Angela Groninger: July 2008 Archives

This week we're visiting the Mile High City to level with a women who embodies Aretha's powerful lyric, "The Sisters are doin' it for themselves!" 

Within a few short months her informative "Workshop for Women" presentations have empowered many women (and truth be told, a few guys) with a working knowledge of the tool box -- and has really taken off in the Denver area.

I'm proud to introduce you to our Meetup Organizer of the Week, Judy Browne and her Meetup, Do-It-Yourself - Denver.

Thanks, Judy!



Please explain the concept behind Workshop for Women.

At Workshop for Women we teach fun, hands-on classes in basic home improvement skills especially designed for women. The environment in meant to appeal to women by offering small class sizes with a safe and comfortable work area. The name of the corresponding Meetup is Do-It-Yourself Denver.

Is this group your own idea or part of a larger network?

My Meetup group Do-It-Yourself Denver was my own idea and it met one of my goals as a small business owner to create a place for both women and men who are interested in taking on home improvement projects, share ideas, give advice and offer help to each other.

How has your involvement with Meetup enhanced your facilitation of the group?

Meetup saves me so much time on follow-up, organization and having a common online site for my members to get information. Over half of my members found the group by searching the Meetup website.

Is the group strictly for women or can men join in?

The group is for both men and women, although our membership right now is mostly female. We'd love to have a few more guys join the group.

Do you have a favorite "Meetup Moment" you could share with us?

I think it was how quickly the membership grew and the feedback after my first meeting. I was so excited to learn that my group filled a need and the format was successful.

As a successful Organizer, what three tips would you give to a new or struggling person trying to get their Meetup off the ground?

1. Location, location, location! It should be easily accessible and consistent.

2. Provide a good value to the members. I have a speaker at each meeting about a relevant topic. I surveyed the members for topic ideas and then found someone to fill that role. This has been a wonderful networking opportunity for me and my business.
 
3. Be consistent with time, location and format so that members know what to expect.

What are your hopes for the future of Workshop for Women and Do-it-Yourself Denver?

My hopes for my business are for it to continue to grow and reach more people. My hopes for the Meetup group are the same. I enjoy meeting like-minded people and offering a place for them to meet and support each other.

We've had an exciting week here at HQ!  Here's a recap of whats been going on within our walls as well as a round-up of great Meetups in the news.

From Union Square Ventures Blog:

Meetup -- The Original Web Meets World Company

"We are thrilled to be an investor in a company that has been organized since its inception around the key insight that we believe will drive the next several years of innovation on the web - the need to solve real problems in the real world for real people."

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From The Washington Post:

Social Network Meetup Gets Funding From USV
by Rafat Ali - July 23, 2008

"Meetup, one of the original social network/event organizing sites, has received new funding from Union Square Ventures."

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From Digital Media Wire:
by Mark Hefflinger - July 23, 2008

Meetup Gets Investment for Grassroots Organizing Service

"Meetup, an online social network that helps grassroots groups organize and create real-world events, announced on Wednesday that it has received an investment from Union Square Ventures."

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From The News Observer:

Helping Out - Mega-Meetup Luau is on for Saturday

"Are you ready to hula? All Around Events.com is hosting the Triangle Mega-Meetup and Luau at Buckhead's Saloon."

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From S.F. Weekly :

Funky Obama: "Yes We Can" Tour Hits the Independent
Alex Brant-Zawadzki - July 25, 2008

"Thursday night was a wonderful night to support Barack Obama. First, the San Francisco for Obama Meetup.com group held a get-together at Crossroads.Then, for the less-coffee-more-dancing set, the Afrofunk Festival came to town, complete with the "Yes We Can" pro-Obama tour."

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Ahoy!  Follow me to the beautiful and historic Puget Sound.  This week we're in Washington State to spin a yarn or two on the briny blue with our Meetup Organizer of the Week, Ken Vadnais and The Puget Sound Sailing Group! This "seasoned salty cruiser" is second to none when it comes to providing memorable Meetups for his gang!

With events scheduled almost daily, Ken's crew takes ownership of specific responsibilities tailored to their specific talents all of which promotes the group's success. He's an awesome Cap with lots to share.  Fair Winds and Following Seas to you all~



I joined Meetup and was hooked hard. Meetup has made a huge impact on the lives of so many people, and is truly one of my better finds :) Thank you!  - Ken Vadnais

When did your interest in sailing begin?

My father had a dream of building a boat and cruising the seas. While building the boat, my brother and I were immersed in sailing and the sailing community.  It wasn't very long before I developed a passion for the wind and water that carried through to PSSG.

Do you own your own vessel? Tell us about her -- is she yar?

Aye, I owns me own boat and she be mighty yar!....arrrh! :-)  She is a 24' Laguna, which is a weekender sailboat.  Two to three people could comfortably spend a long weekend on her.

She goes by the name "P.O.S.H." and as much as I like the Spice Girls, the name has nothing to do with Posh Spice!  "P.O.S.H." came from early cruises where the best ship accommodations were kept on opposite sides of the sun.  So, those passengers tickets were stamped "P.O.S.H." (Port Out, Starboard Home).

