A Community That Meets Together
Flourishes Together
Mike Jang
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Technical Writer
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Identity and Access Management
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Author (look on Amazon)
CC0
@theMikeJang
Side Gig: Write the Docs
Meetup Lead
Open Source Summit, 2019
@theMikeJang
Supports My Work With
Open Source Communities
@ForgeRock
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Audience
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Organizers
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Meetup Leaders
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Community Managers
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Want to Learn
Follow Along
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups/live#
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Online Copy
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Action Plan
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Document
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Delegate
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Facilitate
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Simplify
-
Secure
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
My Story w/r/t Communities
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My First WtD Conference
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Starting a Meetup
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Helping Other Meetups
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Lessons Learned -- Action Plan
Write the Docs
A global community of people
who care about
documentation
Slack Network > 7000
Conferences: 3 Continents
44 Meetups
(11 time zones)
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Meetups ~ Communities
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
My Start
One of these things is not like the other
My Tribe
Write the Docs Conference, 2014
I can't quit you
Continue the Conversation
Community
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Lone writers who feel isolated
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Common result: sense of belonging
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Writers in groups who need a "reality check"
@theMikeJang
@ForgeRock
Open Source Summit, 2019
Running My First Meetup
A Story
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
I can't quit you
Taking the Plunge
@theMikeJang
@ForgeRock
Open Source Summit, 2019
30 members
Popularity
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
So When's Your First Meetup?
Typical Meetup
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Speaker
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Food / Sponsor
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Facility
-
Publicity
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Success!
Meetup.com
Distilling a Formula
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Speaker
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Food / Sponsor
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Facility
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Publicity
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Finding Speakers
Be Present
Understand What Your Members Do
Go Beyond Your Membership
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
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Lightning Talks
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Unconference Sessions
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Panels
Overcoming Fear
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Would You Speak to Our Meetup?
Food?
Do you have to feed attendees?
Alcohol?
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Facilities
Location,
Location,
Location
@theMikeJang
google maps
Publicity
-
Meetup.com
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Local Tech Calendars / Social Media
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Word of Mouth
(Depends on location)
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Today
meetup.com
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Community Organizers
public domain, nps.gov
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Community Organizer
Inspiration
Lessons for Other Meetups
Not Quite
writethedocs.org
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
2015: "Start Your Own Write the Docs Meetup Group"
I thought
I had the
answers
Giphy
Leaders Find Their Own Path
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Community
A Feeling of Fellowship
What's In Common
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Shared Problems
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Shared Solutions
Open Source
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
The Write the Docs
Meetup Story
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Write the Docs
2014
Created with mapcustomizer.com
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Write the Docs
2016
Created with mapcustomizer.com
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Write the Docs
Today
Created with mapcustomizer.com
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Meetup Locations
- Amsterdam
- Ann Arbor
- Austin (ATX)
- Australia
- Bangalore
- Barcelona
- Bay Area (SF)
- Berlin
- Brussels
- Boise
- Boston
- Boulder/Denver
- Budapest
- Cambridge
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Dallas
- DC
- Durham (RTP)
- Fredericton
- Hamburg
- Houston
- Ireland
- Istanbul
- Karlsurhe
- London
- Los Angeles
- Moscow
- Munich
- Nashville
- New York City
- Novosibirsk (Siberia)
- North England
- Ottawa (YOW)
- Paris
- Portland
- Rhineland
- St. Petersberg
- Salt Lake City
- Seattle
- Seoul
- Stockholm
- Tel Aviv
- Toronto
Many Solutions
One Community
Action #1
Document
Accommodate Multiple Solutions
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Diversity
Portland != San Francisco != Boise
!= Paris != Leeds != Bangalore
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Facilities
Location,
Location,
Location
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
google maps
HOWTO
Start a Meetup
Sustainability
FAQ
@theMikeJang
Better Docs
Any Docs > No Docs
@theMikeJang
Action
Document Your Communities
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Doc Success Metric
New Meetups
Appear Without Warning
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Action #2
Delegate
Every Meetup
Multiple Organizers
Help Meetup Leaders
Help Each Other
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Helping Pack Leaders
Lower right photo taken by speaker; others CC0
@theMikeJang
@ForgeRock
Action
Help Your Leaders Get Help
Reduce Workoad
Succession Plan
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Action #3
Meetup Leaders
Understand Each Other
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Facilitate
A Community of Leaders
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Help Your Leaders
Help Each Other
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Gather Your Leaders
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Online
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Video Conference
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In Person
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Recognition
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Online
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At Conferences
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Swag
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Action
Help Your Leaders
Help Each Other
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Add Recognition
Action #4
Simplify Most Meetups
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Typical Meetups are Hard
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Location
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Food
-
Sponsors
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Speaker
-
Audience
-
Publicity
-
...
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Some Leaders Thrive on Complexity
Celebrate
Recruit for
Conferences
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Simplify!
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Some Leaders Have Little Time
How?
Simplify? A Meetup?
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
The Boulder Solution
Live Q and A
Conference Video
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Coffee Klatch
Easy
(everyone buys their own)
Community
The Seattle Solution
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Happy Hour!
Community
Sustainable Meetups
Goal:
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Non-Traditional Meetup Options
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Speaker (recorded), Live Q&A
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Coffee Klatch
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Breakfast
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Lunch
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Happy Hour
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Lean Coffee (http://agilecoffee.com/leancoffee/)
-
?
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
For Sustainability
Encourage Simplicity
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Action #5
Secure
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
A Sense of Security
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Code of Conduct
Simple
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Complex
Code of Conduct
Don't Overdo It
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Michelle Gelfand's Keynote
Cultural Codes that Drive Behavior
Code of Conduct
Keep it Simple
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
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One Line Statement
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Link in the Meetup Page
(when your meetup != conference)
Avoid Excessive Detail
Code of Conduct
Small Groups
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Be Excellent to Each Other
{group} is open to everyone and does not tolerate abusive behavior on its mailing lists or at its meetings.
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Be respectful
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Abusive behavior is never tolerated
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We're here to help
Action
Create a Code of Conduct
Avoid Walls of Text
Don't be Too Prescriptive
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Tip
Let Meetup Leaders
Find Their Own Path
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Centralized
Control
Sponsors
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Make It Easy
Support Easy Payments
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Describe Your Audience
Source
"What Sponsors Want"
Josh Berkus (@fuzzychef)
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Action Plan
-
Document
-
Delegate
-
Facilitate
-
Simplify
-
Secure
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Bonus
You Can Help Your Communities Flourish
@Katie_The_Dog
Open Source Summit, 2019
@theMikeJang
Sources
http://www.writethedocs.org/meetups
The Business Value of Developer Relations
(Mary Thengvall)
"What Sponsors Want"
(Josh Berkus)
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
@theMikeJang
CC0
@theMikeJang
Supports My Work With
Open Source Communities
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
Thanks!
https://slides.com/mike-1/global-meetups
@theMikeJang
Open Source Summit, 2019
Questions
Code of Conduct Details
- Expo Hall?
- Not publishing a video? (What if there is no video?)
- Contact hotel security? (At a coffee shop?)
- No Refunds? (Do your meetups charge attendees?)
Unsuited to Meetups
Possible Post Talk Discussion
Traditional Meetups
Coffee Klatches
Mini Conferences
Lunch
Possible Post Talk Discussion
A Community That Meets Together, Flourishes Together
By Mike
