What
It's time for another Austin Drupal Users Group Meetup! Several people have suggested that we devote some time specifically to beginner topics. With that in mind, let's try devoting the first 45 minutes to an hour on a beginner topic. Any suggestions?
Also, let's try to have some specific intermediate to advanced presentations scheduled. If you're comfortable presenting, please reply with a topic or topics that you would be interested in covering and approximately how much time you would need for each. If we have more topics than we have time for, we can spread them out over future meetings. If there are any specific topics you'd like to see presented, please post those too.
When
Wednesday, April 29, 6:30-8:45 pm
Who
Calling all Central Texas Drupalers! Meetups are very informal and Drupal users of all levels - new users to expert users - are encouraged to attend and participate.
Where
Terrazas Branch library
1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 974-3625
Why
The Austin DUG wants YOUR participation and your fellow Drupalers want to meet you, make new friends/professional contacts, and learn about how you're using Drupal.
Sign Up
Signing up is courteous and helps in planning purposes by letting both the host and the venue know how many folks will be attending.
Future Meetings
In addition to the meeting above, I now have the room reserved for the last Wednesday of the month through December (with the exception of November when the last Wednesday wasn't available and I settled for the nearest available day):
Wednesday, 5/27 6:30 - 8:45pm
Wednesday, 6/24 6:30 - 8:45pm
Wednesday, 7/29 6:30 - 8:45pm
Wednesday, 8/26 6:30 - 8:45pm
Wednesday, 9/30 6:30 - 8:45pm
Wednesday, 10/28 6:30 - 8:45pm
Saturday, 11/28 2pm - 4:45
Wednesday, 12/30 6:30 - 8:45pm
Comments
Possible Agenda Topic
I've been in a fantastic webinar for the past 40 minutes by Ben Finklea, CEO of Volacci - creator of SEO Checklist Module. This has been a fantastic presentation that is being recorded that we could definitely play back for the group! It was put on by Acquia - VERY USEFUL!
Volacci/Acquia SEO preso
It was quite fab, indeed, and the best part is that our friends at Acquia Drupal will be posting a link to the presentation shortly. I will post a link here to that link there when it comes down. Very helpful stuff!
journalist, teacher and online instigator
journalist, teacher and online instigator
Here is the link
https://admin.acrobat.com/_a811772094/p81848811/
Poor Quality
Too bad the quality on this sux. There is a lot of useful info - but bottom line is that you simply MUST install the SEO Checklist module as it walks you through all of the steps to assure your site(s) is fully equipped for SEO. It is a great tool!
Beverages
Green Spider Design will be providing beverages (the dry type:) for this meetup. Any requests?
I did confirm that the library will allow this - but we WILL need to clean up after ourselves.
If you mean...
..."dry" as in non-alcoholic but yet very "wet" beverages like iced tea on a hot day in Central Austin, then one of my local favs has my vote & that would be...drum roll please...Sweet Leaf Tea!
And if you meant something else, my apologies!
Regardless, a big THANK YOU to Green Spider Design for supporting the Austin DUG!!!
Walt Esquivel, MBA; MA; President, Wellness Corps; Captain, USMC (Veteran)
$50 Hosting Discount Helps Projects Needing Financing
Walt Esquivel, MBA; MA; President, Wellness Corps; Captain, USMC (Veteran)
$50 Hosting Discount Helps Projects Needing Financing
Acquia / Volacci Webinar Recording
Here is the link - https://admin.acrobat.com/_a811772094/p81848811/
Well, I was going to delete this post as I decided to post it as a reply in the earlier thread - but I can't - SORRY! :*(
URGENT: Projector status
Would someone be willing to bring the Four Kitchens projector to the meetup? I can either deliver it to someone today, or someone can pick it up from the FK offices today or tomorrow.
My apologies for the late notice. I was planning to attend this week's meetup but was called out of town late yesterday.
Todd Ross Nienkerk
Co-founder, Four Kitchens | IRC: toddross
Todd Ross Nienkerk
Digital Strategist and Partner
Four Kitchens: Big ideas for the web
IRC: toddross
Update: Projector status
I will drop off the projector at the library today. Eric, the manager, will keep it in his office until the meetup. His number is 512-974-3636.
Someone will need to take the projector home with them, as the library can't keep it overnight. Can someone volunteer to be in charge of the projector until I someone from Four Kitchens can pick it up later in the week or next?
Todd Ross Nienkerk
Co-founder, Four Kitchens | IRC: toddross
Todd Ross Nienkerk
Digital Strategist and Partner
Four Kitchens: Big ideas for the web
IRC: toddross
RE: Projector status
Todd,
Thank you for dropping it off, I can Pick it up. I live/Work in Mueller so it should not be to hard to arrange to get it back to you. In fact Friday I will be going by your office area.
