Happy 2024! To anyone who comes across this old user group site in the future, unfortunately the SIGGRAPH chapter has been shut down and the energy refocused. We had a good run!
But, there are a couple/3 groups still doing events for our community –
AEPDX is now being run by the good folks at Deep Sky Studios, and they have been actively hosting events that span visual effects, motion design, and computer art. Job fairs and demo reel screenings, too!
There is a professionals-only Visual Effects Society chapter that hosts regular screenings and the like.
And there is the casual Pints & Pixels group that chats on Facebook and meets for the occasional drink. This FB group has been shifted to private, and you may need to prove to them that you’re local when applying.
Finally, the old 3DPDX group is still active on LinkedIn, and although it doesn’t see much in the way of posts these days, it does boast a huge local membership and could certainly still foster a conversation.
Also, nearish to VFX there are also groups such as – OMPA, ASIFA, and PIGSquad.
Good luck out there!