UPDATE: the latest on the SkS shindig is that it will be Monday 5 December at Rob Honeycutt's house in Berkeley. People who are coming:

SkSers

• Rob Honeycutt
• John Cook
• Dana Nuccitelli
• Andy Skuce
• Kate (Climate Sight)
• Jim Powell
• Tom Smerling

Others

• Richard Alley (probably)
• Bud Ward (Yale Forum)
• John Mashey
• John Abraham
• Scott Mandia
• Steve Easterbrook
• Jeff Masters
• Angela Fritz
• Ricky Rood (climate change blog at Wunderground)
• Chris Burt (weather history blog at Wunderground)
• Peter Sinclair
• Jim Hoggan
• Verity Payne (Carbon Brief)
• Ove Hoegh-Guldberg

The details are fuzzy still and I'm not sure if I've mentioned this in any detail yet here on the forum - but just letting everyone know that I'll be visiting Salt Springs in British Columbia (for a 1 or 2 day communication workshop) at the start of December then heading down to the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco from Dec 4 to Dec 8. Hopefully a number of SkSers will be converging on SF for the Fall meeting so I'm hoping we can have some kind of SkS get together - a dinner or something. I have no idea where, when or how but if you can make it to SF or BC in early December, this is a rare opportunity for SkSers to meet face-to-face (looking at photos on http://sks.to/team doesn't count).

Will post more details as the trip solidifies.

Looking at the photos has a lower carbon footprint :-)

I might be in SF at that time: combo AGU + visit to family.

Shucks John, if money were not so tight I'd be there to meet up with you and Andy etc. ....sigh :( 

Find someone with a national cellphone plan & call me.  Wish I could be there, though.

(906) 250-8019

I'm planning to be in SF for the AGU and it will be great to meet SkSers in person. Of course, I'm also looking forward to spending some time with John in BC. I'm working with the Salt Spring Forum to organize some events involving John. What exactly we manage to pull off depends in part on how much funding we can access. We have recently made a pitch to a local philanthropist, fingers crossed. At the minimum. we'll be having John do a public presentation and Q&A.

If a few of us are going to attend the AGU, how about having a live blog hosted on SkS? There are WiFi hotspots all over the Moscone Center in SF and it wouldn't be difficult to write up a paragraph of two on interesting talks/sessions on a laptop/iPad and upload it to SkS. I realize that this could involve some programming for John, which he may not have time for. Alternatively, we could use existing social media platforms, Twitter, Google+ or, groan, Facebook.

Andy,

Have you attended an AGU meeting before? I haven't; but most conferences that I have attended would not be interesting to live-blog. If it were a political convention, where something is to be decided, that would be one thing. But I don't think there's going to be any plot or narrative in this sort of thing.

Neal, yes I did attend last year and wrote it up as an SkS blog post. Here.

I don't think the conference merits a minute-by-minute acccount  but a handful of posts per day over the week-long duration might be of interest.  There are many outreach sessions and featured general interest talks that SkS readers might want to hear about. 

In addition to a a public live blog it may be worthwhile for those attending to pass on some comments on this forum, reporting on feedback on SkS, for example, or gossip that wouldn't be suitable for a public blog.

Hey folks, I'd actually like to offer up my home for some kind of SkS shin dig.  I'm just across the Bay in Berkeley.  My house is big enough to have 30+ people for a party.  Would be fun.  Few snacks, some cheap wine...  If the weather cooperates the back deck makes a 30 person party even more comfy.

It's in December, Rob.

Beats December in the UP (26 F)

Want to, expencive, lots of fun, time consuming, want to, carbon footprint big, good people, bad timing, want to :)

I think live blogging AGU could be interesting, particularly if I have a Greg Craven style melt down. :-)

Rob, thanks for the generous offer. Sounds great, having a get together at your place. I doubt we'd get up to 30 SkSers along so we won't destroy your house. The main challenge is timing. I arrive in SF Sunday morning and at this point, Tuesday is already ruled out as there's some dinner thing. There will probably be other evening things. Then I leave SF on Thursday. So at this point, it looks like either Sun, Mon or Wed night with the likelihood of some of those nights being eliminated as other events emerge. Should be an intense week!

