[ug-discuss] Dallas OSUG?!

[Laura Ramsey]

Wences Michel wrote:

> Howdy! 

Hi Wences!

>
>
> Bob Netherton and myself are trying to get a users group started here 
> in Dallas and I would like to get some information like the following 
> information:
>
> How to get started?  What is the process?  What is required? 

It's really easy!  Send me your user names and your preferred name for 
the user group. We have an austin user group that goes by ATX-osug.
let me know what you'd like your group's name to be.

I'll set up the webpage, and Eric Boutilier will set up the email 
alias.  Then you're ready to go!

>
>
> How are you doing email distribution? 

Eric Boutilier will assign an alias for you.

>
>
> How are you advertising? 

We advertise through the discuss alias, announcements and blogs on the 
opensolaris site. Other leads have posted meeting notices on local Linux 
user groups or the solarisx86 yahoo group as well.

>
>
> Do you have any sponsors?  What are your thoughts on sponsors?  I know 
> some UG love them other do not? 

Each user group has their own experience with sponsors. I think sponsors 
are good as long as the user group remains independent (meaning they 
don't take too much support from any one entity).

>
>
> Where are you holding meetings?   We are thinking the Sun office in 
> Dallas, but a couple Universities have showed some interest? 

Some offices go for local universities and it seems to work well. Others 
go for Sun Offices and that works as well. Location seems to depend on 
where the concentration of members are coming from, central locations 
always being the best.

>
>
> How are you recruiting speakers?   

Each user group accesses speakers in their area, or once in a while one 
of our lead developers will be on the road and can stop in to present. 
Some user groups have linked their meetings to Solaris Day or other 
field events in their area so they can pick up speakers from those 
agendas. This is where the presentation library on the user group page 
comes in handy.

>
> How are  you getting engineering resources to present and who's 
> sponsoring travel expenses for speakers? 

Occasionally engineers are able to come out to make presentations--and 
the travel expenses are usually covered by the engineering group, and 
other times by the field marketing groups in the area. We don't have a 
fund for travel or speaker support at this time so each case is 
different. For the most part, we try to inform local user groups 
whenever we know an engineer or sun exec will be in the area so a user 
group can schedule a meeting in the same timeframe.

>
>
> We would like to hear about any lessons learned?  Stuff like do this 
> not this?  This really works, this doesn't? 

>
>
> How do you get OpenSolaris paraphenalia?  T-Shirts, Cups, Coasters, 
> Pens. etc... 

Another t-shirt run is being planned for Q4. So we're hoping to resume 
sending out welcome kits (30 shirts for new user groups) in May. 

>
>
> Does Sun provide any seed money? 

Not at this time--we're just covering our own travel expenses whenever 
we can.

>
>
> What about providing refeshments? 

This is where sponsors come in handy!  There is no fund for refreshments 
coming from the opensolaris community.

>
>
> What does you typical UG membership look like?  Who are you targeting? 
> Are you focused on students, developers, professionals, etc...  Who? 

Students and developers seem to have the most interest in OpenSolaris 
user group topics. Many groups have solaris system admins in addition to 
developers. Average attendance is right around 20--but if it's less, 
don't be discouraged. Some months you'll have large attendance, and 
other months you'll have the "core members". This is typical.

>
>
> Any tips on housekeeping or management? 

This is just barely the beginning. The best way to go is to :

1--Have an active user group page. Keep blogs flowing, and link into the 
announcements whenever you can.
2--Check in with the local field marketing office and see what 
activities they have planned that might bring in more experts into the 
area--and schedule meetings to leverage those events.
3--Touch base with local Linux, Sun or Java user groups and see if there 
is any interest/synergies between the groups.

>
>
> Appreciate all your time and help in getting us started. 

send along your user IDs and what you'd like to name the group and we'll 
get you started in style!
LKR

>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Wences
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