User:Verbistheword/organizingmeetups/Organizing a Missouri area gathering

A list to help make event planning in the Missouri+ area easier. For processes that are not specific to this area, this guide strives to link to existing materials rather than recreate them.

Decide event type and location

1. Decide what you'd like to accomplish.
2. Based on your goals, decide whether it is a sharing meeting, edit party, or something else.
3. Select the location.
4. Select a date and time.
5. (Over)estimate how much setup and break down time you'll need, thinking especially of technology and furniture needs.
6. Confirm the reservation (whatever is required for the venue) for the event, including the setup and breakdown time.

Let people know about the event

1. Recruit people to help with the event, if you need it.
2. List the event on the St. Louis Wikipedia:Meetup page, by editing it and following the formatting of the other events listed there.
3. Include it on other Wikimedia-specific ways to find out about events.
4. Share it with other groups that have overlapping interests. If you don't know any, search the web, the Meetup community, local nonprofits, and physical gathering places for ideas.
5. Share it with people you know via social media, email, or word of mouth.

Finalize the details

1. Imagine what you'll do if there's too many people for your core plan. It might not happen, but if it does, thinking it through will make it less likely you'll loose interested folks due to disorganization.
2. If folks are using devices to edit or present, figure out the specifics of how that will work.
3. Test equipment before the event. Plan to do this at least 30 min before, so you're not sweating it while folks wait.

Have the event

1. You've planned all you can, now go with the flow and try to have some fun!
2. Take note of how many and who showed up.
3. If folks you don't know come, give them a way to contact you or us, and invite them to leave their contact info.
4. You're in charge! If someone's out of line, find a way to support the group and rein the person in. They might not mean it, but that doesn't mean they get to make things uncomfortable or dangerous for others.

Wrap it up

1. Update your event listing on the St. Louis Wikipedia:Meetup page to show that the event is past.
2. Add a link from your user page to your event. You might be surprised how often you want to reference it.
3. If you learned something you wish you'd known before planning and hosting the event, update this list or another more appropriate place (and be sure that place is linked from this page).
4. Send a "great to see you" note to anyone you didn't know who came, along with any information they asked for or you promised.
5. Thank your helpers!
6. You've contributed to the free knowledge movement and probably learned something yourself in the process. Great work!