Re: [UG-ADMINS] Introduce yourself!

Ramon,

I run the AmsterdamPHP UG and its quite a different tale from PHP Benelux,
we have high attendance every month (60-70). The reason here is that PHP
Benelux goes to all the small places and in those its harder to get
bigger attendance  but having these meetings are the first step in planting
the "local seed", as you can see it worked with you. So don't get
discouraged by the number of people you saw at the meeting, that is not
your pool, its the starting point. PHP Benelux meetings in Amsterdam were
always bigger then others, and our UG reflects that, which is why we
support PHPBenelux to keep venturing to the corners of the land.

Which are of the Netherlands are you in? I know of a few areas that are
brewing to start more user groups, like Twente and Groningen, I will be
more then glad to help you get started, i have done that so many times in
the past its second nature.

First step i recommend is to start online, meetup group, mailing list,
anything that can help you get more then 5 people together, then start
meeting, informal meetings in pubs for example, just talk shop, that
usually get attention and you can start growing by word of mouth. Second
step is to find PHP shops and invite their people over, or go over there,
one by one you get more members and more sponsors. Meetup.com is a great
place to attract more people.

We meet every 3rd thursday of the month and we have started getting people
from Rotterdam, Utrecht and other cities. Come join us one of these months
and i'll be glad to have a chat with you and help you out.

*Rafael Machado Dohms*
*Developer, Evangelist, Gamer
*
*http://doh.ms*


On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 9:54 PM, Ramon de la Fuente <[email protected]>wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> My name is Ramon, owner of a small (4 devs) PHP development company in the
> Netherlands. I'd like to think we know a little bit about what's what in
> the *language* PHP, but I've only just started crawling out of isolation
> regarding PHP "community service".
>
> I don't actually lead a UG, I just asked Cal about available resources on
> starting a group - interested in what kind of work is involved. He
> suggested joining the list and asking about it - so here I am :-).  The
> reason I asked Cal at all was, I attended my first PHPBenelux meeting last
> month, which was right at our front door. There was a very poor attendance,
> which troubles me because we should have a pretty large group of PHP
> developers in the area. I'd like to take a more active part in raising
> interest for PHPBenelux.
>
> So basically, I'd like to know do you actively approach or search for
> developers in your local area? What approach has given the best results in
> your case?
>
> Thanks in advance for your time,
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
> --
> Ramon de la Fuente
> Future500 BV
>
> @f_u_e_n_t_e
> *new: https://www.facebook.com/future500bv
>
> Goudstraat 99a
> 2718 RD ZOETERMEER
> tel: +31(0) 85 8773879
> mob: +31(0) 6 53443008
>
> On May 29, 2013, at 8:07 PM, Cal Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Someone asked me on twitter after I posted about this group so maybe it
> > bears repeating.
> >
> > If you are new to this group. If you have joined but not yet introduced
> > yourself. Please do so. Let us know who you are, what group you
> lead...and
> > if you want to, what is the biggest problem you have?
> >
> > The best conversations I've seen happen on this group happen when someone
> > asks a question.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > =C=
> >
> > --
> > *Read this book* before you hire a
> > developer to build your website.
> > *Avoiding a Goat Rodeo* <http://avoidingagoatrodeo.com>
>
>