Skip to main content
Sign In |
  Help (new window)

Leader Portal

Go Search
BUG Home
Group Member List
Premium Sponsors
Leader Portal
Board Portal
Calendar
  

View All Site Content

Boston User Groups > Leader Portal
Leader Portal is a place for community leaders to collaborate and share Ideas

 Leader Portal

From: Dan Stolts
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 10:53 AM
To: Board@bostonusergroups.org
Subject: Your User Group Can Profit by helping - Virtualization Deep Dive Day 2012

 

Hi guys,  I would like to have the following sent to User Group Leaders to advertise the VirtG Deep Dive Day.  Because it has email addresses, I would rather it not get posted online.  Just send as an email.

 

 

VirtG is again holding their annual deep dive day on Saturday March 10th, in Randolph MA.  The event is a vender neutral look at all aspects of virtualization and cloud computing.  Details on the event are at www.virtg.com/DeepDiveDay2012  We are expecting between 180-250 attendees for this event.

 

We are soliciting your help for this event!

 

What is in it for you and/or your group?

1)      Profit sharing of the event proceeds. Share depends on participation level etc.

2)      Finding AND finalizing sponsors will yield a % of the sponsorship cash to your group (we have banking/invoicing covered so just need to turn them over to us)

3)      A VirtG Polo shirt to the leaders that are instrumental in the success of the event

4)      Group logo on the VirtG website (w/link) and marketing material  (including the event program)

5)      Introduction of your group during the event – lots of exposure

 

There are several ways you/your group can participate:  Participating in any of the following can qualify your group for profit sharing of the event proceeds. Share depends on participation level etc.

·         Help advertise the event and provide volunteers to help run things on event day. 

·         We are still looking to fill some speaking sessions.  A proposal into Dan Stolts would be highly looked upon by the committee.

·         Finding/ Recommending/Recruiting and/or finalizing sponsors for the event.  If you just want to give us contact information or company details we may be able to do the leg work.

·         We have a weekly conference call on Tuesday from 7:30am – 8:30 am (though we try to keep it to just the first 30 mins).   On these calls, we work on the planning of the event.  We would request one person representing your organization as often as possible at these calls to take on tasks as needed.

 

Even registration and mass email campaign will go out next week so get involved now so you can capitalize on the exposure.

 

 

Current User Group Sponsors:

 www.virtg.com

 

 www.bostonusergroups.org

 

exchangeserverboston.org

 

Current Platinum Sponsors:

 www.techtarget.com

  www.microsoft.com

 

Event Door Prize Sponsors:

 

 

Additional Questions?  Contact Dan Stolts

 

Dan Stolts, MCT, MCITP, MCSE, TS...

IT Pro Evangelist | IT Pro Community Lead - North East

Microsoft | Developer & Platform Evangelism - US East

Phone: +1(857) 453-6412

Cell: +1(508) 930-1286

email: dstolts@microsoft.com

Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/danstolts

   or http://ITProGuru.com

Twitter: @ITProGuru

LinkedIn: DanStolts

Facebook: Dan Stolts

 

Proof of Concept Get Started Today! 

Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1

System Center 2012 Suite

Microsoft Virtual Academy

Virtual Labs

Get Certified [70-659]

 Contributing Members
Replies
Getting Members to ContributeUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
BUG\dan.stolts08/20/2010 3:37 PM
Recurring Theme: Build Relationships
Start by recognizing that everyone is busy.  They probably do not have time to do much for the group (or at least that is what they think).  So, we need to start out slow.  For those that are regular members of your group, start off by asking them to do things during the meeting.  Maybe you want to have them go around and pick business cards for the drawing or watch the swag table so things do not walk.  Once you engage them at the meeting and get to know them (and they get to know you) they will be more interested in doing more for you.
 
Then ask them to do small but easy things for the group.  That might look like this:
 
1) Hey Jack, can you do me a favor.  I heard Citrix is coming out with a new product and I am thinking our group might be interested in learning more about it.   Would you mind doing a bit of research on the product and give me your opinion on how interesting it may be to our group?
 
