Checklist For Events

Basic Setup

Ask your chapter for feedback on a meeting day/time through your issue tracker
Make a budget
Pick a date and start/end times
Consider sending out a "save the date" notification to your chapter's members
Add the event to the NodeSchool site by filling out this Google form.
Contact several potential venues in your area that might be a fit to find out their availability, amenities, and pricing
Do a venue walkthrough to check if it will be a good fit for you (check out these venue best practices.
Start talking to potential sponsors early to make sure you're able to secure enough funding in time. And if they can't pitch in for this event, find out if a future event is a possibility with more notice.

Reach out directly to different groups that you want to see attend. Find existing tech groups like JS meetups, women in tech groups, people of color in tech groups, gender neutral groups etc and inviting them to come and learn node. (If you don't reach out beyond who you know personally then your event will likely be less diverse, and nobody likes a monoculture.)

Order stickers. Seriously, people love these. Order them early.
Find similar groups in your area and reach out to those organizers about inviting their members and/or partnering on an event
Share your event registration link on social media (Twitter, Facebook, everywhere) more than once.
Send a reminder email to attendees the day before, and include a map with parking, transit, accessibility, and organizer contact info for attendees.
Set expectations about RSVPs and a waitlist: if you sell out, make sure to communicate to those attending that they should update their RSVP if they change their minds to make room for waitlist people to participate

Make a point of contact sheet with all the important contact information for your venue POC, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, etc.
Bring lots of power cords.
Set up your projector and make sure it works as expected (especially important to check sound if you're using it)
Put up plenty of indoor and outdoor signage.
Put out and label trash/recycling bins (bring extra bags).
Bring paper towels, tape, scissors

Send out a survey after the event to find out what people loved and what you can do better next time
Onboard new members to your GitHub repo

good information for learning