announcement

invitation

follow-up

The invitation (and my photos)

Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 19:20:06 -0800 (PST)
From: wordy@qualcomm.com (Steve Roberts)
Subject: Microship Meeting/Party #1 details...

Steve debugging the video system. (Note the blue "dead air" image.)

HI again!

As I mentioned last week, we're having our first Microship Development Team shindig next Saturday, March 2 (NOT this coming Saturday). Inevitably, I've heard from a few people who can't make it... but the best solution is to do this frequently and schedule them loosely enough that other events can be accommodated. I kinda like noon as a start time -- early enough to keep most of the afternoon and evening free for anyone who has commitments elsewhere. (If you can't make it until later in the day, that's fine too -- just wander by whenever you can...)

Speaking of shelving units, here's a view of rows and rows of plastic containers that line the walls of the lab. The center box is labelled "gizmology."

Our general plan for the afternoon of 3/2 is to throw open the doors at 12:00 noon, with a modest buffet and available espresso, coffee, tea, and cold drinks. When we appear to have reached a critical mass of attendees, we'll do a lab walkthrough and orientation, with show 'n tell demos wherever possible. Small groups can clamber through the boat, and there will be plenty of time for introductions and getting acquainted. At some point, I'll take the stage for a few minutes to talk about the overall project plan, design goals, and ways the subsystems can be split up among a number of people. At this point, I'll take questions and gradually segue the meeting into a brainstorming session, encouraging anyone with ideas to talk for awhile.

Steve addresses the group. Behind him is the Macroship (as yet unnamed) with one pontoon extended and the other in the trailer towing configuration.

Following all that, we can chat informally about your involvement and who might do what, ideally seeing the early formation of teams. We did this formally at UCSD, but that was with firm schedules involving students on quarter-deadline. This will be a lot different since I assume everyone on this list has other things to do -- and since experience levels range from beginner to guru.

The rest of the afternoon will be open for chatting, starting on projects, knocking off a few easy items, eating, quaffing a few beers, or whatever. I want the lab to be an open and comfortable place to relax with techie friends... so please feel free to hang out for a while and get to know each other! We should always remember that this is a playground, and we're doing art as well as engineering... the bottom line is fun and creativity.

Faun stands in the lab's sink/shower.

The happy couple in their spacious, well-appointed kitchen.

I welcome your ideas, and also a few other items:

• Goodies for the bar and the buffet
• Folding chairs that we can keep for a couple of years
• Shelving units you might not need (also for loan)
• Lab coffeepot. I'm a latte junkie, but brew is handy for parties.
• Anything you think we need ;-)

Even though some of you have been kind enough to indicate your plans to attend already, I'd appreciate another quickie note just to confirm now that the schedule is nailed and I'm actually keeping TRACK. So far, it looks like we have about 10 people, minimum.

If you want to get involved in the buffet/drink side of this and wish to synchronize, please drop my partner a line (Faun ) -- she's coordinating the consumable department...

The phone number here at the lab is 408-567-0201, and we're most likely to answer the phone between 10AM and midnight. And finally, appended below is a map that should help you find us, with text directions following.

Cheers, thanks, and I look forward to seeing you on March 2!

Steve

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         SJ Airport