2) Hey Randy, I wonder if you could do me a favor sometime in the next couple weeks?  Answer: what is it?  Our topic next month is going to be on Application Virtualization and I was wondering if you would mind looking online to get me some Links of new news about Application Virtualization that I can use to share with our members next month.  Also, if you happen to stumble on any local companies in the space, send me their URL so I can reach out to them to sponsor the meeting.
 
3) I was thinking that I would like to put together a slide of online and local training classes that are available on XYZ topic.  Would you mind doing a bit of research for me to see if you can find any.  If you do, just send me whatever you get and I will followup. 
 
Whatever you do ... never, Never, NEVER give a brand new person a hard task like calling on a potential sponsors.  That is something you have to work up to.  If they have a relationship with someone, then you can have them call from the beginning but DO NOT ask them to do any cold calling!!!! In fact, even if they volunteer, thank them but do let them take on that pressure.  Eventually, after you work with them for several months and they read up on how to do it, you can let them do it for you. For the really hard stuff like getting sponsor, the leader of the group ALWAYS needs to be involved. This is not something you can pawn off on other leaders.  Others may eventually be responsible for it but it will always be your job too!
 

 Speakers
Replies
Finding SpeakersUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
BUG\dan.stolts08/20/2010 3:16 PMDiscussion
First, anytime you talk to someone about being a speaker, you should be talking to them about being a sponsor and visa-versa.  The two go hand in hand.
 
Anywhere that someone is speaking in public is a good place to look for a speaker.  Some examples:
 
  1. Tradeshows / Seminars
  2. Promoting a Book
  3. Webcast or Webinar lead
  4. Podcast lead
  5. Blogger(s)
  6. Professional Trainers
  7. Other User Group Leaders
  8. Evangelist and/or Technology Specialists at companies
  9. MVP's
  10. Online Forums

If you come across someone talking about a topic that is of interest to your group, ask them if they would have any interest in "giving to the community" by speaking to your group about this or a similar topic.  Don't get bogged down in the details like the date of your next meeting.  First get them to say yes, they will support the community and speak to your group.  Then you can figure out if the next meeting (or three or four meetings from now) is best.

As with Sponsors and everything else that we do, start developing the relationship.  Running a group is a relationship business.

 

 Sponsors
Replies
Finding SponsorsUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
BUG\dan.stolts08/20/2010 3:06 PM
Potential Sponsors are EVERYWHERE!
 
The first rule of getting sponsors is "Highlight what is in it for them!!!"
 
I have found the best place to find sponsors is at trade shows.  Talk to the people that are at the booth at a tradeshow where they are pitching or promoting a product that would be of interest to your group.  Ask them some pointed questions and develop a conversation about supporting the community.  Some opening statements / questions might look like this:
 
1) Hi, My name is Dan, I was wondering if you guys support the community and if so, whom I might talk to about getting your product messaging in front of my community organization?
 
2) I am the President of  a local user group community called "Fill in the blank (Virtualization Group Boston)".  I have about "xxx 500 members".  We have regular training sessions to learn about virtualization topics and I was wondering if you guys would have any interest in reaching out to my members? 
 
3) Hi, I am coordinating an event in a couple months called Virtualization Deep Dive Day where I will have about 150 of my members attending.  They are there to learn about virtualization topics and I was wondering whom I might reach out to in your organization to see if you guys are interested in participating?
 
You can use these question techniques in any setting.  I strongly recommend you to not embellish on the truth.  If you do that, you will ruin any possibility of continued support.  More to come later on this topic but bottom line, once you get a sponsor, you want to keep them and have them contribute more over time.  
 
Running a user group is a relationship business.  Think in terms of developing relationships as you progress.  Even if someone is not interested now, they may be in the future.   If you are really uncomfortable with all this stuff, you might want to pick up a book or two on "Basic Sales Techniques".  Develop your elevator pitch and build on it as you gain more experience.
 
  		 
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Logo