G'day Simon,
I've never started any kind of user group, but I have successfully resurrected
some old ones. First you need to appear to exist:
* create a web page
* get a mailing list (usually mailman or sympa)
* get added to Linux Australia's list of LUGs
* ask SLUG to create a page of other regional LUGs and add DLUG
then you need to find a number of interested people
* talk to your friends/workmates/family
* any university computer society (and the lecturers)
* invite people from the current UG lists to join
(e.g. SLUG, Sydney LinuxChix, SAGE-NSW, Sydney Perl Mongers, OSIA)
some of them might be local.
all you have to do - at this stage - is get them to subscribe to the mailing
list. The more you do here, the easier it is later. So now's a good time to
put up fliers, post to linuxpr, etc.
Once you've got about 10 people on the list, invite them all to introduce
themselves, including their experience with Linux and what they'd like to see
the LUG do. Start off with yourself.
Based on the results from the above, you'll get a good idea whether people want
to meet for socialising, for technical meetings or not at all. This will
obviously affect the decisions you make later.
If there appears to be sufficient interest for some kind of meeting, invite
everyone to a social gathering. If the weather is reasonable perhaps you could
have a bbq picnic, otherwise pancake parlours are usually good locations. It's
usually a good idea to pitch this meeting on a weekend afternoon. This is
really just a meet and greet exercise, but it lets you get an idea of which
people you might be able to call upon to make the UG work later.
You may need to repeat the above a couple of times so that you all kind of get
to know each other.
REALLY IMPORTANT: When inviting people to a social event or a technical meeting
ALWAYS remember to encourage them to bring along workmates, friends, family and
other interested parties. Word of mouth is a great way to get larger attendance
and reminding people to bring along others means they won't just think that Jane
might be interested, but will have an extra motivation to invite her.
Real meetings. These are hard. Although if you've got a group of people who
all want them to happen, that helps a lot. First you need to find a location.
Perhaps your local pub has a presentation room you can use for free with a data
projector (e.g. the James Squire Brewhouse in Sydney) or maybe there's a local
restaurant with a private room and you know someone who can bring a projector.
Another good option is to ask your employer (or another member's employer) if
they can provide a meeting room and projector for an evening meeting.
Once you've got a location you'll need something to talk about. For your first
meeting it helps if its an interesting enough person or topic that it'll draw
crowds. If you could get Linus himself there, that would be ace, but it's
probably also a little difficult. As a good substitute invite known names, like
Pia, to come and talk. You have two main requirements for speakers at this
meeting:
* they have to be able to captivate the audience (be a good speaker)
* their topic has to be really interesting, but not toooo technical
(because you'll probably have lots of newbies)
Once you've got some speakers in mind and a location, pick a meeting date at
least one month away and announce the meeting far and wide. Ask your list
members to spread the word. Go back to linuxpr and flyers and asking other
localish user groups. Encourage people to RSVP. Ask around and see if you can
get a local business (preferably one at which you or another member works) to
sponsor pizza, or chips or soft drink for this first meeting. Ask every member
to tell their boss (where applicable) about the upcoming meeting and invite them
to come as well.
Sell the advantages of user group attendance to managers. LUGs don't have to
only include students. Emphasise the value that administrators (and
programmers) get from associating with their peers, the knowledge transfer,
learning new tricks, becoming less set in their ways. Talk about the
communication skills one can learn from presenting at these meetings. Encourage
your members to go back to their management after the event and demonstrate that
it's helped them in some way.
So you've now had a successful meeting. Now what? Well now it's time to invite
the membership to take a more active part in everything. You've demonstrated
that it can be done, now it's time for them to keep it happening. Decide at the
end of this first meeting whether the group wishes to have ongoing monthly
meetings, bi-monthly meeting or some other kind of schedule. Suggest the
creation of a committee (you don't have to become a legal association yet
though). If you do set up a committee, make 2 people personally responsible for
making sure that meetings go ahead.
Implore all of your members to think about what they might be able to contribute
next time.
Try to line up speakers at least 2 weeks in advance. At the start, expect that
many of the talks will be done by yourself and maybe 2 other eager people. Keep
inviting talents from afar to drop on by and give talks as well. Keep
encouraging your members to give talks.
Make sure that every meeting has a socialisation period, whether it be at the
pub/local restaurant afterwards, or beforehand while everyone else arrives, or
both. When you hear someone talking passionately about some interesting
(technical) topic, ask them whether they'd give a talk on that. This can work
quite well.
If you can't have monthly meetings, keep having regularish social events. This
helps keep people connected and makes it easier for new people to join in and
feel welcome (as long as your social events are inclusive). Only plan big
events such as install fests when you know that you've got:
* a reliable location
* 3-5 reliable members who'll help you
I hope that some of this helps.
Jacinta
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