Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- public:westmids [2019/12/16 04:49] – [Saturday 12th October 2019] allan_gardner
+++ public:westmids [2020/08/03 11:39] – uppermill
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+~~NOCACHE~~
+~~NOTOC~~
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace Somewhere with the name of your area group.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP notice round centeralign>
+====== MERG West Midlands Area Group (WMAG) ======
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP box round centeralign button>
+\\
+[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace photo with a area group meeting photo
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP box round centeralign>
+{{:public:wmag1.jpg?400|}}  {{:public:wmag_tony_.jpg?400|}}
+</WRAP>
+===== How do I contact the Area Group =====
+<WRAP hide>
+***************************************************************************
+Replace NN with the number of your area group - get from the AG admin page.
+Update the contact form title.
+***************************************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP help round button>
+\\
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=17|MERG West Midlands Area Group contact form]]
+</WRAP>
+===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace photo with the names and titles of leaders.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP info round>
+\\
+Allan Gardner M6237 - //Group Leader//
+</WRAP>
+===== Would you like to join today? =====
+<WRAP tip round>
+Not a member? then <WRAP button>[[https://www.merg.org.uk/membership.php|Join MERG Here]]</WRAP> and sign up to this Area Group. If you are already a member <WRAP button>[[https://merg.org.uk/membership/areagroups.php|Join the West Midlands Area Group]]</WRAP>
+Select **West Midlands Area Group** from the drop-down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button.
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP clear></WRAP>
+===== How do you meet? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Provide meeting details
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP info round>
+In normal times we meet at the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society's premises Titford Pump House, Engine Street, OLDBURY, West Midlands B69 4NL.\\
+<WRAP button>[[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|Titford Pumphouse]]
+</WRAP>
+\\
+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.\\
+\\
+We meet four times a year in January, April July and October. We hold two meetings on a Saturday and the other two on a Sunday. \\
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP alert round 75% center>
+**//GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS AND TRAVEL//** Due to the restrictions we are unable to meet at the moment.  We have a meeting scheduled for October but clearly we remain in uncertain times.
+</WRAP>
+===== What does the group get up to? =====
+<WRAP box round leftalign>
+Our days meeting normally starts at 10:00 am and concludes at 16:00.
+The day is split into two parts.
+The morning session is more formal in so far as we have one or more guest speakers.  The topics are far-ranging. Take a look at the next section to see some of our previous meetings.
+The afternoon session is informal and generally consists of:
+  - Members working on their current project (normally a KIT).  We will do our best to help with construction and problem-solving.
+  - Talking to presenters about the days topic.
+  - Passing the day talking all thing model railway electronics.
+We charge a modest £3 for the day which we donate to our venue host for the use of the Pumphouse.
+We do not charge for tea and coffee or the various superb cake that is kindly supplied by one of our members' wives.
+<WRAP centeralign>{{:public:wmag_dkr_test_board.jpg?500|}} {{:public:wmag_dkr_schematic.jpg?240|}}</WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+===== What Have We Done Previously? ==
+<WRAP box round>
+<WRAP borderlesstable>
+|[[public:wmag_gallery|Click here for a Gallery of events]]|
+{{:playground:wm_jan2019_doug.jpg?200|}} {{:playground:wm_jan2019_1.jpg?250|}} {{:playground:wm_colin.jpg?250|}}
+</WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+===== And the Next Meeting? =====
+<WRAP box round borderlesstable>
+<ORG34>ALL|100|17|NO</ORG34>
+</WRAP>
+===== What is Happening Online? =====
+<WRAP box round borderlesstable>
+{{:public:msag_zoom_icon.png?30 |Zoom online Meetings}} Currently, WMAG members are participating in the Zoom calls being organised by the nearby East Midlands, Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire and the Virtual area groups.
+Some forthcoming activities are as follows: -
+===== East Midlands Area Group =====
+The East Midlands Area Group hosts a very popular call once per month.
