Tips from Igal Koshevoy on how to start a new user group or make the one you already have better. Some items are specific to Portland, OR (such as Calagator) but it's a good summary of the initial admin work needed.

1. Come up with a name, e.g., "Portland JavaScript Users Group"
2. Come up with a short nickname, e.g., "pdxjs"
3. Setup a mailing list, e.g., via Google Groups
4. Register a domain, e.g., "pdxjs.org"
5. Setup a simple website, e.g., using WordPress or DokuWiki
6. List very clearly on the website's homepage:
   1. Name of group
   2. Nickname of group
   3. What the group provides in a sentence or two
   4. Link to group's mailing list
   5. When usually meets (e.g., "Xth Monday of the month")
   6. When and where the next meeting is and link it to a calendar entry on Calagator or Upcoming
7. Distribute privileges so all organizers of group can manage the site and list
8. Pick a day to meet, e.g., find a night with few collisions by using Calagator review past months event.
9. Find at least one speaker and topic for the first meeting
10. Post event to Calagator and other relevant local event calendars
11. Come up with a short PR piece introducing the group, how to participate, and describe the first meeting's speaker and content. Pass this PR document to the leaders of various interested groups for posting, or post directly if you know that the organizers hold you in high regard and think this is appropriate, as well as sending it to local PR folks, e.g., Rick Turoczy, the Silicon Florist
12. Use mailing list and Twitter to remind people of the group, its meetings, tips and ideas
13. Consider registering Twitter handle for group, e.g., @pdxjsug and using it
14. Post text or video of meetings if possible. Posting them to website using good organization will make it easier for people to find them than searching mailing list
15. Meetings with some pre-announced topics are much better attended and easier to publicize than just asking people to show up and wing it
16. Make sure someone's assigned to regularly update the site's next meeting, post reminders of the event to mailing list, Calagator, Twitter, etc.
17. ???
18. Have fun!