How did you find out about Meetup.com?

I was looking for group motorcycle rides in Everett, Washington. I searched live.com and Meetup was the first hit.  I joined Meetup and was hooked hard.  Meetup has made a huge impact of the lives of so many people, its truly one of my better finds.  Thank you!

You have an event almost everyday.  Do you handle all of the scheduling and research yourself?

We have organizers and boat owners who've done a great job putting events on the calendar.  Each organizer has their areas of ownership and all of us overlap the common tasks.  Ken Worthing and I work with the boat owners to get sailing opportunities on the calendar.  Jake Rhodes organizes and attends our core monthly events, and he and I work on education for the group.  I tend to focus on balancing the calendar, filling in any gaps as needed, maintaining business relationships and we all work member issues.

What is the best part of sailing with a group of dedicated, like-minded members?

It's amazing.  I'm not just saying that. Many of the members are probably getting tired of me saying this, but sailing seems to bring out the best people and the best in people.  We all vary in skills and experience level, from the seasoned salty cruiser to "never been on the water" and we always have the greatest times.

Do you have a favorite "Meetup Moment"?

"A" favorite moment? Wow. I have so many favorite moments.  A new type of event we started this year is weekend cruises put on by the boat owners in the group.  On these cruises we visit all the beautiful little anchorages and marinas in the area for an overnight stay. 

I think my favorite one was the three-day/two-night Memorial Day weekend sail from Seattle to Port of Poulsbo and Port of Brownsville.  The whole trip was amazing.  Three boats sailing together and experiencing places we've never been.  Anchoring, campfires, BBQing, friendly towns people, and of course, guitar by Mike Bucy.  Truly one of the better times I've had.

What's on the horizon for the Puget Sound Sailing Group?

We're just getting started!  I think we have a good model, but are always adapting and improving.  Our goal is to post more events and provide different types of opportunities to get members on the water!

From The Nanaimo Daily News

Group offers chance for mothers to mingle with others in similar situations in Nanaimo

Krista Clarke, Daily News
July 18, 2008

"Behind closed doors, moms can start to feel depressed from the isolation of spending all day talking to themselves and entertaining a baby for hours on end.

For those reasons alone, Melissa Cristobal, 26, started up the Nanaimo Moms Meetup Group to create a close-knit community for mothers and their children."

"There were lots of mothers who wanted a group like this, they just needed someone to start it up," said Cristobal.

Join us this week in Atlanta, Georgia to sit a spell with our Meetup Organizer of the Week, Tony Brown and his group, Creative Real Estate Investors Association.


I cannot describe the number of ways that Meetup has contributed to my success!
  - Tony Brown

Tony started this group a few years back looking to network with like-minded real estate professionals.  What he found in return is not only the opportunity to enhance the careers of many people starting out in the field, but to his surprise the enhancement and growth from this new Association has improved his own life and career three-fold.

Read on as Tony shares a few great tips for real estate investing in this down market as well as great suggestions to keep your  Meetup groups running smoothly. 

Thanks, Tony!

Please tell us a bit about Creative Real Estate Investors Association.  Is it your own brainchild or is the Meetup part of a bigger group?

CreativeREIA originally began right here on Meetup.com as the Atlanta Real Estate Investing Meetup Group in April 2006.  I started it as a way to network with other investors and real estate professionals.  After the first few meetings, I noticed that people were hungry to learn about the specific tactics and techniques available in location, negotiating and structuring deals.  So I stared teaching a different investment topic each month using examples of the past deals that I had done.  Word spread around fast that for $10 you can learn and network for two hours on the latest investment strategies.

How long have you been interested in investment real estate properties?

I started investing in real estate by purchasing my first investment property in 2002. However, I remember being involved in real estate as early as age 12 when my grandmother would send me to collect rent for the tenants next door.  We lived in a duplex so I learned pretty early that you can offset your own housing costs by having tenants pay your mortgage.

Would you say the recent slump in the housing market has helped or hindered your investing endeavors?

Today's market has taught me that you have to learn market cycles and adjust your strategy to the season.  There area investment opportunities available to today that are potential goldmines for investors.  Many investors don't see it that way because they're struck in how they did deals three years ago.  The speculative days of buying a property and waiting for it to appreciate is pretty much non-existent. There are a record number of foreclosed homes on teh market today alson with a limited number of home buyers (due to the credit crunch). That combination makes it the perfect time to buy (at a discount) and sell the house to someone with limited credit (through owner financing).  That is the strategy that I've been focusing on for the past year.

You have very specific membership guidelines set out on your very nicely arranged About Page. How have these guidelines helped you organize the group successfully and would you suggest this practice to other organizers?

It's been a work-in-progress, but it shows that we operate on some level of integrity.  I think that most groups will benefit from having a set of Do's and Don'ts that everyone should abide by.  It doesn't have to be anything formal such as bylaws, but if you start with something small in the beginning then it will be easier to amend as your group grows.