Neal...  Early December in Berkeley can often be okay weather.  It's spotty but you can catch really nice weather from time to time.  It's right before the rainy season starts here.

Let's see if we can pick a day and make a thing of it.  Don't fear inviting others that you think might be interested in coming along.

Looking at the schedule:

7 pm, Weds. 7 December: Honors Ceremony & Reception

8 pm, Thurs. 8 December: Honors Banquet

I recommend not colliding with these official evening events, since in the conferences I've gone to, often the social events give you the best chance to get a feel for what people think is important. Yeah, the banquet is pricy ($65), but it's SF.

Someone who's gone to these meetings before might have a better idea, but my suggestion for non-conflicting party planning:

1) Sunday evening

2) Monday evening

I would leave Tuesday out: You might easily meet someone you want to follow-up with, so you need some un-scheduled time.

Rob: As I recall, December weather is a bit unpredictable; so long as you are prepared for an indoor, as well as an outdoor, venue, I have no objection.

Rob et al.: According to the Union Events schedule:

Sunday evening (until 7 pm) there is a welcome reception:

Ice Breaker Reception

Sunday, 4 December, 1730h-1900h
Plan to meet up with your friends and colleagues to kick off the Fall Meeting with an informal reception for all registered attendees and guests.

So I think that leaves Monday night. In principle, Tuesday is also available: but the later in the week, the more likely that you will need the timeslot for something else.

I wonder if it's possible to arrange a meet-up with Gavin Schmidt or some other folks at the receptions?

Neal...  We have regular parties at my house where we have 30+ people even when the weather's not good.  My house is 2400 sq ft, very open, and has big windowns with nice views of the bay.  It's a very good party house.  Nice weather only means that there's a lot more room.

Rob:

Then I propose that Monday evening be the date.

I wonder if Lindzen, Spencer, Pielke et al., will be showing up at the AGU meeting? It could be an interesting opportunity to find out what they're like. Why are they writing such crap? etc. (Not that one would ask that way ...)

Monday works for me.

Monday works for me, too.

JC:

The problems with Sunday evening:

- If one leaves the reception promptly ay 7, still wouldn't to Berkeley hills before 8:15 or later, depending on mode of transport.

- Plus, the point of attending a reception is to meet people, and possibly carry the conversation further.

Another direction: could be Sunday early afternoon. That would be easier if people arrive Saturday, of course. Are your flights "set in stone"?

Otherwise, Monday still looks best.

What is ATMOS?

One final unexplored dimension: How firm are departure dates? I have it easy, as I will be staying with my son for a visit anyway.

There's no real restriction on departure from SF. Bud said all the meaty stuff at AGU happens on Mon to Wed so I was thinking of leaving Thur morning. Possibly I could stay another day and have the SkS event on Thursday night. But I think we don't want to have our shindig too late or too early as we all have jobs and families we'll be needing to get back to sooner than later (well, I cant speak for everyone, some may not be in a hurry to return). So we'll probably aim for Monday evening but see what emerges over the next few months,

I have no restrictions on how long I can stay in SF.

Thursday is probably light programmatically, but there might be people hanging out another day or so - this being SF.

I would be up for Thursday, Friday or Saturday; in addition to the default, Monday night.

Rob, I sent invites to both who both accepted.

Hi everyone,

I would love to come to this gathering - it sounds like lots of fun. I was wondering if there might be someone who could give me a ride back to the Moscone Centre (I am staying in a hotel right beside it) when it is finished, as I'm not sure how safe SF public transit is at night.

I am going to see if Steve Easterbrook can come as well.

Looking forward to it!

Kate

Kate,

I think there will be a bunch of folks headed back there as well.  We'll make sure we get you back to your hotel safely.

I regret to say that I will be unable to attend the AGU meeting after all (and also, the shindig): I suddenly got a paying contract that requires me to be in France & Geneva over the period 5 - 16 December.

I will still be coming to SF, but only by the 18th.

I'm really sorry to miss the opportunity to meet everybody. Maybe next year.

P.S. Check to see if Pielke, Lindzen, and Curry are going to the meeting. It would be a good opportunity to size them up in person.

Oh, hey.  I think you can add Peter Sinclair to the list of others as a maybe.

Shame you'll miss the shindig. But France and Geneva? Lucky dog!

