added mikemp as a member

[wiki.git] / join.mdwn

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-# Joining SIPB
-
-We are MIT's volunteer student computing group, improving computing at
-MIT since 1969.  Today, SIPB projects provide innovative services and
-special expertise to the MIT community.  We have an office just
-outside the Athena cluster in the student center W20, and you are
-welcome to come by to ask us for help or to hang around and use our
-computers.
+[[!meta title="Joining SIPB"]]

 
 ## Membership
 
 If you are interested in contributing to SIPB's computing services and
 in helping users with unusual computing questions, consider becoming a
 
 ## Membership
 
 If you are interested in contributing to SIPB's computing services and
 in helping users with unusual computing questions, consider becoming a

-member.  Full membership in SIPB is granted after sustained
+member.  Full [[membership|members]] in SIPB is granted after sustained

 contribution to the organization, and confers several benefits:
 contribution to the organization, and confers several benefits:

-<ul>
-<li> A permanent Athena account. </li>
-<li> A key to the SIPB office in W20, and a storage drawer in the SIPB office.</li>
-<li> A vote at SIPB meetings and (for current students) elections.</li>
-</ul>
+
+* A permanent Athena account.
+* A key to the SIPB office in W20, and a storage drawer in the SIPB office.
+* A vote at SIPB meetings and (for current students) elections.
+

 Prospective members interested in becoming full members should attend
 Prospective members interested in becoming full members should attend

-our weekly meetings regularly, participate in SIPB activities like
+our weekly meetings regularly (they're Mondays at 7:30 PM), participate in SIPB activities like

 hackathons, [cluedumps](http://cluedumps.mit.edu/), and [IAP classes](http://sipb.mit.edu/iap),
 hackathons, [cluedumps](http://cluedumps.mit.edu/), and [IAP classes](http://sipb.mit.edu/iap),

-and either create a new SIPB
-project or help with some existing SIPB projects.  This process
-generally takes about a term of active participation.
+and either create a new [[SIPB
+project|projects]] or help with some existing [[SIPB projects|projects]].  This process
+generally takes about a term of active participation.  Our [[calendar]] contains the full schedule of our events.
+
+To get involved in SIPB projects, you can contribute to an existing
+project&mdash;begin by talking to the people currently working on
+it&mdash;or start a new one.  The best way to start
+a SIPB project is to pick some computing-related problem that is
+important to you, find some like-minded individuals, and try to solve
+it, discussing your ideas and plans around the SIPB office, and
+reporting on your progress to the SIPB.  The most successful SIPB
+projects have often been things that the people involved really wanted
+to do, and found resources or collaborators to do them through SIPB.
+
+You don't have to be a coding ace to become a SIPB member!  There are plenty of ways for nontechnical people to get involved: you can write documentation, help organize events, work on publicity or advocacy, or contribute design skills.  If you want to contribute to SIPB by coding but don't think you're a good enough programmer, there are many SIPB members willing to work with you to help you get better, and for many people working on a project and learning as you go along is a great way to build your programming skills.
+

 
 ## The office
 
 
 ## The office
 

+<img class="right" alt="The office fills with people working together in a hackathon." src="../photos/office-hackathon.320.jpg"/>
+

 Prospective members are encouraged to hang out in the SIPB office
 anytime it is open, which it is on a typical weekday afternoon and
 evening.  We strive to make it a fun and comfortable place to work on
 projects, homework, or anything else by providing an array of amenities:
 Prospective members are encouraged to hang out in the SIPB office
 anytime it is open, which it is on a typical weekday afternoon and
 evening.  We strive to make it a fun and comfortable place to work on
 projects, homework, or anything else by providing an array of amenities:

-<ul>
-<li> Nice chairs, big monitors, many computers, table space for laptops</li>
-<li> Music: ours (CDs or [LAMP](https://lamp.mit.edu/)) or yours (via AirTunes or a certain "printer")</li>
-<li> Tons of equipment and supplies from video adapters to an oscilloscope to Band-Aids</li>
-<li> A diverse technical library, including popular textbooks</li>
-<li> Soda and snacks for late-night sessions, cheaper and closer than Verde's</li>
-</ul>
+
+* Nice chairs, big monitors, many computers, table space for laptops
+* Music: ours (CDs or [LAMP](https://lamp.mit.edu/)) or yours (via a certain ["printer"](http://sipb.mit.edu/sipbmp3/))
+* Tons of equipment and supplies from video adapters to an oscilloscope to Band-Aids
+* A diverse technical library, including popular textbooks
+* Soda and snacks for late-night sessions, cheaper and closer than Verde's

 
 ## You
 
 
 ## You