There are Wikimedian groups all around the United States. We hope to have attendees from all of them!

The 2012 WALRUS Congress, being held on Wednesday July 11, is an inaugural event that aims to bring together Wikimedians Active in Local Regions of the United States (WALRUS) as representatives of chapters and regional groups, national and regional GLAM and outreach coordinators, and other interested Wikipedians and Wikimedians from across the breadth of the United States. We invite all Wikimania attendees—whether from the United States or around the world—to join us for an evening of discussion, collaboration, and excitement!

→ Hear about local programs and activities from representatives of chapters and regional groups around the country!
→ Help plan nation-wide program coordination and outreach events for the coming year!
→ Discuss ideas for building a stronger network of local Wikimedian groups across the United States!

We will hold the WALRUS Congress as an extended lunch meeting on Wednesday July 11 from 11am-1pm in room 307 at Wikimania's George Washington University venue, right before the Wikipedia Loves Libraries meeting.

US attendees

If you're a Wikimedian from the United States planning on attending this event, please add your name to the list below. Please feel free to list the city, state, or region you'll be representing—we aim to have attendees from across the entire United States.

International attendees

Although this event is focused on Wikimedia activities in the United States, we welcome guests from around the world. If you'll be joining us from outside the United States, please add your name to the list below.

Agenda

The following is a preliminary agenda for the event. Please keep in mind that this is subject to change, and the final choice of topics of discussion will depend heavily on the interests of the attendees.

  • Updates from regional chapters and groups on local activities:
  • Discussion of US-wide Wikimedia programs and events in 2012–13:
    • Great American Wiknic 2012 / 2013
    • Wiki Loves Monuments USA 2012
    • GLAM-Wiki US
    • Wikipedia Loves Libraries
    • Banners for Fall 2012 events
    • Developing super-regional contact and report structure
  • Plans for 2013 and beyond:
    • Proposed Washington Agreement on collaboration among Wikimedians in the United States
    • Planning 2013 US national meeting
    • Planning US-related presentations and activities at Wikimania 2013 in Hong Kong
    • Shared technical infrastructure, microgrant programs, support work

Our minutes are at http://etherpad.wikimedia.org/WALRUS-2012-07-11