My employer, OpenSource Connections, has a very generous BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) policy that allows me to spend up to three months per year pursuing a technology related project of my own choosing. So my first BHAG was helping Eric Meier with the Charlottesville .NET User Group (chodotnug).

Here's my thoughts about the user group:

• Meet once every two months, perhaps once a month if members want to meet more often and meetings are well attended.
• Each meeting should include an interesting .NET topic, as well as time for socializing. Food and drink will help with the latter. Also make the meeting easy to find and attend.
• Presentations should include both INETA speakers and local members.
• I've thought that meetings should be at a regular location, which should be a convinient location. Obviously this makes it easier to find and remember the meeting location. Or perhaps local companies could become location sponsors. Would meetings be more interesting if held a company locations around Charlottesville?
• Every meeting should include an opportunity for members to say what topics/speakers they would enjoy hearing.

Your Thoughts?