Python user groups 2013

Goals

Between June 1 2013 and Dec 1 2013:

• At least 3 intro / diversity events get run after consultation with the fellow in each of the first and second half of the fellowship

• At least 3 user groups improve their speaker diversity in the first half of the fellowship and at least 5 user groups improve their speaker diversity in the second half of the fellowship

Plan

Within the first month:

• Will announce the project to the group-organizers mailing list.
  • By Mon June 10.
    • Will actually send Fri June 14; blog post will go live today.

• Write an outline for the informational index page that has info for user group organizers.
  • If time this month, turn that into a high-clarity web page.
  • Will probably try to get in person feedback from Michelle Rowley when I visit Portland for Open Source Bridge.
  • Will publish the source to the website as a git repository on presumably Github, to accept pull requests and other feedback.
  • Outline by June 17.

• Identify 20 Python user groups and get in touch with their organizers, presumably by email, indicating these goals of the meta-organizer fellowship, linking to the guide, and asking if they'd like to participate and/or chat about the guide.
  • To help me do the contacting in batch, first I'll be making a spreadsheet or similar table of these groups, with estimates for their sizes.
  • Initial contact by Wed June 26.

Info website

Let's start by making it Asheesh's tips for a great user group.

Those are:

• Think about newcomer-friendliness in your topics
• Don't do it alone (see also Yannick summary)
• Host lightning talks
• Have a social thing after the talks
• Run a BPW clone
• Keep track of your success
  • Random sampling is a good tool in general, if you can't reach everyone
• Funding tips
  • PSF wants to fiscally sponsor you probably/possibly
  • Get your Meetup fees refunded

What else?