[python-advocacy] Starting a Users Group

[Sean O'Donnell]

I started Python Ireland (python.ie), (well resurrected it, an earlier 
attempt had failed).

Grigs reasons are spot on.  As for getting the word out, we started on 
meetup.com when it
was still free. We found that it wasn't bringing in new members about 6 
months after
they started charging, but it may still be a useful tool to get your 
group off the ground.
Advertising on related mailing lists (e.g. sage, linux user groups) with 
the admins
permission tends to get a good response. Put your meetings on upcoming.org.

Mailing lists are easy , as grig said code.google.com is handy, if you 
just want
a mailing list, google groups works fine for us.

Our group meets once a month. About every other month we give talks, and 
the remainder
of the time its just pub socials.

The main key to starting a group is persistence. It took about a year 
for the group to get a core
group of regular attendees, but I am happy to say, now , about 2 years 
later I can take off and
travel for months of the time and the group self organizes without any 
effort on my part.

Good luck and have fun

Sean