How to start a JUG

Ahmed Hashim (egjug):

How to make a successful JUG: EGJUG leader Ahmed Hashim

Yakov Fain (Princeton Java Users Group):

"Our JUGs Need a Push-Up" Princeton Java Users Group

also look here: JUG Leaders' Mailing List Archive

Roman Strobl (czjug):

a) Get good speakers - there's no better motivation I think. I know this is hard. But you can also find good speakers among your JUG attendees - to my own surprise.

b) Do presentations about topics which are hot - and topics that are of interest of majority of people. We did a survey filled out by about 100 of our JUG members so if you are interested I can send you a list of "most wanted" topics from our JUG, it shouldn't differ too much worldwide.

c) Giveways - t-shirts, books, little swag, every little helps make people happy. Ask tough questions and give giveways to the ones who reply correctly. They will feel great and will come again

d) Food and drinks (although we don't do that it can boost audience for sure).

e) Get the word out - advertize the JUG as possible (at Java mailing lists, web forums, etc.) - the more people know about the JUG the more will come.

f) Involve the audience as much as possible - they will more likely tell their friends about the experience if they are involved.

g) Get universities to promote your JUG - or organize meetings at a university (we always get some attendees who are students from the university).

h) Put lots of content on your web and promote the web (though mailing lists, web forums, etc.) - do it for every event.

i) Blog about the cool stuff that happens at the JUG or ask known bloggers in your community to blog about the JUG.

j) Record a podcast with your friends from the JUG - this is another way to reach new people.

k) Write an article into a Java magazine about the JUG. Promotion helps to reach more people who didn't know about the JUG.

l) Meet regularly at the same time of the month, so that people get used to the rythm. Find a time which is good for majority of attendees.

Stephan Janssen (BeJUG):

Also think about the following :

1) Register a domain name with your JUG initials (avoid using Java in your domain name :o)

2) Setup a collaborative website, preferably a wiki (JUGs can get a free license of Confluence but you've other options: XWiki, PHP Drupal, ...)

3) Setup a newsletter where people can easily subscribe to.

4) Send out a newsletter on a regular basis.

5) Include stats of your website so you can give sponsors some numbers for sponsoring your site (if needed)

6) Setup events on a regular basis, like one every month to get the JUG vehicle going (don't worry if not too many people join in the first year or so), just make sure you get together

7) Publish content on your site on a regular basis (RSS feeds are a nice way to get some content - [self promotion] you can always publish the parleys.com RSS feed on your site with great podcast content

8) Invite and setup a steering committee of different people and meet and schedule your events

9) Once the JUG takes some form think about setting up a non-profit organization

10) Ask your partner to do the admin :o)

11) Maybe consider asking a membership fee to cover the logistic costs. You'll need this once the JUG gets BIGGER.

12) You can ask Sun/IBM/HP (if needed) to sponsor a server, if you want to cover your own ISP costs ?!

13) Keep the evens as neutral and technical as possible, so the JUG members get value.

14) Consider (video/audio) recording your JUG events and publish them online or (if you want) post them on Parleys.com

15) Take pictures of your events so you can expose your passion to potential JUG members / sponsors.

The most important part :

16) HAVE FUN !! Otherwise you'll not continue doing this crazy stuff + DO IT for the right reasons !

That will do for now

Aaron Houston (Program Coordinator - JUG Programs and Java Champions, Sun Microsystems, Inc.)

Sun has a special affinity for the Java User Groups and that is why we have a corporate level program focused on the Java User Group Community.

1) Sun engages in several activities/programs designed to assist the User Groups with speakers, giveaways, Birds-of-a-Feather sessions at major developer conference, the latest news about the Java Platform, and more.

2) We are also partners with the JUG Community here on java.net and there are points of contact listed on the JUG Community page.

3) Java has a very large community and Sun is committed to this community.

4) Sun believes that Java User Groups are independent organization(s) with their own values and culture. Consequently, Java User Groups may be created anywhere, at anytime, by anyone, and sometimes even in the same city. For this reason, Sun will not interfere in any disputes between JUG leaders; however, we would remind ALL JUG leaders to try to work together and co-exist peacefully.

For more info check out our JUG Visits Program Page:

Sun JUG Program Pages -- Thanks! Aaron