So you’re interested in founding a Joomla User Group (JUG)? You have options, and the JUG Team wants to help. We are here to foster the creation of new JUGs, and support existing JUGs.

Why do we need Joomla User Groups? Sharing knowledge and helping others learn about Joomla is the primary reason. Simply put, Joomla is a solid content management system, with global appeal, used for a variety of sites. We need to occasionally meet and help each other learn about Joomla and make contact with our fellow Joomlers. There are currently more than 100 registered Joomla User Groups across the globe, with three of those being newly organized Virtual JUGs.

There are a few things to consider before you start the process.

• Do you have a point of contact, and do you have an alternate? Many JUGs get started, the leadership changes or worse, disappears. Make it easy for us to reach you.
• Will you be starting a JUG in a specific part of the world, or will this be a Virtual JUG? Is your JUG based on geography, or a specific group of Joomla users?
• Do you have a place (website, social media) where we can point people to from the JUG Directory?

Make sure you review the JUG Terms of Service (https://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_User_Group/Terms_of_Service) and the JUG Rules for Submission pages. You can view them at https://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_User_Group/FAQs_and_Rules_for_Submission

As of the this article’s publication, some of these rules are in the process of revision to accommodate Virtual JUGs but take a moment to make sure you can meet the requirements for trademark, images, disclaimer, and information that will go into the JUG Directory (https://community.joomla.org/user-groups.html).

Once you have all of the pieces in place, submit an application ticket (https://community.joomla.org/login.html). If you don't already have an account, create an account before accessing the application.

The JUG Team reviews the application, and if all goes well, we approve the application, and you have founded a Joomla User Group. Announce your launch in the Joomla Community Portal (https://community.joomla.org/events.html), hold your first JUG meeting, and let the JUG Team know how we can support your group. We are planning meetings for JUG leadership in the coming months, and we are looking forward to meeting with as many of you as possible.