Next Meetup - or Future Meetup Agenda Topic
On my drive home from last night's meetup I was thinking about what I would like to see at our next meeting - or some future meeting beyond that.
I think it would be really useful for the entire group - regardless of whether you are new to Drupal, whether you are a themer, moduler, or webmaster, regardless of your familiarity of object-oriented methodologies - to go through a real world Drupal project (I have a few that would be good to use) and discuss the various ways to implement different aspects of the project. We can discuss some of the limitations of Drupal from an Object-Oriented perspective - in particular its inability to harness the powers of polymorphism, inheritance/instantiation, abstraction, and encapsulation - and how one can best implement Drupal concepts to attempt to achieve some level of OO value.
An example of what I mean is found in how you can't create a field for Name and use that field across multiple content types such that it is meaningful in each instance of itself - so that Name of an Author is different than Name of a Publication, but that each instantiation of Name inherits certain base-class characteristics of a Name.
Any thoughts?
That sounds interesting!
There must have been lots of thinking on the way home last night. I was thinking that we could do a project analysis: present a client (or visitor) need and each share how he/she would implement a solution. That would be a way for newbies to see real world situations and learn options. Intermediates (like me) could describe what we would do -- and learn other options. And the advanced folks could show other options or maybe short cuts.
I think it would also help to have some advance prep, perhaps present a scenario or client need in advance so we could come prepared or at least noodle on it a bit before the meeting. We could also extend the meeting by continuing the discussion online afterward (or we could even have some discussion online before the meeting). I would be happy to lead that effort.
Any more thoughts?
Anne
Anne Easterling
www.anne-easterling.com
More Thoughts...
I thought I smelled something burning on the way home last night! :)
Great ideas.
thumbs up
that sounds very interesting! I was thinking later that it might have been fun to try and deconstruct the Kentucky Derby site, but I wasn't sure if that was to basic/elementary for the developers in the room.
But yes, for me, real-world projects are very informative!
c-a
anglo spider, journalist, teacher and online instigator
journalist, teacher and online instigator
Derby Reconstruct
How about a contest - an "I can reconstruct that site in ______ hours" contest...
Could be fun - a Drupal codefest faceoff...
Our U.S. Senate Campaign Site from Last Year
Charlotte had asked for this link last night - so here it is. http://jlanier.thespidercms.com/ Has some really cool back-end functionality like being able to invite your friends to join the campaign and then monitor their responses.
A Wild Concept
Here's a novel - if not WILD - idea. We have some really bright minds in our group. Rather than reconstructing a site that would have no purpose in the end - aside from the obvious one of having learned from the effort - why not actually work together as a group to create a site that will become a real business entity?
We could become partners of sorts and meet every other week for a few hours outside of our monthly Drupal User's Group meetings. We would have to establish the group as a solid entity early on rather than allowing people to come in toward the middle or the end unless the entire group agreed that doing so would be to the benefit of the business model - much like a company hiring a new resource in the middle of an existing project.
I can think of several possible business concepts we could develop. We could choose something that ultimately would be 100% (or as close as possible) self sufficient such that it wouldn't require our on-going time to manage.
This would not only be a great Drupal learning experience, but it would be a great experience on many other levels. I, for one, am excited about the possibility. Is it too far out there - or does anyone else share in my enthusiasm?
Terry
Wild Concept
Terry,
Sounds like fun! Several question come to mind:
Seriously, this is very interesting to me and I'd like to get together with anyone else interested in this joint venture.
Thanks for getting the ball rolling.
larry
Group Business Project
Larry,
There would definitely be some complexities to such a venture that would need to be addressed by the group as a whole. We could do a non-profit, but I'd like to do a for-profit venture and possibly donate some of the proceeds to local charities or organizations. In terms of the details, obviously, we would need to work these out as a group; however, I'm certain that with the level of intelligence and experience that exists in the group we could identify and resolve all issues to everyone's liking.
In terms of whether anyone is a crook or not I think there are some easy ways to implement controls that will create a sufficient audit trail. Personally, I would want Green Spider's involvement to be from a development resources level rather than from an accounting level.
So far there hasn't been any reaction from anyone other than you, so this may all be a moot issue anyway. And I just found out last week that I have cancer, so I'm not sure how much time I would be able to commit over the next few months while I'm finishing my treatment.
Any other interest out there??
Group Business Project
Terry:
My wife and I would be interested in participating in an effort such as the one you propose.
Donating net proceeds to charity sounds like a good idea.
Sorry about the cancer thing. We recently went through something similar and wish you the success we have had.
Bill and Charlotte-Anne