Prospective Community Organizers

Introduction

If you are reading this, it means that you are interested in starting a Python Software community.

We're excited to have people like you join our growing community and want to help you get your group launched as quickly and smoothly as possible. If our experience is any indication, your first major event will galvanize and inspire the Python community in your area and create momentum for subsequent events, so it's crucial to start things off on the right foot!

To help you get started, we've created this open source kit for starting your own Python software community in your region.

Guidelines for Starting Your Community

When you start your own Python Software Community, you'll be helping to build and grow a local Python community, through meetups, or sharing info through mailing lists, social media, etc.

A Python software community is not meant for a one-time event or workshop. We encourage ongoing community activities through your group, at least once or twice a year. Some of our groups are aiming for monthly events.

Ideally, the organizers in your group should be anyone who is enthusiastic about bringing people together to learn, share knowledge and contribute to the spreading of the use of the Python programming language. We also suggest at least two co-organizers in your group to help share the workload and prevent burnout from any single organizer.

When starting a chapter, we recommend that you check if a community already exists. Check Local User Groups Worldwide to find if there is already a group in your area. If there is no Python user group in your area, this is probably your cue to start one. If it already exists and is dormant, check the Reviving a Dormant Community section in this kit to learn about how you can help revive the group.

Process Overview

Checklist

These are the initial steps to prepare before the first meeting:

  • Define the group name - usually Python city name
  • Define a meeting location (See Finding the right location below.)
  • Define the style of meetings for the group (see Organizing Activities below)
  • Find one or more people to become part of the organizers team. Getting a second person to sign up as a core organiser helps prevent your own burn-out, and reduces the 'bus number', for when you are indisposed. (on holiday, hospitalised, etc)
  • Define the means to promote the group (See Getting the word out below)

Getting the Word Out

  • Have a website (preferably with your community's domain name), so you can include the URL when promoting the group.
  • Apply to be on the Python Software Foundation Meetup Pro Network. This is a good way for people to find your community.
  • Find other ways of communicating meetings or upcoming events (note: you are encouraged to use any of the below sites that works for your community): LinkedIn, Mastodon, Blusesky, X, Instagram, Facebook, RSS, Mailing Lists.
  • Add your group to the Python Software Foundation Local User Groups. Some people come here to find such groups.
  • Identify other user groups in your area and, with their permission, post an announcement of your meetings.
  • Hang some flyers at your local college; hold some meetings on a campus and get listed as a campus organization.
  • Produce some podcasts (or even better screencasts) and get them listed on YouTube or your preferred platform. Be sure to edit in a publicity blurb about your user group.

Note that there is a cost to putting your energies into keeping these multiple places up to date, but it can get you users who would otherwise not find you. So you need to balance your time constraints to your desire to grow the size of the group.

Finding the right location

  • It's good to have a location you can rely upon, monthly, without fail.
  • Businesses that are heavily invested in your technology may sponsor your group.
  • Libraries often have space available, although their hours can be limited
  • Bars may host groups on off-nights - they can see it as a way to fill their bar with people.
  • Coworking spaces are often a good choice as well, as they want their members to be able to network.