Re: [UG-ADMINS] What makes up a usergroup?

Hi Andreas!

Personally, I would rather you did not list Nomad PHP on http://php.ug. I
go to great lengths to let attendees know that Nomad PHP is not a
substitute for supporting a local PUG. What we do cannot replace the
face-to-face networking you get at a local PUG.

That having been said, yes, I do consider Nomad PHP to be a PUG.

WRT paying, I've been involved in UGs since '84/'85. (We called them
Computer Clubs back in the day) It is only recently that you did NOT pay.
We used to use the money to pay for the venue, food, and maybe a BBQ once
or twice a year.

With Nomad, a good chunk of the ticket price goes to the speakers. (I'm
happy to share our speaker's agreement with anyone who wants to see it and
hasn't yet.) Since we don't give speaker's travel expenses to a conference,
we figure it's only fair to share the wealth with them. (wealth being a
relative term here) :)

And since I can't possibly say it enough, let me close by saying thank you
for http://php.ug. We mention it at every Nomad PHP meeting and we link to
it in every newsletter. it's a great resource for the community. :)

Cheers!
=C=



On Fri, Aug 8, 2014 at 1:02 AM, Andreas Heigl <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> A short introduction for those that don't know me: I'm Andreas Heigl.
> I'm currently leading the PHP-Usergroup in Frankfurt/Main Germany
> (http://phpugffm.de) and I'm the one running http://php.ug. So anything
> you ever wanted to ask or rant about php.ug, feel free to drop me a line.
>
> The question I want to drop here is: What makes up a usergroup?
>
> Currently on php.ug only usergroups that physicaly meet on a regular
> basis are listed (at least that's what I try to achieve). But is that
> what a usergroup is about?
>
> The initial idea behind php.ug was to help people looking for a
> usergroup to find the next one nearby. Therefore I considered only those
> physical meetups. But what about NomadPHP for instance? It's not a
> physical meetup but I'd consider it a usergroup.
>
> Or what about a facebook group that is (officially) only for users of a
> certain local area? Is that a usergroup? Even though they don't meet
> physicaly?
>
> And what about accessibility. Is a usergroup that charges for attendance
> a usergroup? I always thought attending a usergroup should be free of
> charge. And you should have the possibility to find a usergroup and it's
> next meeting without having to register somewhere (be it facebook or a
> mailinglist or a forum). Or am I totaly wrong there?
>
> Or is there a difference between "physical" and "virtual" usergroups? A
> forum in thai for instance being a "virtual" thai usergroup?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> Andreas
>
> PS: I have started php.ug but I see it as a community work. So anyone
> interested in helping out (coding, accepting groups, promoting new
> groups etc) feel free to get in touch with me!
> --
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> | Andreas Heigl                                                       |
> | mailto:[email protected]                  N 50°22'59.5" E 08°23'58" |
> | http://andreas.heigl.org                       http://hei.gl/wiFKy7 |
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> | http://hei.gl/root-ca                                               |
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