FAQs for Meetups

How many people are expected? - Typically we see between 10 to 50 members attend a meetup based on the topic covered. Do not feel compelled to submit a topic based on attendence, please submit a topic based on your expertise.

Where do you host meetups?

We will move the meetup location where we are able to find venue space. Currently we will frequent VEEAM (Polaris), Branch Insurance (downtown), LeadingEDJE (Dublin), and Franklin University (downtown).

When are meetups scheduled? - We typically schedule them on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. However we can schedule special events or niche topics at different times to accommodate presenters or venue's schedules.

What can speakers NOT talk about? - This is a community organized user group so all content should not be sales related. Please avoid anything that may seem like a sales pitch. Only mention your company or product if it is directly related to the AWS services used. 1 slide with 'background' at most.

Note: If a session is a sales pitch, not only will you be banned from future AWS Columbus meetups, but you will most likely be banned from all of the AWS User Groups.

How long are meetups? We block off 2 hours for the meetup, with the first half our for guests to settle and grab something to eat. The presenter will start 30 minutes after the meetup start time.

How long should my presentation be? We recommend at least 30 minutes followed by Q&A. If your topic requires less time, we can combine your topic with someone else, just let us know.

Are there slide requirements? - No. We will offer a template, but you are free to use your own slides. The 16x9 format is the most universal and will work best. Want to be fancy? Download the Amazon Ember fonts here.

Please do not read directly off of your slides. There is no such thing as being over-prepared!

Less slides always make for a more engaging speech. For a 30 minute talk, aim for 1 slide for every 3-5 minutes.

Don’t make your slides too cluttered. 24 pt. type and above works well.

Try to keep each slide focused on only one point or thought at a time.

Have fun!

Do we have to register? - Yes. Speakers should also register for the meetup they plan to prseent at, this way you receive event emails as well as contribute to the total count of attendees for the final food order count.

Will talks be recorded? - No, but you should expect attendees to record and take photos of your session. If you have special requirements with your slides and digression please let us know in the submission.

Will slides be available afterward? - Yes*! Please provide a PDF of your slides so we can upload and link to them after the meetup.

Is there a dress code? - No! Please wear what you feel most comfortable in.

Will food be provided? - In most cases yes. So as long as the venue allows us to have food we will find a sponsor to cover it.

Is there an age restriction? If the venue serves alcohol, then we will require that attendees be 21 years or older. Meetups scheduled at a University or Library will not have age requirements.

Will there be vegan, vegetarian, and//or gluten free options? No, we do our best to make sure sponsors provide a no-meat option when ordering pizza but otherwise we have no control of what the dietary requirements are with the food the sponosr provides.

What should I bring? - Your laptop (or presentation device), and any hands-on sessions or labs will be recorded. Bring business cards, notebooks, and stickers.