Original link: Finding Your Tribe – JUGs Unveiled / JetBrains blog.
Back in the days then every computer manufacturer has its own user groups where users of their platform (hardware, OS, compilers, databases, other tools) could meet and support each other. There were no StackOverflow or othe rweb fora back then. Only available internet services was mail-lists and usenet.
Back in the 80's and 90's I was a proud member of DECUS Danmark (DECUS = Digital Equipment Computer Users' Society).
The Java world has taken up the idea and created JUG's (Java User Group's). Some are quite active.
And they have some influence as well. Typical there are two JUG's part of JCP Exceutive Comittee (the forum that approves all changes to Java).