Starting an Ubuntu Local Community is an exciting, challenging and rewarding experience. With a successful LoCo team you have the potential to really help advocate and develop Ubuntu in your part of the world and get more people using free and open source software.
Although from the outset, setting up a LoCo seems simple, getting a successful team up and running can often be a challenging, difficult process. Running a LoCo team not only requires a skill in motivating people to join your team, but it also requires an ability to inspire the team where to move forward, be organised and resolve conflict where required. Setting up and leading a LoCo team is not about forming a group and telling people what to do - it is about forming a group and inspiring people to do amazing things.
Getting Started
When deciding to create a LoCo team for your area, you should first decide which particular region you want to create a team for. Before you continue, first check to see if an existing team exists. See the Ubuntu LoCo team Directory and look to see if there is already one in your area.
Generally LoCo teams have a fairly large catchment area. For smaller countries, one LoCo for the entire region may be appropriate. For larger countries such as the USA, it is more common to have LoCo teams at a state level - the country is too big to have one single LoCo team.
Each LoCo team is intended to support all variants of Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu etc. If you want to set up a specific group for a derivative, you should do it as part of an existing ubuntu-* team.
Every team needs at least one Team Contact. This is the person who serves as the interface between the local team and the larger Ubuntu community.
Establishing your Team Name
An important first step is selecting your team name. We utilize the following naming convention:
For most Teams: Ubuntu-Country ISO Code (eg: ubuntu-lv for Ubuntu Latvia)
For United States Based Teams: Ubuntu-us-state (ubuntu-us-pa for Pennsylvania)
The following are a list of resources you should also set up, again, USA differs so please look at the naming examples for USA based teams:
Setting up your Team Resources
One of the most critical tasks in running a successful team is to ensure it is easy for people to (a) get involved and (b) communicate with each other. This may require setting up some team resources. Every team should have the following resources set up:
Launchpad Group
The first step towards setting up your LoCo Team is creating a Team on Launchpad. This platform serves as the group management tool for your team and helps keep track of members and leadership. To learn how to make a Launchpad account and create your Team, check out Teams/CreatingAndRunning - Launchpad Help.
Once your LoCo Team has been created on Launchpad, you can add it to the ~LoCoTeams Group which helps people find it easier within Launchpad.
Optional Team Resources
Synchronous Chat Platform
Utilizing a synchronous chat platform is a great way for the team to have real-time discussions about the group. There are a number of options available for Teams each with their own unique features and benefits. Teams should choose a platform that suits their unique needs the best.
Some examples of synchronous chat platforms are as follows:
IRC
Matrix
Telegram
Discord
Forums
The Ubuntu Forums allows established LoCos to request a forum space to communicate. Unlike the Ubuntu Discourse that focuses around conversations and community coordination, the Ubuntu Forums allows for technical support questions to be asked and answered.
Getting your Team Listed
Once you have your team name and primary team resources established, the next step is getting your Team listed on the Ubuntu Discourse LoCo Category and subsequently the LoCo Team Directory. The best way to do this is to create a topic in the LoCo category on the Ubuntu Discourse including links to your various team resources.
The TL;DR
Step 1: Create a team on Launchpad
Creating and Running A Team On Launchpad Help
Step 2: Add your teams to ~locoteams on Launchpad
Add your Team to the LocTeams Group
Step 3: Setup your optional team resources.
Step 4: Create a request on the LoCo category with your Team information to be added to get the LoCo directory and have a dedicated subcategory created.
Getting out There
Now the real work begins! Get the word out, plan your first meetup, host an Ubuntu release party and have fun!