Congratulations Neal.  Great news!

It's great to be doing something that will bring in some income, so I'm definitely glad about that!

But the timing is unfortunate: wipes out AGU, SkS shindig, and I'll probably miss my grand-daughter's birthday party by a day.

John -- I searched the itinerary planner but couldn't find the Wed am workshop you mention (with the filmaker).    Similarly, I assume on Sunday you're talking about the Communication workshops.   But which one?   Using Social media?  

A quick search for "John Cook" only shows the Wed pm workshop.

Tom, to answer your questions, don't know and don't know. I asked Bud about the Sunday communication workshop but haven't got any details and similarly, a bit in the dark about the Wed session. Sorry for the vagueness at this point.

You coming to the shindig?

Just got emailed details about Sunday and Wednesday - have posted all the details in the schedule at http://www.skepticalscience.com/thread.php?t=2869 but to save you a click:

I'm doing two workshops on Sunday afternoon, with Callan Bentley. Each workshop is limited to 25 people. Details and booking at:

http://sites.agu.org/fallmeeting/communicating-your-science-panel-and-workshops/

Wed morning is a Climate Science: Reaching Audiences via TV, the Web, and more! panel featuring Richard Alley (!) and Dan Satterfield. That's gonna be kick-arse:

http://sites.agu.org/fallmeeting/town-halls-and-workshops/workshops/

Invited Jeff Masters from Wunderground yesterday and he confirmed today he can come. Very cool!

@JC:

Callan is a great guy, and he has a really wonderful grasp of how incredibly visual a medium blogging is. Have a great time! Wish I could go.

Wish you could be there too although it would be awkward, wouldn't know whether to call you Things or Mr Break :-)

Rob --

Thanks again for hosting this!    Looking forward to meeting you and the others Monday night at your home in Berkeley.

I'm sure we'll find ways to carpool, but it might be helpful to have your address, directions (via BART?) and perhaps a phone number as well.     Did you post this somewhere already (perhaps I missed it)?

  If you prefer not to post this info on the forum, just email me at climatebites@gmail.com.

Tom

I had sent the details out to John but I'll post them again here...

And BTW, for everyone...  We're making the official start time 7:00pm.  

Directions to my house:

Via BART - 
Coming from Moscone Center you will need to find your way to the nearest BART station.  That would be either the Powell Street or Montgomery Street stations.  Doesn't matter which.  You'll want to get on either a Richmond bound train or a Bay Point train.  If you catch a Richmond train that will take you directly to the North Berkeley Station.  If you get on a Bay Point train you'll need to transfer at Oakland City Center onto a Richmond train and take that to North Berkeley Station.

If you can gather with other folks in SF and arrive at the same time at North Berkeley you could take a short taxi ride up the hill to my house and split the fare.  Taxies are always waiting there outside the station.


Via car - 
Probably best thing is to just do a google maps and follow the directions:
Start at:  Moscone Center San Francisco
End at:  1119 Keith Ave Berkeley CA 94708

I live on one of those narrow, winding Berkeley Hills streets but there's generally plenty of parking within a block of my house.


At my house:
When you get to my house the front door is not obvious.  You have to walk up the path on the right side of the house and then you'll see it.

If anyone has any problems you can call me at 510-393-5444.  If I don't answer the first time just leave a message and I'll call you right back (sometimes reception is bad in the hills and calls don't come through).

At the end of the evening I don't mind shuttling folks down the hill back to the BART station.

Thanks for reposting the details.

re: timing     Just noticed the 7 pm start time.    If Scott M. & John Abraham's panel on "Shaping the Debate" -- which is very relevant to SkS -- doesn't end until 5:40 (6:00 according to AGU), even if we immediately left for the sushi restaurant an sat down at say 6:15, I think we'd likely couldn't get to your house much before 8:00.  I'm guessing the trip is about 45 min by Bart + taxi; is that about right?

Any thoughts?

Tom

That sounds probably about right, Tom.  If people show up at 7pm that's fine.  But folks showing up at 8pm is no problem.

Also, for everyone's information, I've sent all the relevant information to Richard Alley but haven't heard back.  I'm taking it he'll be a no-show.

Thanks again, Rob.    I see  there are two forum topics on the shindig, so I'll add any further comments there...