In talking with
Russell Campbell via email, he mentioned a downfall to the groups on here mirroring the user groups around town.
The problem he stated is that unless you were to get every one of your members to join this site (which we know will not happen), then your group may give the appearance of being smaller than it is or worse yet dead.
In my opinion, AtlantaUserGroups.com should only be a way to augment an existing groups infrastructure and not detract from what they already have in place. If a group has a centralized resource website then obviously we want to drive people and traffic to that website. This site would then work as more of a marketing source hitting people in the Atlanta area interested in user group atmospheres.
If however, there is a user group that does not have the infrastructure of a website, then could most certainly use this platform for a lot of things like tracking RSVPs, posting meeting materials before and after, having pre and post-conference discussions as well as utilize the LIVE chat service during the meeting itself.
With that in mind, it may make more sense to have the groups mirror a technology. For instance there could be a group for ColdFusion enthusiasts in Atlanta. That group of course would have information regarding
www.acfug.org but possibly other CF resources like the global online meeting group run by Charlie Arehart.
What are some thoughts in this arena?