Update: Meetup Reactivation and Closures

Hello, WordPress Community!

This month, the Community Team has been focusing on reactivating WordPress Meetup Groups. Here’s an update on the progress:

  • July 3: We messaged organizers of groups inactive in April–June 2024, encouraging them to host events.
  • July 11: If we didn’t hear back, we contacted members to encourage them to step in as organizers.

By using the bulk email tool on Meetup.com, some issues occurred:

  • Members who opted out of messages from the MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. Pro Network (WordPress) missed the messages.
  • The message lacked the specific group name, causing confusion if if an organizer of an active group was also a member of an inactive group.

We are very sorry for the confusion this has caused.

Moving forward, groups not showing interest in reactivating will be removed from the WordPress Chapter Meetup Program in August. Please check this list for groups noted for removal. If your group is on this list in error, contact us at support@wordcamp.org by August 5.

What happens when a group is removed from the chapter program?

  1. WordPress steps down as the organizer, and the group is removed from the WordPress network.
  2. Meetup.com invites the group’s organizing team to continue independently (including paying the subscription fee).
  3. If no one from the organizing team steps up in five days, the invitation is extended to all members.
  4. If no one steps up in thirty days, the group is closed by Meetup.com.

To organize a WordPress Chapter Meetup, please submit a Meetup Organizer application. You are always welcome to reach out to the WordPress Community Team at support@wordcamp.org with any questions.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the WordPress Chapter Meetup program!

#meetups, #meetup-reactivation

Reactivating Inactive Meetup Groups

Our upcoming project aims at revitalizing inactive MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. groups within our community. With over 762 WordPress Meetup groups spanning 108 countries and hosting nearly 537,000 members, we recognize the importance of fostering active engagement across our global network.

Starting July 1, 2024, we embark on a focused one-month initiative to breathe new life into our Meetup groups. This project comes in response to recent data revealing that nearly half of our groups are currently inactive—a statistic that underscores the need for proactive measures.

Our Objectives:

  • Encouraging activities in the groups that have been inactive.
  • Optimizing our meetup group network by focusing on active and engaged groups.

Our Tasks:

  • Prepare the Q2 inactive groups list from Meetup.com.
  • Send a message to the co-organizers.
  • Gather the current status and interest of inactive groups and follow up with non-responsive groups.
  • Provide resources and support to groups willing to reactivate.
  • Send a message to group members.
  • Prepare the final list of groups to close and send the list to Meetup.com to be processed.

Get Involved!

We invite all Community Team Supporters and Meetup Organizers to join us in strengthening our meetup group network. Your participation is crucial for revitalizing inactive groups in your country and neighboring regions. You can assist by providing resources, sharing ideas, offering support to groups interested in reactivating, encouraging them to plan and schedule their initial events, and monitoring their progress.

Whether you’re a co-organizer, member, or simply passionate about WordPress, your involvement can make a significant difference. Let’s make July a month of reconnection and revitalization for our Meetup groups worldwide!

Thank you, @courtneypk and @nao, for contributing to this post.

#meetup-reactivation

Celebrating the Completion of the Meetup Reactivation Project

8 July, 2022 was a big day for the WordPress community. It was the day the first call for Meetup Reactivation supporters was posted.

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and organizer burnout, our meetupsMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. were struggling. Worldwide, at least 470 groups were dormant. It was a daunting task to tackle, but many of you came forward to answer the call.

With your help, in 12 months the Community Team was able to reactivate 268 meetups on 6 continents. That’s 57%! 

For those who’d like to see those numbers broken down further, that information is provided at the end of the post.

Transitioning the Project

One thing we learned from this effort is that some meetups were dormant even BEFORE the pandemic hit. In fact, some meetups had never held a single event. This means that even when there isn’t a pandemic we still need to check for and in with our dormant meetups.

To maintain our momentum on this project and continue supporting our meetups, which are the life force of the WordPress community, we’re adding a Dormant MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. Check-in task to the new Event SupporterEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. (formerly MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues.) role. You can learn more about that in this post: Updates to the Community Team Mentor Program.

If you are a Meetup Reactivation supporter who would like to continue helping with the Dormant Meetup Check-in process, email us at support@wordcamp.org for further instructions on applying.

A Mighty Thank YOU!

Finally, we want to thank everyone who has given their own personal time to this project. We have been grateful to work alongside you and get to know you better. Your help was invaluable and directly contributed to the success of this project.

The Meetup Reactivation Team

Abhishek Prabhu – @abyshakes
Aditya Kane – @adityakane
Aditya Shah – @ethicaladitya
Afshana Diya – @afshanadiya
Ahmed Chaion – @chaion07
Ali Parisi – @alipawp
Alvaro Gomez – @mrfoxtalbot
Ana Gavilán – @anagavilan
Anne Katzeff – @askdesign
Arthur Kasirye – @thehopemonger
Brandon Dove – @brandondove
Cristopher Garrido Martell – @gmartell
David Margowsky – @margowsky
Dat Hoang – @htdat
Dennis Ploetner – @realloc
Devin Maeztri – @devinmaeztri
Emmanuel Eluwa – @luwie93
Gustavo Galati – @gusgalati
Halima McCarthy
Isotta Peira – @peiraisotta
Javier Casares – @JavierCasares
JC Palmes – @khleomix
Jose Ramon Padron – @monchomad
Juan Hernando – @unintended8
Julia Golomb – @juliarosia
Junko Nukaga – @nukaga
Kharis Sulistiyono – @kharisblank
Lax Mariappan – @lakshmananphp
Leo Gopal – @leogopal
Luis Miguel Climent – @lmcliment
Mainul Kabir Aion – @aion11
Marco Andrei Kichalowsky – @marcoandrei
Mario Wolf – @vivamundo
Meagan Hanes – @askdesign
Megan Rose – @megabyterose
Michelle Frechette – @michelleames
Milan Ivanovic – @lanche86
Mizanur Rahaman Mizan – @technocrews
Muhammad Tajudeen – @fataj
Muhammad Usman Khalid – @usmankhalid
Naoko Takano – @nao
Olga Gleckler – @oglekler
Oneal Rosero – @onealtr
Pablo Moratinos – @pablo-moratinos
Pooja Derashri – @webtechpooja
Ricky Blacker – @rickyblacker
Shakir Ali – @engrshakirali
Shusei Toda – @st810amaze
Sinar Hadi Wijaya – @sinarhadiwijaya
Thelma Mutete – @thelmachido
Timi Wahalahti – @sippis
Wil Brown – @developerwil
Yam Chhetri – @yamchhetri
Yogesh Londhe – @yoga1103

Reactivation Numbers By Location

Legend:

  • Reactivated = groups really reactivated or in process to reactivate
  • Dormant =  groups that haven’t been reactivated and are not in active process of being reactivated

#meetups, #meetup-reactivation