Re: AUGD: Suggestions on Meeting Places
Re: AUGD: Suggestions on Meeting Places
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Suggestions on Meeting Places
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:27:35 EDT
In a message dated 4/26/07 7:44:21 AM, email@hidden writes:
I am just starting the investigation process to start an AUG in what is known as "the greater Acadiana area," a multi-parish area centered around the cit of Lafayette, Louisiana. We have a good concentration of Mac users here, and I'm confident that if we "build it, they will come."
The dilemma I am having is finding a suitable meeting place to hold 20-30 people on a monthly basis. I've called the local university only to find that the library on campus doesn't have meeting rooms for people of that size and the Lafayette Parish Library charges $25/meeting to use its facilities.
I want to make certain I find the absolute best place to meet; does anyone have any suggestions as to what other venues to look for when it comes to meeting rooms? All I can think of are libraries.
At 20 to 30, you are in good shape to find a free place to meet. As you grow it becomes more of a problem. Think about the computer area/lab of your local high school. If you don't yet need computers in your meeting area or can bring them in (have a couple of people bring a laptop), then think about church halls. We had a great meeting place in NH in the basement of a local church. Public libraries commonly have a meeting room. Ask at the local Mall. It is not uncommon to get a free meeting room there. The local college may have class rooms available at no charge. Some groups have a dinner meeting. They go to a local eatery and use their back room or a room screened off. They eat a nice meal and have the group meeting. Civic groups may have facilities that may work for you, the art guild for example. Some utilities or other business may have a training room available. Think centrally located. If people have to drive more than a half hour to the meeting, they tend not to show up very often. Once you have found a good place, you may stay there for a couple of years and than move depending on the needs of your group. At this point, if you can get a free place, it reduces your expenses so dues may be nothing or reasonable. Large groups tend to need auditoriums which cost big bucks.
Our group meets in the local public library's meeting room. There is no cost there, but once a year we gift the library with money for a special book collection or a rug cleaning or some other such action as a thank you. They appreciate it and it makes for a good relationship. Some groups pay for the room by maintaining repairs on equipment or the network of the host. Basically, to find a room, you have to look. Ask your members to become room sluths. at 20 to 30 people you shouldn't have a big problem finding one.
Rick Curran
Coastal Mac User Group
Myrtle Beach, SC
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