Local Flare User Groups

[dandam]

I'd like to start a local user group in my area (Kansas City), but I'm having a hard time identifying whether anyone else uses Flare. As a result, I have the following questions:

- Are there any good resources for finding other local users of Flare? Either in my city or in general?

- Should MapCap add a new forum for the purpose of networking locally with other Flare users?

- Is it even worthwhile to attempt such a pursuit? Our local STC chapter recently fell apart, but I can't decide whether this creates a networking vacuum waiting to be filled, or if it sets a precedence that such pursuits are doomed.

[LTinker68]

I suggest you send a PM to Nita Beck -- she set up or helped set up a users' group in Rochester, NY. It's been running for a couple of years now, I think, so she probably has some good do's and don'ts and suggestions. Maybe she could write those tips up, too, for others who are interested in setting up their own users' groups.

[wbrisett]

We're getting ready to kick off our first organizational meeting this week. I had a nice chat with Nita about some things that worked and didn't work for her group. That's going to help a lot. I noticed several of the main "characters" here on the board will be at the MadWorld in April. Nita will be discussing some of this according to the info I got via email today.

Wayne

[Nita Beck]

Ha! My name gets dropped days ago and I only find out now! I've been vacationing in Vermont, and I guess I succeeded in my plan to forget about work.

I can offer a few quick suggestions now about starting a user group.

1. Tap your local STC group ( assuming it hasn't met the fate of Wayne's local chapter) for permission to email its membership to drum up interest.

2. Have a regular agenda for meetings to keep discussions moving and on track. Otherwise a meeting can quickly devolve into tangents and side conversations.

3. Actively solicit your members for ideas for discussions, demos, presentations. Also ask for volunteers!

4. If possible, hold meetings on different days of the week each month. Our meetings alternate between Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. We have several members who consistently make one day but never the other. We'd rather have them half the time than never.

5. Tell MadCap about your group so they can refer people to you.

Gotta go! The family is waking up and we have one last day of vacationing to go!

[dandam]

Thanks, Nita! I just watched your Webinar. I was especially impressed with your marketing efforts prior to launching the group.

Just as a follow-up on my Kansas City efforts, I found one additional person interested. So we have an unofficial user group of 2 members!

[Nita Beck]

Thanks for participating in the webinar. Hope I wasn't too long-winded! I was nervous, but it was a lot of fun!

Two KC members are just the start, I'm sure! Let your MadCap sales rep know that you've started the group so that, as other KC tech writers take up Flare, the rep can direct them to your group.

[pcalnan]

Hi Nita! I also listened to your webinar and am inspired to try forming a Madcap Flare User Group in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Thanks for the valuable info, it's much appreciated.

[Nita Beck]

Hi Patrick! We met at MadWorld, yes? We sat next to each other at breakfast or lunch, I think.

Thrilled to hear that you're inspired to start a group in Ottawa. I have to start a list: so far today, we've got Ottawa, northern Virginia, Austin TX, and someplace in France. These are in addition to Rochester (my fav, naturally), Reno NV, and someplace in the UK.

Come out, come out, the rest of you! Can't find a user group in your area: Start one!

[pcalnan]

Hi Patrick! We met at MadWorld, yes? We sat next to each other at breakfast or lunch, I think.

Yup, that was me.

Now if we get enough user groups going, what do you think our chances are we could talk Mike Hamilton into springing for a few propeller beanies???

Cheers!

[jknasinski]

The Milwaukee Area User Group is no longer active. Sadly we did not have enough interest or participation.

[Nita Beck]

The Milwaukee Area User Group is no longer active. Sadly we did not have enough interest or participation.

indeed.

Some of the local groups, mine included, sometimes host online meetings. Perhaps you could tap into those.

For that matter, if you "go wider" and "go online" (Skype, Google Hangouts?), perhaps you could find Flare pals statewide.