local shops or bring your own
+----
+During the afternoon, as well as our usual help and problem solving clinic, Russ advises that the railwayana shop at NVR will be open which now has quite a lot of double 00 and a few N and O gauge second hand stock.
+If he can get the 00 layout running for the afternoon he will do so.
+Short trips to the NVR shed will be available during the afternoon.
+It is a running day at NVR with 3 trains, pulled by W D Austerity.
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in the week before the meeting, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers. Please don't just turn up on spec, in case there are last minute changes we need to let you know about.
+Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough station. Please plan to arrive at Peterborough station no later than 9:30am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I have noted you and I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting.)
-  * 14:30 Afternoon sessions:
-  *    - The MERG kit locker by Judi Rastall – guided tours
-  *    - Running session on Judi's loft layout
-  *    - Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic
-  *    - Help with soldering and kit construction
-  *    - Or just relax in the sunshine in the garden
 ----
+====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00**
-Kits will, of course, be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, then it would be best to pre-order what you want from Judi for collection at the meeting, as popular kits can go out of stock quickly.
+Due to Judi's building work not being complete in time, we have swapped the venues for our July and September meetings.
-For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. If you know in advance what you would like to get sorted, let us know in advance so we can gen up on it.
+This meeting will now be at Aisthorpe Village Hall, near Lincoln, Kindly hosted by Lincoln & District Model Railway Club (L&DMRC) at Scampton and Aisthorpe Village hall, near Lincoln.
-The venue is reasonably accessible, there are a couple of shallow steps up through the front door and a step down into the kitchen of 5". The width of the kitchen doorway is 29". Please advise if you need any assistance.
+Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising the venue for us.
-To access the loft layout, you do need to be able to climb up the loft ladder, so this will not be possible for everybody. Judi will give a talk about her progress during the morning session, with the option to visit and operate the layout in the afternoon for those who can access it.
+Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby.
-Please note that Judi is owned by her two Kit Cats who will be in attendance, so anyone who has any feline allergy or intolerance should be aware of this.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to L&DMRC.
-If you would like to come, and have not already done so, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details and directions to the venue.
+The venue has level step free access and reasonable parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-If you have already emailed or posted that you are coming, you should get your confirmation email in the next few days.
+Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working well, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I will add a Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website.
+More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. Please remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:45 - Introduction to the Lincoln & District Model Railway Club - Richard Joyce
+  * 10:50 - The CANPROG - what it is, building one, using it to program PICs - Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:45 - Update on FCU development (CBUS FLim Config Utility) - Julian Pratt
+  * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 14:00 - 16:00 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic - including FCU tutorial if requested
+There should also be a chance to see some of the L&DMRC layouts.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in the week before the meeting, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting).
+====== May 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+Here is the agenda for our May 2023 online Zoom area group meeting.
+**Saturday 27th May from 10:00**
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  *  10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  *  10:45 - MERG and kit locker news
+  *  11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) - development news and status - Pete Brownlow
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  *  11:45 - WebFCU (alternative CBUS config utility) - David Ellis
+  *  12:15 - From the MERG chairman - John Gowers
+  * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+For the QnA sessions, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
+Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed to the area group, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group.
 ----
+====== APRIL 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 8th April 2023 from 10:00**
+Here is the agenda for our April meeting.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
-====== MAY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ======
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-**Saturday 26th May 2018 from 9:30**
+You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away and there is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away.
-Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford
+Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I will add a Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website.
-Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us.
+More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. Please remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about, and so we now how many people to cater for.
-These arrangements are provisional, as some details still have to be finalised with the speakers.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 **AGENDA**
-With lots of good stuff on the agenda, We've gone for a slightly earlier start - since most people usually get there early anyway!
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger Barker
+  * 10:45 - CBUS update - what has been happening in the CBUS world - Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:45 - The new improved MERG ATC system - Mike Collins
+  * 12:30 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and partially running (one corner currently has an engineering possession for relaying the track). This uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up. Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout set up and running.
+Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, before the event, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
+Regards,
+Pete
+====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 3rd September 2022 from 10:00**
+Here is the agenda for our September meeting.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
+You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away.  There is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away.
+Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I will add a Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website.
+More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. PLease remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about.
 ----
-  * 09:00 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+**AGENDA**
-  * 09:30 Introductions and group news
-  * 09:45 Introduction to the CBUS CANMIO - Pete Brownlow
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 The Universal CANMIO firmware - Ian Hogg
-  * 11:00 Coffee Break
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
-  * 11:30 MERG Kit news - Judi Rastall
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 12:00 Lunch (early as the NVR cafe may be busy)
+  * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker
-  * 13:00 3D printing - Howard Watkins
+  * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian's auto-reverser to power the deck)
-  * 14:30 Split out for afternoon practical clinics:
+  * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break
-       * Setting up the Universal CANMIO with Ian Hogg
+  * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE and development news on CANMIO (Universal) )
-       * 3D printing with Howard Watkins
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
-       * General kit problem solving with the usual team
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and running, this uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up.  Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout set up and running.
+Feel free if you want to bring something to run,  the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc.
+----
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a day or two, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days).
 ----
+====== JULY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00**
-We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the "honesty box" will cover as many teas and coffees as you want all day. This money will all go to the Nene Valley Railway.
+The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks to MERG and NVR member Russ Jenner for arranging the venue for us.
-Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, then it would be best to pre-order what you want from the kit locker for collection at the meeting, as Judi can only bring a selection of stock to the meeting.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
-The NVR cafe will be open from about 8:30 for bacon butties or full breakfast, and also open at lunchtime. However, as it is a bank holiday running weekend at NVR, it may be very busy. For that reason, we have scheduled lunch early, and we may make arrangements to pre-order during the morning.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know.
