Becoming an INETA Member Group

INETA provides structured, peer-based organizational, educational, and promotional support to the growing worldwide community of Microsoft® .NET user groups. INETA's mission is to offer assistance and resources to community groups that promote and educate their membership in Microsoft's .NET technologies. INETA welcomes user groups or special interest groups from all facets of the .NET user community including developers, architects, project managers, and IT professionals.

What are the Steps to Become an INETA Member?

Existing .NET User Groups

1. Complete a membership application on-line. BE SURE TO REGISTER AND SIGN IN ON THE INETA.ORG HOME PAGE BEFORE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION!
2. Receive email verifying receipt of your application.
3. An INETA User Group Relations Committee member for your geographical area will contact you during the approval process. This member is also your contact person after approval for any user group issues related to INETA.
4. Download the INETA User Group Report. Complete it immediately following your next meeting and send it to your INETA User Group Relations Committee liaison.
5. Application is reviewed by INETA User Group Relations Committee liaison and approved or rejected.

Starting a New .NET User Group

1. Complete a membership application on-line
2. Receive email verifying receipt of your application.
3. An INETA User Group Relations Committee member for your geographical area will contact you during the approval process. This member is also your contact person after approval for any user group issues related to INETA.
4. Hold your first user group meeting (See the information below on How Do I Start a .NET User Group?).
5. Download the INETA User Group Report. Complete it immediately following your first meeting and send it to your INETA User Group Relations Committee liaison.
6. Application is reviewed by INETA User Group Relations Committee liaison and approved or rejected.

How Do I Start a .NET User Group?

• Visit the INETA forums and post questions for other user group leaders to answer
• Contact your local Microsoft regional representative. You can locate your local Microsoft regional office at www.microsoft.com/usa/offices.
• Download the Starting and running a user group white paper.
• Contact your INETA User Group Relations Committee liaison with questions.

Criteria for INETA Membership

INETA wants to ensure a consistent quality and focus for member groups. This enhances the value of being an INETA member and ultimately allows INETA to provide quality services. Therefore, acceptance as an INETA member is based upon the following criteria.

Have a significant .NET focus

The primary focus of the user group should be one or more of the Microsoft .NET technologies. The majority of your meeting presentations should relate to .NET. The purpose of the group listed on the web site should clearly delineate the .NET focus. A group that has an occasional meeting on a .NET topic would not be consistent with the criteria of a .NET focus. The Member Groups tab provides examples of a .NET focus. Contact leaders of other .NET user groups directly or visit the INETA forums to get a better understanding of how other user groups are focused on .NET. A .NET focus includes, but is not limited to:

• .NET Framework
• C#
• C++
• J#
• VB.NET
• Web services
• XML and related technologies

Have an established user group

Hold at least one initial meeting of your user group and provide a summary of the meeting to your INETA User Group Relationship Committee liaison. If you are starting a user group INETA has resources to help in form the new user group. See How Do I Start a .NET User Group? above.

Hold regular in-person meetings open to anyone

The user group should meet in-person on a regular basis, e.g., monthly. The meetings must be open to anyone interested in attending, not limited to members of an organization or company.

Have a user group web site

A web site is a necessary vehicle to provide a "community" for user group members and should provide information about meetings and other resources for members. Each member user group must display the INETA logo on the home page with a link to www.ineta.org.

Make every effort to grow the group and expand the local .NET community

The user group should make an effort to attract new members and continue to build a better "community" for local .NET developers. The focus should be on providing as much information and opportunity as possible for others in the developer community.

What are the Benefits of Becoming an INETA Member?

INETA is a great resource to supplement your local efforts with a user group.  Both new and existing groups can take advantage of resources including:

• On-line forums
• Content repository
• Speakers bureau
• Listing on the INETA web site
• Display the INETA logo on your user group web site
• Receive periodic mailings from INETA with useful information and resources for your user group

Does INETA Membership Cost Anything?

No. INETA membership is free with many benefits.

How Long Does the Approval Process Take?

The User Group Relations committee, made up of volunteers like yourself, makes every effort to process each application on a timely basis, usually within several weeks. You will be contacted by the User Group Relations committee member serving your geographic area who will keep you informed throughout the approval process.

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