Joomla! Documentation™

How do I start a Joomla User Group?

There are some basic requirements to start a Joomla User Group which include:

1. At least two people to run the group as leaders (minimum)
2. A place to meet in your town - for example a meeting room, a bar, restaurant, office space etc.
3. A name which represents a town or city (not a country or large region)
4. An online place to promote your group and allow people to find out about the group (e.g. website, Facebook group, LinkedIn group, Google+ Community, etc)

How do I find someone else to lead my group with?

There are many ways to find other Joomla users in your local area:

• Joomla User Group Forum
• Localised forums (e.g. Afuj, JoomlaCommunity.eu, Joomla.it)
• Local networking
• Approach other website designers who want to learn about Joomla

How do I find a venue?

It is best to try and find a venue which can be used free of charge, or at low cost, so that you do not have high expenses in starting your group.

Some ideas for places to meet could be:

• Company meeting rooms or showrooms
• Bars, restaurants and cafes
• Community meeting rooms/Village Halls

Should we charge a fee?

As a Joomla User group organizer you may wonder whether you should ask visitors for a financial contribution. A contribution can be useful to get the facilities like a beamer or to pay for the drinks during the meeting. Or if there are speakers invited for a present or travel expenses.

When there is money involved is good to have a treasurer.

How can I find/attract new members?

Some JUG groups have found that meetup.com is a good way to attract new members from outside the Joomla Community. The main disadvantage of meetup.com is that it is a paid service, however it does handle meeting announcements, RSVPs etc very well.

Running a Joomla User Group

Should we accept corporate sponsors for our group?

Yes it is ok to allow corporate sponsorship of meetings to fund food, beverages, venue costs, and other expenses. That's not to say that every sponsorship offer should be accepted, the JUG organizer should use their discretion to ensure that the corporation's values and inline with our open source community.

Some sponsors also wish to attend the meeting and present to the group, but you should ensure that this is not just a sales pitch for their product or service and is related to a topic of interest to your members.

How often should we meet?

Many JUG groups meet on a monthly basis, but you could also meet less frequently, such as bi-monthly or quarterly. It is often helpful to set a regular meeting schedule, such as the second Tuesday of each month, so that regular members will know when to expect the next meeting.

What equipment do I need and how can I provide that equipment?

The main requirement is to have a data projector and screen or wall to project on to be used for your presentations. Many venues will be able to provide this equipment, however if not there are various ways you can obtain this equipment. One option may be to borrow the equipment from a member or business. If not, it may be possible to rent a projector for a small fee. Depending on the funding structure of the JUG group, it may be possible to purchase a projector with surplus funds collected.

An Internet connection is often required by presenters, or to show sites during group discussions. Some venues can provide an Internet connection, or you could potentially use a mobile broadband connection or mobile phone tethering to provide Internet access.

Can I get a JUG website distribution with all the assets needed (newsletter, mailing list)?

Reporting a User Group