+There is a cafe on site, we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish.
-For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough station or, if you can get there early enough, I can collect from Wellingborough station on my way to the meeting about 7:30am.
+If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endevour have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience.
-If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details and directions to the venue.
+It is a running day on the NVR, purple timetable, scheduled to be a mix of steam and the Peak diesel. See the NVR website for more details.
-Members from outside the East Midlands are always welcome at our meetings, as are visitors. Please just let us know you are coming so we can plan for the numbers expected.
 ----
-====== FEBRUARY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ======
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress and challenges, David Radcliffe
+  * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!)
+  * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+Note: "FCU" is the FLiM Config Utility, used to configure CBUS modules from a computer
+----
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message here in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough station. Please plan to arrive at Peterborough station no later than 9:30am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
+Those who have already let us know that you are coming, you should have received a confirmation email with directions, parking, lunch details etc. If you have not received your confirmation email, please get in touch.
+----
+====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Sunday 4th Febrary 2018 from 10:00**
+**Saturday  16th April 2022 from 10:00**
-Kindly hosted by the Syston Model Railway Society at their clubrooms at The Old School Community Centre, Thurmaston, Leicestershire
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
-Thanks to SMRS and MERG member Mike Collins for arranging this venue for us.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
-Due to when the venue is available, we are trying a Sunday this time. The Pros are that members who have Saturday commitments, such as football fans or those working in retail, might be able to get along. The downside is that the local chip shop is not open on a Sunday, so you'll need to bring a packed lunch, and arriving by train might be more difficult due to Sunday services starting later than on a Saturday.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-Collection can be arranged from Syston station for those who would like to come by train.
+You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away.  There is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away.
-Tea and coffee will be available.
+We will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I have added the Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website.
-We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the room hire.
+More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place.
-The meeting room is on the ground floor and easily accessible. The clubrooms housing the SMRS layouts are upstairs.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 **AGENDA**
@@ Line 218: / Line 526: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
-  * 10:30 Welcome to SMRS - by Mike Collins
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:35 Introductions and group news
+  * 10:35 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker
-  * 11:00 Update on progress with my new automated layout by Colin Head
+  * 10:45 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt (held over from the previous meeting)
-  * 11:30 Tea/coffee break (or recovery time if we are running late)
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 11:45 Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 11:45 - Kit locker update - news about MERG kits - Judi Rastall
-  * 12:15 What's new and coming soon in JMRI latest versions - Pete Brownlow
+  * 12:15 - CBUS update - developments and things I am working on - Pete Brownlow
-  * 13:00 Lunch - Bring your own
-Also a chance to see the SMRS layouts on site
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
-  * 14:00 Making it work - practical sessions using members projects, MERG kits or anything else.
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
-  * 16:30 Wrap-up discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks to our hosts
-  * 16:35 Carry on with anything else we havn't fixed yet until we get thown out!
+The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and running, this uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc. There will also be the chance to operate the Kingsway 00 gauge layout using the MERG DCC system.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a day or two, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or two).
 ----
+====== FEBRUARY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 26th February 2022 from 10:00**
-Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, then it would be best to pre-order what you want from the kit locker for collection at the meeting, as Judi can only bring a selection of stock to the meeting.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station.
-For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone.
+Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us.
-If you already know what you want help on for this session, please email the details in advance so we can gen-up on it and look like we know what we are talking about!
+The Bassetlaw Railway Society are not charging us for the use of the room, but we will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the cost of teas & coffees and make a donation to the Society.
-If we didn't quite have time to get your project properly sorted at the last meeting, please bring it along again and you will be top of the list.
+Parking is available in the station car park at a cost of £5. You can of course come by train to Retford Station.
-If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Let us know if you need a lift from the station.
+If we can get a Wi-Fi connection at the venue, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, I understand we are reliant on the LNER hosted Wi-Fi at the station, so we don't yet know if this will be possible.
+Numbers will be limited to 20, to ensure reasonable separation. Mask wearing is now optional, please make your own choice. We would recommend that everyone takes a lateral flow test before coming.
-MERG members and visitors from anywhere are always welcome at our meetings, you don't have to live in the East Midlands to come!
 ----
-[[public:eastmidsarchivedmeetings|Details of previous East Midlands Area Group meetings]]
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
+  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt
+  * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued
+  * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic and practical problems help clinic
+The cabs session will cover basic how to use the MERG DCC system, circuit designs, the standard MERG CANCAB and other variations designed by members.
+During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a few days, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.)
+----
+====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting.
+**Saturday 15th January from 10:00**
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+**AGENDA**
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+  * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions
+  * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany - Pete Brownlow
+    * Latest CANMO (Universal) firmware release
+    * Using RFID and Railcom in JMRI
+    * CBUS control panels for Burnden Park
+    * Any other CBUS updates
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:00 - Lunch break
+  * 13:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+For the QnA sessions, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in (Note- I updated the link earlier this week as there was a problem with the original one posted)
+Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed to the area group soon, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group.
+----
+====== Details of Earlier East Midlands Area Group meetings ======
+[[areagroups:emag:eastmidsarchivedmeetings|Details of previous East Midlands Area Group meetings]]\\
+and [[areagroups:emag:eastmid|Details of more previous East Midlands Area Group meetings]]\\
+NB. These links are for MERG members only.
+{{tag>AGS_1}}