Re: [UG-ADMINS] Introduce yourself!

Hi Rafael,

Thanks for the reply. The AmsterdamPHP group is the closest on the map, but I think I was discouraged by the name as it' sounds quite specific to Amsterdam :)

I wasn't exactly put off by the attendance, you're right the informality of it is actually inviting to the "new" like me. But we're in Zoetermeer, which presumes to be an ICT friendly city, and could be considered quite central right between Den Haag, Rotterdam and Delft. So it shouldn't have been a "corner of the land". It caught my attention, so I've started a bit of research on how to contribute.
First trip to Amsterdam is #dpc13 next week - will you attend?

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 11:33 PM, Rafael Dohms <[email protected]> wrote:

> 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>
> 
>