“Welcome to the first meeting in a long time!  We plan on having these meetings on a regular basis.  At least monthly.  These meetings are a chance for all LoCos to share experiences so we can motivate each other and learn from each other, see how LoCos are doing, discuss any problems we might be facing.”

Thus Nick Ali (boredandblogging) started an IRC meeting that may well prove to be the most momentous one in a long time.  78 nicks from all over the world were found to be in channel by the end of it, and numerous people spoke up with questions, suggestions, observations and other information.  Among the things discussed were:

1. The amount of support that the LoCo teams were receiving.
2. What could be done better.
3. Sharing between LoCo’s.
4. The need for LoCo’s to make presentations.
5. Focusing on different LoCo activities, such as a meeting about release parties – a meeting about participation at conferences.
6. Looking forward in a more timely basis at future events: getting started planning earlier.
7. ‘Global’ events to rally teams together.
8. #ubuntu-locoteams channel should be overflowing with loco people, ideas, “hey I think we should do this” kind of things.
9. This channel should definitely be on everyones auto-join and we do need to promote this channel as a place to hang out.
10. The use of identi.ca to promote this channel.
11. Alternating meeting times, to accommodate other time zones, so everyone can attend them at least once every other month.
12. The location of where locoteams news would be posted.
13. What teams do to increase membership.
14. Translations for non-English speaking countries/loco’s/individuals.
15. Coordination of and use of LUG contacts, and other local open source contacts.
16. More collaboration around events, trying to get the teams together more (which I realize is the purpose of this channel), but it all comes down to communication.
17. Creating a best practice guide for loco’s.
18. How we can help ourselves to be more efficient and organized?
19. The results of Open Docs Day.
20. nixternal reported on LoCo Directory — Right now will be a database of all teams, approved and unapproved…future enhancements include a place to post your events, do some team sharing, and whatever other mashups people come up with.  It is being done with django and postresql, will include the django GIS stuff so you can mash it up with Google Maps and what not.  It will be the one-stop-shop for LoCo teams.

A great deal of discussion took place, and for that hour the channel was really jumping.  Congratulations to the LoCoTeams for an informative meeting.