Python user groups 2013

From OpenHatch wiki

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?

Status: http://user-groups-beta.openhatch.org/

I also already know some text changes I should make, having used the text as part of convincing ChiPy to do project nights.

Pinging user groups

Being tracked in Trello. Specifically:

Groups where I think I can make a difference

  • ChiPy http://www.chipy.org/
    • Pinged someone there to have a Hangouts conversation. Hoping to hear back by Mon Aug 26.
    • This could lead to 1/3 speaker diversity goals.
    • Other relevant groups
    • Project night status: they want to have one, but I don't know who can "run" it. I just pinged aeva to see if it makes sense as a one-off to organize something that's theoretically a PS:1 + ChiPy collaboration.
  • SF Python http://www.meetup.com/sfpython/
    • Pinged them with a possible speaker.
    • This could lead to 1/3 speaker diversity goals.
  • DC Python http://www.meetup.com/dcpython/
    • 1 woman speaker in the past year
    • It seems likely that I can help connect them with speakers. Next unmet speaker slot is in December.
      • Though I wonder if it'd be interesting to have, like, DC Python Data Science lightning talks at the upcoming data science-y one.
    • Encouraged to apply for Meetup reimbursement on 2013-10-03; no answer yet.
    • Other relevant groups:
  • Baltimore Python
    • Had phone call; maybe will run a Project Night soon.
    • Encouraged to apply for Meetup reimbursement on 2013-10-03; no answer yet.
  • ~200 peoplle Vancouver Python http://www.meetup.com/vanpyz/
    • I sent them a ping. Could be a good target for a project night.
    • I should send them a fresh ping.
  • Paris Python http://www.meetup.com/Paris-py-Python-Django-friends/
    • Probably they'd love to do a project night. Yay Sylvain Zimmer.
  • ~200 Python Ireland http://www.meetup.com/pythonireland/
    • Super healthy group: women leader, seems to be fairly diverse in attendance and speaking.
    • 20-40 attendees per meeting
    • Could possibly add a project night. Pinging.

Groups where further research is required:

Groups that seem OK:

  • FIXME: Add socal linux stuff per #openhatch conversation 2013-08-30

Status

Dates

Started: June 1, 2013

Mid-way: October 16, 2013

Extended end: March 1, 2014

First half of grant period

Groups running intro & diversity events:

  1. SF Python started running Project Nights
  2. An introductory Python lecture in a new user group in Bhubaneswar, India, run by Tarashish Mishra. This led to the creation of PyBBS.

Groups with gender diversity improvements in speakers:

  1. SF Python

Goals were:

  • At least 3 intro / diversity events get run after consultation with the fellow in each of the first half of the fellowship (2 of 3 achieved)
  • At least 3 user groups improve their speaker diversity in the first half of the fellowship (1 of 3 achieved)

Second half of grant period

(Caret (^) means the event either happened already, or is scheduled and progressing along toward success. High certainty.)

(Star (*) indicates not yet scheduled, but seems very likely to happen. Moderate certainty.)

(Question (?) indicates that it is planned, but not scheduled yet. Low certainty.)

(Plus (+) indicates that it is expected, but after the end of the grant period. This by itself does not affect certainty.)


Groups running intro & diversity events:

  1. (^) Python Dominican Republic ran a Project night, Nov 19. [1]
  2. (^) Chicago Pythonistas ran a Project Night, Feb 27. [2]
  3. PhillyPUG is running Project Nights again; the first new one in a while is the result of a conversation I had with Dana Bauer. It took place Feb 17. [3]
  4. (^) PyLadies NYC organized a Linux Beginners Tutorial (their idea!) and I'm helping them with scripts and general support. [4]
  5. (+) A multi-week intro Python event in Seattle is going to be organized by Mako.
  6. (+) (*) PyLadies SF is organizing an Intro to Django event on April 26. my role, as I understand it, was to help connect people. [5]
  7. (+) (?) PyLadies Boston is interested in running a Django-oriented newcomer's tutorial. Expected in May or so, after PyCon.


Groups with gender diversity improvements in speakers, due to my collaboration with them:

  1. (^) (+) PDX Python has booked Mele Sax-Barnett to speak in March [6].
  2. (*) (+) I helped connect SF Python with more women speakers again. This will come to fruition on March 12 (but is not published yet).
  3. (*) (+) Connected Stacey Sern and Allison Kaptur with NYC Python for the PyCon warm-up talks in April (meetup page here: [7] but their names aren't mentioned yet).
  4. (^) (+) For the first time in its history (as I understand it), Python Barcelona has talk proposals from women. Their upcoming lightning talks will have more diverse speakers, at their upcoming "Learn Some Python" event on March 30. [8].

Goals were:

  • At least 3 intro / diversity events get run after consultation with the fellow (3 of 3 achieved, 6 if you count events after the end of the grant period, 7 if you count maybes)
  • At least 5 user groups improve their speaker diversity in the second half of the fellowship (0 of 5 achieved, 4 if you count events after the end of grant period)
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