CoTech Winter 2019 Gathering : Newcastle

Sorry, that was decided after chatting to Code-Op as there were few responses to the poll. To everyone interested, we are on meet.jit.si/cotech20191106

We are here now: https://meet.jit.si/cotech20191106

If I arrive in Newcastle by Megabus John Dobson Street at 10pm on Friday night, not knowing Newcastle at all, can I ask:

(a) Is John Dobson Street near to hotels/accommodation
(b) near pub? (Will any CoTech people still be in a pub then?)

Thanks,
Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

a) depends on the hotel, but it’s in the northern side of the city centre, near Haymarket metro station
b) it’s near a pub called the Five Swans, I can certainly meet you here if you mean you’re arriving 10pm on Thursday night?

Thats helpful ta Calum
I won’t arrange now ta, will be in touch if plans work

Hi!

I
have added some conclusions and new questions to the notes.

If you
want to have a look, they are on:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k6Dz8ox9uguQ8vX2hbNuP0QfPU_gzOVALLavMOiUxcg/edit
(second page)

Hey everyone,

Really looking forward to seeing you all on Friday. I will be arriving at the venue about 12.30 in the afternoon.

I have put myself forward to try to coordinate a working group about Business Development for CoTech (i.e a session that people who want to can dip in and out of throughout the time). Who would like to join me?

Here are some of the things that I thought we could cover:

  • Updating the deck about what CoTech is and why clients should buy stuff from CoTech
  • Creating a 1-pager that each of the individual co-ops can adapt to use in their own pitch decks, that explains what CoTech is and why it’s good
  • Updating the website copy to convey some of this stuff
  • Understanding the benefits and difficulties of multiple co-ops working together on client projects - how can we make it smoother and keep it profitable?

Beyond this, I am very much open to suggestions.

Warning: I am really NOT a sales or business development whizz kid. Far from it. However, it does seem like a session which ought to happen which is why I am proposing it. I’d really appreciate some people getting involved, and if there’s anyone who’s up for a chat about it this week then that would be great.

As mentioned, I won’t be there for kick-off on the Friday, and I may be leaving before the end of Saturday, but there’s no reason why others shouldn’t make a start before/after I’m about.

Polly :slight_smile:

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Hey I have invited @alexdeery to join us in Newcastle. Alex is a mate of mine who is a sociological researcher with a particular interest in co-ops and how they fit in with the community wealth building agenda in the North of the UK and elsewhere. He’s interested in learning more, with a view to doing a social network analysis of CoTech. I thought this could be a really interesting and useful piece of research. Alex can explain a bit more here and then you can get to meet him face-to-face at the weekend.

:slight_smile:

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If anyone has any last minute requirements regarding lunch speak now or forever hold your peace (it’s vegan both days)

Also seeking an old hand to a quick intro talk on Friday morning, to introduce CoTech and summarise where we are. Similar to the presentation @chrislowis did in Sheffield in May

Didn’t I hear you already asking someone to do this during Friday’s conference call, Calum?
Just checkin’ …

I did but didn’t get any volunteers :sweat_smile:

OK, Agile Collective have booked our tickets (finally). @finn and I will be coming, we have a flat nearby with Animorph peeps (x2). We have some space in bunk beds if anyone needs… email / PM me if you’re interested.

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Jamie Driscoll is also supposed to be dropping in around 12/1pm, if you want to congratulate/commiserate him on a great/poor election result

If you arrive on Thursday:

  • before 10pm, I will meet you in the Head of Steam, a pub near the train station
  • after 10pm, I will meet you in the Five Swans, a pub near the bus stop

I will be the drunk code-operator

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For what it;s worth I’ll bring the remaining stationery materials we bought (with CoTech money) last time: it’s a little box of :-
Post-it Notes, small & mediium size
Highlighters
Marker Pens
Dry-wipe pens for whiteboards
Sellotape
Multi-purpose duct tape
Smily face stickers
Blu-tac
etc

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Just to make sure we all end up in the same pubs…

This is 2 Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5EN.

And this is 14 Street Mary’s Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7PG

Right?

Here is to hoping we have something celebrate on Thursday night :beers: :fist: .

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NE1 for a drink, then?

[joke]

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Agendas are up on the wiki

Ideally read through these before coming to the gathering so that you know what you want to do, but they’re nice and short so you could also read them on Friday morning :slight_smile:

Thanks everyone for making them! Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow/Friday

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