UPDATED!
It’s been far too long since an update, a lot going on but lots unsettled that I thought would be along the way. Due to a variety of factors beyond everyone’s control, several presentations I was prepared to give on the progress with UMESH so far ended up postponed until the first week of November, so we’ll start with a schedule of those. All are free. Each will rely on the same basic Powerpoint so no one will miss any vital points, but each will be targeted to appeal to the needs of somewhat different audiences who will find the mesh is useful for their needs.
Upcoming UMESH Presentations in Urbana
UPDATED
Champaign Urbana 2600
Friday, November 2,
Lincoln Square Village Mall
MEET in the Food Court for lots of interesting conversation and informal presentations, 5pm to 6:45pm
Presentation Time 7pm
PRESENTATION occurs after the meeting a couple of blocks away to,
Schnucks Supermarket Community Room, 200 N. Vine St (up front by the checkout lines)
Hungry? Schnucks has a wide variety of ready-to-go food available on site
for directions, etc:
http://cu2600.org/about.html#where
and
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.1211392,-88.1967104/Schnucks+Urbana+IL/@40.1178481,-88.2070744,15.61z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x880cd79e54b753bf:0xef156d1e33fb7905!2m2!1d-88.2033335!2d40.1140029
This meeting starts rather informally around 5pm and runs until 6:45pm at the Lincoln Square Village Mall Food Court. We will then briefly adjourn for a move a couple of blocks away to a more presentation-friendly space in Schnucks Community Room nearby in downtown Urbana at 200 N. Vine St where I will make the presentation and do Q&A. This is a diverse group for the computer and personal security-interested, including many programmers, other tech workers, radio-heads, and the oddballs like me. I’ve been meeting with these great folks for months now, so these security-sensitive veterans of the keyboard may have the most incisive questions of any of these three presentations. Come by and watch me sweat out this DEFCON-quality Q&A. At the Food Court there is great food (including many Zambian specialties) available hot and ready in minutes from Stango Cuisine. When we move to Schnucks, it’s deli and other dept’s offer a delicious variety of ready-to-eat foods.
UPDATED!
Independent Media Center
Wednesday, November 7
202 S. Broadway
7:30-8:30 pm
“Mesh Networking for Activists”
The IMC hosts UMESH 4 on its roof, our best located and greatest range node. This presentation will focus on how mesh networking is one of the few concrete responses to the problem of the attacks on the principle of net neutrality; how we’re building a cooperative mesh network in Urbana that is free to use; how useful mesh networking can be during mass mobilizations like marches and rallies; and explain how mesh networking can support a variety of organizing and human service goals. The IMC has supported UMESH and this is a way for its members to learn more about the project.
UPDATE! [thanks Brian!]
The Facebook page for this event is here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/249989345685424/
More about the IMC:
https://www.ucimc.org/
Champaign/Urbana Hackers & Founders Presents Hacks & Snacks
“Connect with UMESH” - a Progress Report on Urbana’s “Ambassador City” Wireless Mesh Network
401 N. Broadway
5:30-7:30pm
This group is similar to CU2600 in that it is tech-oriented, but those who attend tend to have a more diverse range of employment, ranging from a still significant contingent of programmers to those with more entrepreneurial interests including investing in local tech start-ups. Despite most of these projects including a large dose of internet and/or a mobile/cellular component, this group has been deeply interested in the UMESH project, which involves neither one directly. Similarly, with no apparent way to monetize mesh networks and transactions, others find it fascinating I’m doing this project as a unpaid volunteer. Conversations are always fascinating and did I mention the food? It’s amazing free samples of delicious stuff. The Meetup signup page: https://www.meetup.com/CUHackersFounders/events/tzsmtpyxpblb/
The current venue website, Broadway Food Hall, much-recommended for fantastic food: https://broadwayfoodhall.com/
I hope those who want to know more about UMESH and how goTenna Mesh makes it work can find a meeting that they can make. Each is free and I welcome questions about UMESH, goTenna Mesh more generally, and most of all that most rewarding of all questions to any organizer, “How can I get involved?”
If you have any questions about the meetings, please ask here or send a DM. If you’d like me to present to your group, just ask, I’d be glad to tailor a presentation for your audience’s interests.
Remember, if you want to know more about what’s happening in the Urbana Ambassador City Project, check the handy webpage located just next door 
----> https://www.gotenna.com/blogs/ambassador-program/mike-urbana-il
I’ll update this in the next few days, as well as catch up on a few other developments.