diff --git a/contribute.py b/contribute.py
index 5d77ac7b3b205617bf4ea2f4e164de51c6756f8f..35884eba442f18b505fe45142491aa667e7c6e3b 100644
--- a/contribute.py
+++ b/contribute.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import click
 import datetime
 import os
+from distutils.dir_util import copy_tree
 
 @click.command()
 @click.option('--date', default=datetime.datetime.today().strftime('%Y-%m-%d'), help='Date of the presentation - format: YYYY-MM-DD')
@@ -15,11 +16,15 @@ def main(date, name):
     # get the directory
     mainDir = date[:4]
 
+    # get the root directory
+    rootDir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+
     # generate the full name of the presentation
     fullName = date + "_" + name
 
     # generate the full path
     fullPath = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), mainDir, fullName)
+    slidesPath = os.path.join(fullPath, 'slides')
 
     # print out a summary
     click.echo(' > Date: {0}' . format(date))
@@ -29,9 +34,13 @@ def main(date, name):
     # create the directory
     if not os.path.exists(fullPath):
         os.mkdir(fullPath)
-        click.echo(' > Empty directory {0} created.' . format(fullPath))
+        # create an empty slides folder inside
+        if not os.path.exists(slidesPath):
+            os.mkdir(slidesPath)
+
+        click.echo(' > Directory for slides {0} created.' . format(slidesPath))
     else:
-        click.echo(' > Directory {0} already exists.' . format(fullPath))
+        click.echo(' > Directory for slides{0} already exists.' . format(slidesPath))
 
     # change to the root directory of the presentation
     os.chdir(fullPath)
@@ -50,8 +59,12 @@ def main(date, name):
     else:
         click.echo(' > Symlink to package.json already exists.')
 
-
-
+    # copy the contents of the template folder
+    if not os.path.isfile(os.path.join(fullPath, 'slides', 'index.md')):
+        copy_tree(os.path.join(rootDir, 'template', 'slides'), slidesPath)
+        click.echo(' > Template slides copied.')
+    else:
+        click.echo(' > Slide deck already exists.')