This is the first occurence of fortnightly SIG meetings, separate from Committee meetings. The aim is to discuss issues that affect SIGs, individual SIG problems & event updates, and any updates with budgeting/funding.
Attendees:
Committee (Fergus (pres.), Ali (vp.), Sophie (treasurer), Yuto (graphic des.))
QuantSIG (Alex, Sachin)
CloudSIG (Juin)
Tardis Project (Aria)
GameDevSig (Krzysztof)
Project Share (Vojtech)
TypeSig (Amy)
SIGINT (Jacob in place of Lorian)
Consolidated TODOs:
SIGs to request any additional funds apart from the base 300 (exceptions for TypeSig [500] and SIGINT [1500] for conferences) through Fergus (who will contact Neil)
SIGs to put down email addresses in Discord #sigs to view funding spreadsheet that Sophie owns
SIGs to draft up and send to Fergus (Discord/email) their target demographics, average attendee numbers, and what kind of things companies can get out of you
GameDevSig to draft up an event idea by end of this week for a late-semester that Vincent can advertise in-class.
QuantSIG to refresh posters and put them up for more visibility.
Fergus to think about the AGM-style event (“Re-freshers event” in January) for SIG showcase. Potentially raise with Committee.
Fergus to ask School about use of lockers for SIGs or alternatively making the cupboard more accessible out-of-hours.
Ali/Fergus to sort out November and January STMU speakers, for which Tardis (Aria) is available to do a talk.
Yuto to distribute CompSoc brand logos in color and monochrome.
Yuto to draft up several mini-logo designs and placement on graphics, and optionally send out poll to SIGs if cannot decide.
Yuto to create a SIG showcase poster and/or a graphic for the TV screen (likely 16:9).
Adam or other interested members to overhaul website and include more things in SIG section, make meeting minutes more visible, update sponsor logos, potentially add event images.
Funding
Problem: Neil has brought up that it is too many SIGs for him to fund
Solution: Fergus will be meeting Neil weekly anyway. Fergus to formalise a “contract” thing for SIGs, so SIGs can request through Fergus and the School can get guarantees that it will be used for the requested SIG only
CompSoc Funds:
Base funding for SIG doubled from 150 to 300 GBP
Exceptions for SIGINT (annual 1500) and TypeSig (500)
Additional funds from the school (re: proposal above):
Contact Sophie with formalised request just like for society funds
Put down any hypothetical fund requests as definites as the paperwork requires this
Sophie owns read-only spreadsheet of funds
TODO: SIGs to put down email addresses to view spreadsheet
Commercialisation of CompSoc
Vision: Selling CompSoc through the School of Informatics. Pursuade companies to purchase the sponsorship package for CompSoc & SIG.
SIGs
TODO: SIGs to write target demographics
TODO: SIGs to write average attendee numbers
TODO: SIGs to write what kind of things companies can get out of you
Timeframe
Anytime from next semester to next academic year
SIGs should prepare this academic year already – making sure your SIG doesn’t die (finding committee)
AGM-style event for SIGs
Problem: Many SIGs likely will have successor problems (bar TypeSig & Tardis who have an idea).
Proposed solution: AGM-style event for SIGs. Students write manifestos, SIGs look over it.
Proposed solution: Lots of SIGs this year (likely first time), so maybe a SIG Fair. “Re-freshers event”.
Meeting Rooms
Payment now required for G.07.
TypeSig has had to pay 275 GBP (cheap for venue of that size, but still).
HTB & PwnEd likely will be able to pay up – harder for smaller SIGs
Branding
Problem: CompSoc logo has to be on SIG graphics. However CompSoc logo color clashes (red vs blue on TypeSig). Logo size is also large and less legibile at small sizes
Proposed solution:
TODO: Yuto to distribute original logo and monochrome logo
TOOD: Yuto to propose several favicon / small logo / heart and get SIGs to poll
TODO: Yuto to formalise positions of logo on branding
Small logos/graphics should be for just general PR like insta/posters, but for conference posters or sponsorship decks, it should be full CompSoc logo.
This is to prevent situations like PwnEd last year where CompSoc logo was nowhere to be seen
Problem: SIG visibility and gathering members
Proposed Solution: Poster for showcasing SIGs. Use TV in lower ground floor of AT.
TODO: Fergus to check how to get access to the TV.
Problem: Lots of SIG, likely crowded on a single poster or TV screen.
Proposed solution: Link to website or LinkTree.
Problem: Website SIG section is barebones and website in general is not very used
Proposed solution: Overhaul website
TODO: Adam (or other interested members) to rehaul website to make SIGs section contain brief sentences like “we run events every Sunday”.
TODO: Adam (or other interested members) to increase visibility of meeting minutes
TODO: Adam to add company logos to sponsorship section
Maybe start adding event photos to the News section?
SIG-specific points
GameDevSig
Problem: On the verge of death in terms of finding next committee next year & getting consistent attendees
Solution: Sell it more as a side hobby instead of a daunting game project (such as game jams like how SIGINT do weekend CTFs, connect with other SIGs/societies to launch collab events)
RockStar Games confirmed for 7th of February
Problem: Target audience slightly unclear - the interested people seem busy
Solution: Target first years
TODO: GameDevSig to draft an event proposal (single sentence & date) by 12 November & CompSoc will get Vincent to market during lectures
(Perhaps a Haskell GameJam to target first years after the FP competition)
QuantSIG
Problem: Event attendee decreasing: Second one only approx. 15-16 attendees.
Proposed solution: Take down posters and re-design and set them up with different colours for eye-catch.
No updates with EUTIC since last time.
Project Share
Problem: Can we get lockers in AT for Project Share & other SIGs?
Status of those lockers unsure, cupboard could be a viable alternative
TODO: Fergus to get School involved to get proper cupboard
Tardis Project
Available to do a talk about Tardis infrastructure
Likely January STMU
CloudSIG
First event with Guest speaker around 20 attendees