The document introduces the PHP North-East User Group, which meets monthly at The Town Wall Pub to hear PHP-related talks from members. It provides context on what user groups are, lists other UK PHP user groups, and outlines initial plans to set up a website, Google Group, Eventbrite page and find sponsors and speakers.

1. Welcome to PHP North-East! The PHP User Group for the North-East of England, UK.

2. Who the hell are you? Anthony Sterling ( @AnthonySterling ) Full Time: IT Manager for UK Operations for Draka Holdings BV. Part Time: Freelance PHP Developer for the last 6 years. Library development, systems integration, API creation/consumption. Apparently, daft enough to be the one to help kick start @PHPNE !

3. So, what is a User Group? Wikipedia: A ‘User Group’ is a type of club focused on the use of a particular technology, usually (but not always) computer-related. A place to meet similar minded people A focal point to find someone passionate about what they/you do An opportunity to be trained, for free , by your counterparts. Yet another reason to have more beer.

4. Are we alone?

5. Other (UK) PHP User Groups PHP North-West ( PHPNW ) http://phpnw.org.uk PHP South-West ( PHPSW ) http://groups.google.com/group/phpsw PHP London ( PHPLondon ) http://www.phplondon.org PHP West-Midlands ( PHPWM ) http://www.phpwm.org Leeds PHP ( LeedsPHP ) http://leedsphp.org

6. So, what’s the plan?

7. The Plan ® We meet once a month, every 3 rd Tuesday at 6pm – here at The Town Wall Pub . At each event, a nominated/elected speaker will give a, PHP related, 30-40 minute talk of their choosing. Simple huh?!

8. Things we need A Website for http://phpne.org.uk A Google Group set up. EventBrite maintained. Community coverage; Twitter, Facebook et al. Sponsors! Someone to speak next month...

9. Thank you!