diff --git a/tools/README.md b/tools/README.md
index 12a5c824..0a49cc65 100644
--- a/tools/README.md
+++ b/tools/README.md
@@ -48,15 +48,13 @@ sh run_download_automation.sh
 ```
 
 #### C) `meetup_import.py`
-**Before running the script, make sure** to download the most recent iCal feed using [this link](https://www.meetup.com/women-coding-community/events/ical/).
-
-Place the downloaded `.ics` file inside the `tools/files` folder and make sure it is renamed to `meetup.ics`.
-
-Afterwards, run the command below:
+Run the command below from the *tools* directory.
 ```shell
 sh run_meetup_import.sh
 ```
 
+Note: this will overwrite `tools/files/meetup.ics` if it already exists.
+
 **Note:** 
 - New data will be appended to [`events.yml`](../_data/events.yml). Verify that all events details are formatted correctly, manually update if needed.
 
diff --git a/tools/download_meetup_ics.py b/tools/download_meetup_ics.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83ef7432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/download_meetup_ics.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Download the Meetup iCal feed and save as `tools/files/meetup.ics`.
+
+This script prefers `requests` if available but falls back to the
+standard-library `urllib` so it has no hard dependency.
+"""
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+
+URL = "https://www.meetup.com/women-coding-community/events/ical/"
+OUT_PATH = Path(__file__).parent / "files" / "meetup.ics"
+OUT_PATH.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+
+def download_with_requests():
+    import requests
+
+    headers = {"User-Agent": "wcc-ical-downloader/1.0 (+https://github.com/silkenodwell)"}
+    resp = requests.get(URL, headers=headers, stream=True, timeout=30)
+    resp.raise_for_status()
+    with open(OUT_PATH, "wb") as f:
+        for chunk in resp.iter_content(8192):
+            if chunk:
+                f.write(chunk)
+    return resp.headers.get("Content-Type", "")
+
+
+def download_with_urllib():
+    import urllib.request
+
+    req = urllib.request.Request(URL, headers={"User-Agent": "wcc-ical-downloader/1.0"})
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as r, open(OUT_PATH, "wb") as f:
+        f.write(r.read())
+    return r.getheader("Content-Type") or ""
+
+
+def main():
+    try:
+        try:
+            content_type = download_with_requests()
+        except Exception as e:  # fallback to stdlib
+            print(f"requests download failed ({e}), falling back to urllib", file=sys.stderr)
+            content_type = download_with_urllib()
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Failed to download iCal: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(2)
+
+    print(f"Saved iCal to {OUT_PATH} (Content-Type: {content_type})")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/tools/run_meetup_import.sh b/tools/run_meetup_import.sh
index c27751aa..2adfd6f5 100644
--- a/tools/run_meetup_import.sh
+++ b/tools/run_meetup_import.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
-#Create the virtual environment On macOS/Linux
-python3.12 -m venv myenv
+# Check we are in the tools directory else exit with warning message
+if [ "$(basename "$PWD")" != "tools" ]; then
+    echo "Please run this script from the repository's tools/ directory."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+#Create the virtual environment On macOS/Linux if it doesn't exist:
+if [ ! -d "myenv" ]; then
+    python3.12 -m venv myenv
+fi
 
 #Activate the virtual environment:
 source myenv/bin/activate
@@ -7,4 +15,6 @@ source myenv/bin/activate
 # Install packages
 pip install -r requirements.txt
 
+python3.12 download_meetup_ics.py
+
 python3.12 meetup_import.py
\ No newline at end of file