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--- public:westmids [2019/06/23 09:45] – [To be announced in due course] allan_gardner
+++ public:westmids [2020/05/02 14:21] – [Programme] johnstoncg
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
-To contact us use the MERG West Midlands Area Group contact form here [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=17|]]
+To contact us use the [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=17|MERG West Midlands Area Group contact form.]]\\
 For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=110|area group forum.]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
-The next meeting of the West Midlands Area Group will be:
+//<color #ed1c24>The next meeting of the West Midlands Area Group has been cancelled</color>.  See below ://
-===== Sunday 14th July 2019 =====
-At **Titford Pump House, Engine street, OLDBURY, West Midlands**.
+====== Important information about our next meeting ======
+**In the view of the ongoing Coronavirus situation and the advice received from MERG Committee, my WMAG colleagues and I have decided to <color #ed1c24>cancel our meeting on Saturday 11th April 2020</color>.
+We shall, like many others, monitor the situation and decide whether future meetings will take place nearer the time. **
+ ===== =====
-[[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Titford+Pumphouse/@52.4966868,-2.0095574,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48709794db0b2afb:0x85f894929c8ab6f8!8m2!3d52.4966868!4d-2.0090102|Google Map]]
 ==== About Titford Pump House. ====
-//There is plenty of car parking – mostly on Engine Street, some within the pump house compound. The address above includes a Google maps link. All facilities are at ground level.//
-==== This months topic: ====
+**Titford Pump House, Engine Street, OLDBURY, West Midlands B69 4NL**.
+[[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Titford+Pumphouse/@52.4966868,-2.0095574,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48709794db0b2afb:0x85f894929c8ab6f8!8m2!3d52.4966868!4d-2.0090102|Google Map]]
+//There is plenty of car parking – mostly on Engine Street, some within the Pump House compound. The address above includes a Google maps link. All facilities are at ground level.//
+==== This quarters topics: ====
+None - as the meeting has been cancelled.
+The rest of the programme has been left unchanged, so that the format remains for future meetings.
+==== Programme ====
-===== Programme =====
 === 10:00 Coffee & Registration ===
@@ Line 44: / Line 88: @@
 === 10:15 Welcome Introduction: Allan Gardner ===
-//Housekeeping//: Fire exits & procedure, First aid, Toilet, Mugs in the dishwasher.
+//Housekeeping//: Fire exit & procedure, First aid, Toilet, Dishwasher.
-//Arduino Course//:   Expression of interest.
+//Other matters//
-=== 10.30 Electrostatic Discharge:  What it is and Why it is Important.  David Roberts ===
-David will explain to us what Electrostatic Discharge is, how it is caused and the damage that it can cause to modern electronic devices and systems. Simple and affordable measures to mitigate the problems will also be described.
+=== 10.30 Talk 1   ===
 === 11:30 Refreshment Break ===
-Tea, Coffee and cake.
+Tea, Coffee, and cake.
-=== 11:45 The Theory and Practice of a Simple MERG Kit: David Roberts ===
+=== 11:45 Talk 2   ===
-Some of us assemble kits without knowing very little about the types of components used and why they are important.  David’s presentation will consider a simple MERG kit – the CANACT – look at the components used and explain why they are chosen and how it works.
+=== 12:15 Talk 3   ===
 === 12.45 Discussion: Any Questions and any Answers!! ===
-Opportunity to discuss things further.
+Opportunity to discuss things further from this morning sessions.
 === 13:00 Lunch ===
 Bring your own or eat loads of cake!
+For Saturday meetings, there are nearby sandwich shops - for Sunday meetings, if you haven't your own sandwiches, you will need to head in to Sainsbury's in Oldbury.
 === 13:30 Practical Workshop Session 1 ===
-David will be with us all day so, take the opportunity to delve deeper into today’s subjects.  If that's not your thing then work on your current project.   We will do our best to help with construction and problem-solving.  Bring your own tools including your soldering iron.
+Our usual informal session.  Chat to colleagues or work on your current project.   We will do our best to help with construction and problem-solving.  Bring your own tools etc.
 === 14:30 Refreshment Break ===
@@ Line 111: / Line 161: @@
-===== Programme =====
-//Registration, with coffee and tea available.//
-=== 10:00   Welcome Introduction and housekeeping ===
-//  Allan Gardner//
-=== 10:15    Talk 1 ===
-// //
-=== 10.45   Talk 2===
+===== Meeting dates for 2020 =====
-// //
-=== 11:15  Refreshment Break 	 ===
+The dates below are for the quarterly meetings for 2020.
+  * Winter - Sunday 12th January
+  * Spring - Saturday 11th April
+  * Summer - Sunday 12th July
+  * Autumn - Saturday 10th October
-=== 11:30    Talk 3 ===
-// //
-=== 12:00    Talk 4   ===
+We have booked the Titford Pump House for these dates.
-//  //
-=== 12.30 Discussion: Any Questions and Answers !! ===
-//Opportunity to discuss things further//
-=== 13:00	Lunch  ===
+===== Format of Future Meetings =====
-//Bring your own or eat cake!	//
-=== 13:30	Practical Workshop Session 1 ===
+We are seeking views from members with regards to the structure and format of future meetings.
-//.
-Chat amongst yourselves or If that's not your things then work on your current project. We’ll do our best to help with construction and problem-solving. Bring your own tools including your soldering iron.	//
-=== 14:30	Refreshment Break	 ===
+The areas we would welcome comments on are:
+  - Fixing dates for the next year
+  - Saturday or Sunday
+  - Venue
+  - Meeting format
+  - Speaker and contents
-=== 14:45	Practical Workshop Session 2 ===
+If you have a view on any of the above, please share with the co-ordinator using the contact form above.
+===== Previous meetings =====
-//Continuance of the practical session 	//
-=== 15:45	Wash Up and close ===
- //Allan Gardner//
+==== January 2020 ====
+David Roberts gave two talks.
+John Fletcher talked about 'My MERG Journey'
+==== October 2019 ====
+John Gower came and talked about the mechanics of a steam engine.  Capturing real sounds and applying them to your model railway
+Inserting sound chips in locos and how to use them effectively.
-===== Meeting dates for 2019 =====
-The dates below are for the quarterly meetings for 2019.
-  * Winter - Sunday 13th January
-  * Spring - Saturday 13th April
-  * Summer - Sunday 14th July
-  * Autumn - Saturday 12th October
+==== July 2019 ====
+Electrostatic Discharge:  What it is and Why it is Important.  David Roberts
-We have booked the Titford Pump House for these dates.
+David will explain to us what Electrostatic Discharge is, how it is caused and the damage that it can cause to modern electronic devices and systems. Simple and affordable measures to mitigate the problems will also be described.
+The Theory and Practice of a Simple MERG Kit: David Roberts
-===== Format of Future Meetings =====
-We are seeking views from members with regards to the structure and format of future meetings.
+Some of us assemble kits without knowing very little about the types of components used and why they are important.  David’s presentation will consider a simple MERG kit – the CANACT – look at the components used and explain why they are chosen and how it works.
-The areas we would welcome comments on are:
-  - Fixing dates for the next year
-  - Saturday or Sunday
-  - Venue
-  - Meeting format
-  - Speaker and contents
-If you have a view on any of the above, please share with the co-ordinator using the contact form above.
-===== Previous meetings =====
-April 2019
+==== April 2019 ====
 What is Arduino and what can it do for railway modellers