Differences

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

--- public:vag [2020/05/09 10:44] – uppermill
+++ public:vag [2021/02/04 19:32] – 2021 facelift Acemason
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-| [[:public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]] | [[:public:start|Index to other public pages]] | [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] |
-|**<color red>There are <COUNTDOWN:09:00 2020-05-12|the next Virtual Area Group Meeting (10:00 BST on 12th May 2020)></color>** |
-===== MERG Virtual Area Group =====
 ~~NOCACHE~~
+~~NOTOC~~
-==== Email ====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace Somewhere with the name of your area group.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
-To send us an email, [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=28|use the MERG Area Group contact form]]\\
+<WRAP notice round centeralign>
-For <color darkblue>**MERG**</color> members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=245|area group forum.]]
+====== MERG Virtual Area Group ======
+</WRAP>
-==== Area Group Coordinator ====
+<WRAP box round centeralign button>
+\\
+[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
-Allan Geekie M5173 - email address: [[vag@merg.org.uk]]
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace photo with a area group meeting photo
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP box round centeralign>
+{{:public:istock-168615238.jpg?nolink&400|}}
+</WRAP>
+===== How do I contact the Virtual 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=28|MERG Virtual Area Group contact form]]
+</WRAP>
-==== How It Works ====
+===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
-This group now uses Zoom to conduct a group meeting from member's homes or workplaces. It was formed in October 2018 to assess the usefulness of video conferencing technology.
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Replace photo with the names and titles of leaders.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP info round>
+\\
+Dave Mason, who is a retired chartered engineer with relevant experience in electronics and control system software, but little experience with railways, model or otherwise. Dave is a member of the South Hants Area Group and  piloted the first virtual Special Interest Group exploring "analogue/DC" systems.
-The calls last one hour and to participate, members need a mobile phone, tablet or a PC / Mac with a camera and microphone. Recently we have started to enable members to join by telephone if they have limited broadband facilities.
+("Acemason" on the Forum. Website: www.townace.plus.com)\\
+</WRAP>
-In order to join the group you need to register at [[https://merg.org.uk/membership/|this link]]. In the Area Groups section, select MERG Virtual Area Group from the drop down list and press the green button with the plus sign.
+===== Would you like to join today? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Update area group name.
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<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 Virtual Area Group]]</WRAP>
+Select **Virtual Area Group** from the drop down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button.
+</WRAP>
-Calls are scheduled in advance and are held on each Tuesday of each month at 10:00, 12:30 or 18:30 GMT or BST. Topics are agreed in advance.
+===== How do you meet? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+****************************************************
+Provide meeting details
+****************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP info round>
+The Virtual Area Group (VAG) is for MERG members only and was started primarily for those too distant from their nearest Area Group. It only meets using Zoom.
-When it is time to start a call, a voice and video conference is opened up which has thumbnails of each video participant and any shared presentations or desktops. The call leader facilitates the call and the discussions and tries to get through the agenda in the agreed time. Zoom has two views available. The first is the speaker view which selects the video stream from the person speaking. The second is Gallery view which shows streams from all participants.
-[[help:making_video_calls|This page]] provides guidance for members on what needs be done to prepare for and join video calls.
+During the first two years of the VAG we regularly welcomed members from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, UK, USA etc and varied weekly meeting times to try to make the calls work for different time zones.
-Members are participating from:-
-  * Australia\\
+Many Area Groups have switched to using Zoom during Covid and so, temporarily we hope, created many other options for joining in.
-  * Canada\\
-  * Iceland\\
-  * Ireland\\
-  * UK\\
-  * USA.\\
-Members can access the presentation material [[helpsystem:presentations#merg_virtual_area_group_s|here]].
+At the start of 2021, after a break in the programme and with those other MERG Zoom options which are accessible to members in the western hemisphere, the plan is to resume VAG meeting only once a month on a Tuesday at 10am UK time which suits members in Europe and the Australian times zones.
-Calls are recorded and stored on MERG TV; the current list of recordings are available, to members,  [[areagroups:vag:vag_on_merg_tv|here]].
-If you would like to try out Zoom, then there is a test meeting service where you are the only participant and you can experiment with the various options available.
+Meetings are nominally for an hour but typically Zoom will open 15mins before and for 30 mins afterwards for informal chat.
- [[http://zoom.us/test]]
-This link is available to anybody, not just members of the virtual area group.
+Calls may be recorded and made available all MERG members.
+</WRAP>
-==== Next Meeting ====
-|**<color red>There are <COUNTDOWN:09:00 2020-05-12|the next Virtual Area Group Meeting (10:00 BST on 12th May 2020)></color>** |
+===== And the Next Meeting? =====
+<WRAP hide>
+***************************************************************************
+Replace NN with the number of your area group - get from the AG admin page.
+Update the contact form title.
+***************************************************************************
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP box round borderlesstable>
+<ORG34>ALL|40|28|NO</ORG34>
+</WRAP>
-==== Meeting Schudule ====
+===== How are Topics Chosen? =====
-<ORG34>ALL|80|28</ORG34>
-==== Past Meeetings ====
-<ORG34>ALL|-5|28</ORG34>
+<WRAP info round>
 In April 2020 we carried out a poll of VAG members and the following topics were identified as the most popular: -
@@ Line 63: / Line 106: @@
   * How kits work - a series of calls, each discussing the how one particular kit works - now schuduled
   * Types and use of baseboard connectors - covered in Demystifying Components -Wires and Connectors
-  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists - being planned as a two part course.
+  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists - now scheduled
   * Using the FCU - a multi part course is being considered including the use of the FCU to configure individual 2nd generation modules.
-  * Testing boards (use of various pieces of test equipment and the way to go about it) - A Test Gear Buyers Guide is already scheduled; other calls to be added.
+  * Testing boards (use of various pieces of test equipment and the way to go about it) - A Test Gear Buyers Guide has already been presented.
   * Neater Methods of under board wiring
@@ Line 79: / Line 122: @@
   * CBUS Beginners Kit.
+Members can suggest topics at any time using the member email system.
+</WRAP>
+===== How do Video Calls Work? =====
+<WRAP round tip>
+The calls last one hour and to participate, members need a mobile phone, tablet or a PC / Mac with a camera and microphone.
+Calls are scheduled in advance and are held on each Tuesday of each month at 10:00, 12:30 or 18:30 GMT or BST. Topics are agreed in advance.
+When it is time to start a call, a voice and video conference is opened up which has thumbnails of each video participant and any shared presentations or desktops. The call leader facilitates the call and the discussions and tries to get through the agenda in the agreed time. Zoom has two views available. The first is the speaker view which selects the video stream from the person speaking. The second is Gallery view which shows streams from all participants.
+If you would like to try out Zoom, then there is a test meeting service where you are the only participant and you can experiment with the various options available.
+<WRAP button>[[http://zoom.us/test|Test Zoom]]</WRAP>
+This link is available to anybody, not just members of the virtual area group.
+</WRAP>
-Members can view the eralier VAG schedules at the [[areagroups:vag:old_vag_page|Old VAG Page]]
+----
-A [[public:vag2|new page]] is under construction.
+<WRAP button>[[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|VAG Members Page]]</WRAP>