Re: [UG-ADMINS] Hello from the Northwest Ohio PUG

On 5/26/10 9:07 AM, Chris Stone wrote:
> Meetup isn't free for organizers either, which could turn newer
> groups off from using it initially.

It's about $144 a year, or $72 every six months. I've always fronted
that cost myself, since I consider the group an investment, but I think
there's nothing wrong in asking members at each meeting to pitch in 1 or
2 dollars. If you have 12 people show up at a regular monthly meeting,
you only need $1 from each. :-)

Also, talk to local recruiters. I'm sure they wouldn't mind pitching in
at least 12 bucks a month to support your group.

> We just recently started using Google Groups in attempts to get discussions
> going outside of the user group meetings.  DC's list is fairly active and
> we're aspiring to accomplish similar activity.  Meetup isn't great in this
> department, at least in my opinion.

Yeah. I don't care for Meetup's forums or mailing lists (which are
separate). I'd much rather use Google Groups.

I've set up a post like this on our Meetup Message Boards, and I've
closed their boards and mailing lists to future posts:

http://www.nashvillephp.org/messages/boards/thread/9016732

However, be warned. Nicholas Sloan created a Python group on Meetup.com
and did a similar thing and they closed his group due to ToS violation.

I think the ToS section they used as grounds to close his group was
5.3(a)(b)(vii):

"Posting any Public Information or other material: [...] that uses the
Platform primarily as a lead generator or listing service for another
website"

This was probably done because he set up the Meetup.com site and simply
put a link to the Google Group right away during his free trial period
and before using Meetup.com to schedule any meetings.

I'm only making assumptions here, though, but be careful if you choose
to do this.

-- 
Ben Ramsey
Nashville PHP
http://nashvillephp.org/
Twitter: @NashvillePHP