[chiglug] "Windy City Linux Users Group" on meetup.com

[Steve Litt]

On Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:15:20 -0500
Bonnie King <misterbonnie at gmail.com> wrote:

> Steve,
> 
> Can you suggest any meetup alternatives? Please not Facebook.

Hi Bonnie,

The alternative is to network enough to find several like-minded people
about your technology of choice, and form a user group. This is how
it's been done forever: meetup.com isn't necessary. In fact, I think
it's a distraction.

If you're asking about alternatives to meetup.com for getting the word
out, face to face is best. When I'm at a bookstore, or a fast food
place, or anywhere, if I see someone reading something technical, I
start a conversation.

> 
> I'm not really sure what your point is about typical
> meetup quality, but ChicagoLUG is a well-run meeting held in a
> space dedicated to the event. 

Wasn't ChicagoLUG a group before you joined meetup.com? If I'm not
mistaken, it's a user group first, and a meetup entity only in the
sense of trying to get the word out. From what I read earlier in the
thread, there's some sort of a meetup.com-only group that's competing
for mindspace with ChicagoLUG, and doing a poor job of it.

> The organizers have been using
> meetup.com for announcements and RSVPs.

That's fine. The point is, you're not *relying* on meetup.com.

Emphasize to your members how important it is to talk up your LUG to
the people they come in contact with. Successful LUGs have a lot of
volunteerism and spontaeous member actions.

> I'm willing to contribute to the cost, if we do create a separate
> meetup for ChicagoLUG.

Now I'm confused. What's a "meetup"? Don't you have a LUG?

SteveT

Steve Litt 
August 2015 featured book: Troubleshooting: Just the Facts
http://www.troubleshooters.com/tjust