OpenStreetMap
I started to map in OSM at a mapathon in Prague, Czech Republic, in November 2019. Little did I know then that I was lucky to integrate an already existing, well organized Missing Maps Czech & Slovak community. I joined the Missing Maps project with the Médecins Sans Frontières in January 2020 and since then engaged with many more mapping communities - Missing Maps London, the Missing Maps members, HOT community working group, OSM RDC and OSM Uganda, to name a few.
When we discussed the OSM Diary with @ODULANA_OLUWATOYIN and @JaphetMasunzu, I knew I ought to try as well. When I reflected on topics, community building was a top choice among the six ideas I came up with - I will return to the others at the end. Listed in no particular order, these actions will help: 1. Announce next opportunities We always do that at a wrap-up at the end of a mapathon. This means, that you check in with the community members before what events they are planning before your mapathon. Ideally, you already plan the date and format of the next mapathon. A certain regularity of events is helpful to keep people coming back. Typically, we create a slide that we show, whether online or in-person event, that way people can remember better than if they only heard it.
2. Invite the participants of past mapathons
Eventbrite is a helpful tool to set up and keep track of the registrations. You can download a list of registered participants after the event under the Manage event menu, Dashboard section, and set up an email campaign for the next event under the Marketing section. Make sure to send email invitations to those, who registered for your mapathons in the past 6-12 monts. The click-through rate of the invitation email is the highest, compared to the other communication channels, because these people already know what they are in for!