*(sorry for the rapid stream of blog posts, normal service will resume soon)*
Recently I have been working on a series of IRC events to help get new people into our community. As such, next week (Mon 27th Nov 2006 – Sat 2nd Dec 2006) the Ubuntu community holds our [Ubuntu Open Week](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuOpenWeek) – a week of IRC tutorials and sessions designed to encourage more and more people to join our diverse community. In just two years, Ubuntu has grown to a user base of over 6 million and a worldwide community spanning many different disciplines.
The week of events includes sessions from some of the most well respected members of the Ubuntu community, on a number of different diverse subjects, including The Ubuntu Community, Kubuntu, MOTU, The Documentation Team, Edubuntu, Translating applications with Rosetta, The Bug Squad, Ubuntu packaging, Becoming an Ubuntu member, Launchpad, LoCo teams, Ubuntu Ports and a Q + A session with Mark Shuttleworth.
The full timetable is available [here](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuOpenWeek), and everyone is welcome. All sessions take place in `#ubuntu-classroom` on `irc.freenode.net`.
In addition to the formal events, Friday 1st Dec (the Friday in the Ubuntu Open Week) is a freshers day in which new community members and those who want to get involved in the community can come along, ask their questions and get plenty of help. This will take place in `#ubuntu-freshers` on `irc.freenode.net`. Existing community members are invited to help these new folks out.
See the main [Ubuntu Open Week](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuOpenWeek) page for the latest details and timetable!