We are thinking of using a Meetup format and related tools to organize the next Cloud Plugfest event (Cloud Plugfest #16), given the large number of co-located or nearby events in the target date range of 23-27 March 2015. Please see the message on this topic with some comparable example Meetup-style events taking place in the near future. The advantage seems to be that all we need to do is to arrange a sponsor and find a venue, and have at least one expert on hand to spark discussion and learning, rather than have to arrange a whole set of participants in advance. Your thoughts about the option of using the Meetup format for organizing training and educational events, including but not limited to full Cloud Plugfest events, would be helpful and are hereby sincerely recruited. Co-sponsors, participation and experts to help with organizing he next events are also recruited. Alan Begin forwarded message: From: Michael Behrens <michael.behrens@r2ad.com<mailto:michael.behrens@r2ad.com>> To: "Sill, Alan" <alan.sill@ttu.edu<mailto:alan.sill@ttu.edu>> Cc: "pete@ziu.net<mailto:pete@ziu.net>" <pete@ziu.net<mailto:pete@ziu.net>>, JM Keister <jen.keister@gmail.com<mailto:jen.keister@gmail.com>> Subject: Meetup.com<http://Meetup.com> Date: January 11, 2015 at 9:46:19 AM EST Dr. Alan Sill, (plus Pete and Dr. Jen), Here are a few links to follow to get the gist of meetups. Look and them and decide which would be good to attend next week, based on your schedule and interest and I'll go with you (I can drive as well) when you fly in next week from TTU. Here is one of those type of events similar to the cloud plugfest: I think it would could work if we contact some of the local cloud-oriented meetup groups, and invite them to have related events. I would also encourage SNIA to create a Cloud Plugfest meetup group to help facilitate the event and advertise it (or we can). http://dc.opendataday.org/ Monday, January 12, 2015: Here is one on Agile Development, hosted at AOL headquarters: http://www.meetup.com/agilenova/events/219308313/ Here's a good Big Data one you might be interested in - recommend this one if you'll be in town Monday evening: http://www.meetup.com/Federal-Big-Data-Working-Group/events/217631412/ Tuesday, January 13, 2015: Devops focus - this one is on the Cassandra no-sql database and a new SaaS platform for near-realtime data. http://www.meetup.com/DevOpsDC/events/218997518/ This on is about Django, an open source open source content management system: http://www.meetup.com/django-district/events/219138146/ Here's one on Distributed Architecture and a Front-end Framework - it's in Baltimore, a bit of a drive, but doable. http://www.meetup.com/bmore-on-rails/events/207633042/ Here's one on powershell (Windows scripting) with a security focus: http://www.meetup.com/D-C-Cyber-Security-Professionals/events/219162093/ Wednesday, January 14, 2015: Here is one that recently started. It's about coding up prototypes. They'll have a brainstorming session Jan 14th. http://www.meetup.com/NOVA-Code-and-Startup-Camp/?gj=ej1b&a=wg2.1_grpn Continuous database delivery - use case with database management tools. http://www.meetup.com/Microsoft-Maniacs/events/218799912/ Here's on on Clojure (code and chat). An open source hack night. Bring your laptop, brain, and help folks code or code. http://www.meetup.com/Cap-Clug/events/218796306/ Here's on about MongoDB and using it with Javascript (a bit of a drive as well, but might be worth it) http://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Javascript-Meetup/events/219572038/ Thursday, January 15, 2015: If you are free for a free lunch, this one deals with the business angle of startups. Might be interesting to make an announcement about the plugfest and to get ideas: http://www.meetup.com/modevdc/events/218839904/ Docker is a new container format, which we discussed with others this week: http://www.meetup.com/Docker-DC/events/219020327/ Also, here are some of the Meetups that I have joined and I've attended. Good material (slides, video, etc) can be found as posting the previous meetups. Big Data DC Meetup url: http://www.meetup.com/bigdatadc/ Data Science DC http://www.meetup.com/Data-Science-DC/ Riak DC (Database) http://www.meetup.com/Riak-DC/ Accumulo (Database) (24 June) Register: http://oreillynet.com/pub/e/2624 Meetup url: http://www.meetup.com/Accumulo-Users-DC/events/122028902/ Data Business DC http://www.meetup.com/Data-Business-DC/ Baltimore MongoDB (Database) http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-MongoDB-Users-Group/ Data Science MD http://www.meetup.com/Data-Science-MD/ Data Visualization DC http://www.meetup.com/Data-Visualization-DC Washington DC MongoDB (Database) http://www.meetup.com/Washington-DC-MongoDB-Users-Group/ -- Michael Behrens R2AD, LLC (571) 594-3008 (cell) (703) 714-0442 (land)