+<ORG34>ALL|60|2|NO</ORG34>
+===== Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire Area Group =====
+Our colleagues at Warwick and North Oxford AG are holding  biweekly virtual meetings on a Wednesday evening.   East Midlands AG are also holding monthly virtual all-day meeting. The schedule of both these groups is given below.   If you are interested in attending these groups sign up here and select ‘join area group’.
+<ORG34>ALL|60|23|NO</ORG34>
+===== Virtual Area Group =====
+The Virtual Area Group offers short one hour presentations and discussions every week. Active participants call in from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Icelend, UK and USA.
+<ORG34>ALL|30|28|NO</ORG34>
+</WRAP>
+===== What Local Organisations do we work with? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Link to local model railway sites.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP tip round>
+The MERG West Midlands Area Group have attended model railway exhibitions, organised by the following clubs: -\\
+\\
+[[https://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/|Stafford Railway Circle]]\\ {{ :playground:wm_staffs2019.jpg?400|}}
+\\
+[[http://bournvillemrc.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk/|Bourneville Model Railway Club]]\\
+ \\
+[[https://www.warley-mrc.org.uk/|Warley Model Railway Club]]\\
+</WRAP>
 ====== MERG West Midlands Area Group ======
@@ Line 9: / Line 185: @@
-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 198: @@
-//The next meeting of the West Midlands Area Group will be://
+//<color #ed1c24>The July meeting of the West Midlands Area Group has been cancelled</color>.  See below ://
-===== Sunday 12th January 2020 =====
+====== 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 Sunday 12th July 2020</color>.
-At **Titford Pump House, Engine Street, OLDBURY, West Midlands B69 4NL**.
+\\
+\\ So our next meeting should be Saturday 10th October (but note the weasel word indicating lack of certainty!)\\
+\\
+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 topics: ====
+**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.
-We welcome John Gower who will give talks on:
-=== 1.Decoder steam sounds and their relation to the real thing, and what to look for in buying a DCC system   ===
-=== 2. Fitting Decoders with emphasis on DCC ===
@@ Line 81: / Line 270: @@
 //Housekeeping//: Fire exit & procedure, First aid, Toilet, Dishwasher.
-//Other matters// Arduino Course Update, shows & Exhibitions.
+//Other matters//
-=== 10.30 Talk 1 ===
+=== 10.30 Talk 1   ===
@@ Line 95: / Line 284: @@
 Tea, Coffee, and cake.
-=== 11:45 Talk 2 ===
+=== 11:45 Talk 2   ===
+=== 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 ===
-John will be with us all day so, take the opportunity to delve deeper into today’s subjects. He has offered to bring the kit locker with him so plenty of opportunities to stock up on MERG Kits.  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 152: / Line 345: @@
-===== Meeting dates for 2019 =====
+===== Meeting dates for 2020 =====
-The dates below are for the quarterly meetings for 2019.
+The dates below are for the quarterly meetings for 2020.
-  * Winter - Sunday 13th January
+  * Winter - Sunday 12th January
-  * Spring - Saturday 13th April
+  * Spring - Saturday 11th April   (This meeting was cancelled)
-  * Summer - Sunday 14th July
+  * Summer - Sunday 12th July      (This meeting was cancelled)
-  * Autumn - Saturday 12th October
+  * Autumn - Saturday 10th October (With a bit of luck, this meeting will go ahead)
@@ Line 182: / Line 375: @@
 If you have a view on any of the above, please share with the co-ordinator using the contact form above.
 ===== Previous meetings =====
+==== January 2020 ====
+David Roberts gave two talks.
+John Fletcher talked about 'My MERG Journey'
+==== October 2019 ====
+John Gowers 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.
 ==== July 2019 ====
@@ Line 245: / Line 456: @@
 The theme of our meeting was ‘Back to Basics’
-//AM  - Two talks given by Howard to include//
+//AM  - Two talks given by Howard included//