All about Meetups!
Hey guys how are you doing? It has been a long long LONG time since our last post…. and we are sorry for that. We having been very busy with a lot of projects (both work and personal) and we had to get some time for us!
But we are finally getting back to action! And I’ll do that posting something about one thing that everybody loves…. Meetups..
First of all I would like to talk about the next ODTUG meetup that will happens in 2 days in Orlando, inside the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort…. I think I don’t need to say anything else about it other that it’ll be awesome…. but anyway, here’s the link for you guys to attend:
https://www.meetup.com/ODTUGers/events/246874182/
Now that this is sort out, do you know that if you want to do your own Meetup you can do it together with ODTUG? And you can even get financial support to do it????
Well it’s true. You just need to plan your meet up and then fill out the Meetup Planning form. This will provide ODTUG with all the information they need in order to move forward.
It’s also helpful to provide them if you are seeking financial support and if so, how much, and also your estimated attendee count as well. Another advantage is that there’s an list of services that ODTUG will provide as a sponsor along with the qualifications for sponsorship.
- Promotion for your local Meetup:
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- ODTUG will post your event on the ODTUG Meetup page.
- Email Campaigns: ODTUG will invite members to your event
- Social Media: ODTUG will promote your event on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
- ODTUG will publish the success of your meeting in your community’s quarterly newsletter
- Source an Oracle speaker if needed
- Ship ODTUG swag for you to distribute at your event.
Off coarse there’re a few Sponsorship Requirements: Communicate ODTUG Resources and Events:
- Educational resources
o Provide an overview ODTUG’s memberships and benefits
o Provide ODTUG Kscope18 deadlines
- Early bird rate deadline – March 29, 2018
If you get exited with this piece of information and want to do you own Meetup, here are some useful tips and strategies for planning a Community Meetup.
1- Choose a Date and Location
Be mindful of holidays and tech conference dates when planning a meetup. A free venue is best—workplaces and universities tend to be free, while private rooms at restaurants and hotels usually have a rental fee. When securing a space, be sure to ask what the room capacity is and monitor your RSVP’s accordingly. If you need assistance with securing a venue please be sure to fill out the Meetup Planning form.
2- Schedule Speaker(s)
Education and content should be a part of a Meetup. Even if presentations are brief, education helps to engage members. If you need assistance with securing presenters, please be sure to fill out the Meetup Planning form.
3- Include Time for Networking with Food and/or Drinks
This could be as simple as having pizza delivered to an office after a speaker presentation. If there is a nearby bar/ restaurant the group may want to go for a Happy Hour.
4- Promote ODTUG Membership and ODTUG Kscope18 Conference
Share the benefits of ODTUG membership, encourage others to volunteer with the community, and promote ODTUG Kscope18.
Tips for a successful Meetup:
Scheduling
o Schedule quarterly Meetups if possible. Five-week months result in higher attendance and commitment. (Customers have an extra week to plan for maintenance, testing, and some downtime.)
o Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best days for scheduling meetings; whereas Fridays you will be competing with families and/or social lives.
Location is important
o Provide an environment that is fun and inviting. Seek popular local bars or restaurants that provide private rooms for formal meetings.
Budget
o Everything is negotiable! Find creative ways for customizing menus for your meetings. Order appetizers for a small group or buffets for larger group.
o The best option for savings is scheduling meetings in the workplace if possible.
Greeting your guests
o Have someone available to greet your guests. Provide a sign-up sheet, name tags, and pass out ODTUG/Kscope18 swag.
Engaging your guests is KEY!
o Creative ice breaker activity is a great way for people to engage and find common ground.
Follow-up is vital for success
o Feedback is important – this gives you an opportunity to thank your guests and provide a questionnaire (limited to 10 questions or less) to help improve and plan future Meetups.
Non-solicitation
o The user community is interested in learning how other organizations are leveraging the tools today within their environment, not a sales pitch. Solicitation is not allowed.
I hope you guys enjoy all this info and let’s start to plan our meetups 🙂
DEV EPM 
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