Mention VC's role

[wiki.git] / join.mdwn

diff --git a/join.mdwn b/join.mdwn
index ebfbeae60568576edd97f5402375a604a9a13667..5180e16f70531316ea909bac696b98cc1d5e1efc 100644 (file)
--- a/join.mdwn
+++ b/join.mdwn
@@ -12,15 +12,28 @@ contribution to the organization, and confers several benefits:
 * A vote at SIPB meetings and (for current students) elections.
 
 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),
 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.
+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—begin by talking to the people currently working on
+it—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 fills with people working together in a hackathon.](../photos/office-hackathon.320.jpg)
+<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
@@ -28,7 +41,7 @@ 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:
 
 * 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")
+* 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