Has your association with Meetup changed or enhanced your success and/or life in general?

I can not describe the number of ways that Meetup has contributed to my success. When I started the group, it was only my intention to network with other investors.  I have since been able to meet and work with many great people that have helped in the areas of investing as well as career and personal development.

Do you feel your group promotes a sense of community, as far as returning members, networking, etc.

We respect ideals of our members and want to make sure that we offer a networking environment that influences members to return.  Through the technology of teleseminars and webinars, we're able to overcome some of the geographic limitations we've experienced in the past.  By incorporating the group as an Association, we now have better resources that help us with investor education and training activities.

Where do you see your group headed in the months and years to come?

Two years ago, I had no idea that we would be the second-largest Real Estate Investing group on Meetup.com with 750 members.  It's easy to say that I'd love to see us grow to over 1,000 members. But more importantly, I'd like to make sure we're moving in a positive direction that helps our members learn and profit from the teachings and experiences of our group members.

 

Meetup Group, Girls Just Wanna Have Funds recently caught the eye of MSNBC News. The group's Organizer, Ginger is also our Meetup Organizer of the Week. Well done ladies!

video courtesy of MSNBC News

We've had lots of mentions in the press the past week or so. Here are a few goodies. When you have a moment check out what Organizers are up to everywhere!

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From the SnoValley Star
A Motherly Kind of Connection
July 9, 2008
by Laura Geggel

"Martindale, a 2006 transplant from Sequim, said she was excited when she saw children playing all over the Ridge, but she found it difficult to actually meet families. 'No one seemed to talk to each other,' Martindale said. Martindale posted SnoValley Moms - which now has 167 members - on Meetup.com this past winter."

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From The Gaston Gazette
Moms Original Purpose
July 2, 2008
by Bernie Petit

"'OH MY GOSH!!!' one poster recently wrote on the message board for Mom's Original Purpose, a local stay-at-home moms group. 'JOSEPH PEED IN THE POTTY TODAY!!! YEAH!!! FIRST TIME!'"

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From The Sacramento Bee
Gather and Go 
July 3, 2008
by Leigh Grogan

"Meetup groups help recreationists get outdoors in a social setting"

This week we're in the Capitol City with a super Organizer who has taken her personal financial debacle and turned it into a thriving network of women on the path of positive cash-flow.

Her Meetup has garnered national media attention over its four years on Meetup.com along with her companion blog, Girls Just Wanna Have Funds.

Without further ado, its my pleasure to introduce you to our Meetup Organizer of the Week for July 9, 2008, Ginger and her Meetup group, Girls Just Wanna Have Funds


"I want women to know that they can indeed be in control of their money and know that it just shouldn't be left up to Prince Charming to come in and save the day.  We are here to break financial ceilings, and we're doing it one stiletto at a time!"

 - Ginger Borgella

Thanks, Ginger!

I love the honesty and flat-out candid analysis of your life on your blog, "Girls Just Wanna Have Funds".  Which came first, the blog or the Meetup?

Ladies Who Launch Meetup, brought to southeastern Pennsylvania by Incubator Leader Megan L. Reese, takes typical networking a step further through its Incubator Workshop. Unlike typical business card exchanges, the Incubator is a program that focuses on what each individual woman needs in order to move forward with her business.

"According to the Center for Women's Business Research, since 2004 women have been launching businesses at nearly three times the rate of men," Reese says. "Ladies Who Launch is the first brand to acknowledge that women launch differently than men. We start our businesses for lifestyle reasons and grow them more organically. The Incubator is based on this concept."

Beth Strange, owner of Your Image Works in Oxford, is one of the businesswomen hosting the event. She participated in the first Incubator Workshop in April.

"Through Ladies Who Launch, I've been able to grow my business in ways I never could if I hadn't been part of the Incubator," Strange says. "I'm now part of a local group of amazing women with a unique perspective on launching, as well as an online community of over 50,000 women.

Read More...

Bay Area's creativity extends to more than chips and software. Stephanie Lam, Local artist and Organizer of two local meet-up groups: The San Jose Pug Meetup, the French Bulldog Meetup  combines her passion for animals with her passion for art. "I've always had a passion for drawing animals from a very young age," Lam says. When she took some art classes while studying English at Santa Clara University, her creative spirit was reawakened. And then she adopted a pug she named Harley three years ago. "She became my constant muse," Lam says. "I did several paintings of her and discovered how much I missed" making art. "I realized I wanted art to be a focal point in my life again, something I really devoted myself to."
Read more...

With our lives so jam packed with the business of living, reeling in our own tightly bound worlds -- sometimes we lose sight of how fortunate we are.

Our Meetup Organizer of the Week has incorporated her love of the outdoors with a 'pay it forward' aspect.  Realizing the urgency for solid mentorship of our kids in the inner cities she became involved in one of the Sierra Club's urban outreach programs -- and its flourished on Meetup.com.  She is a fantastic woman and I'm proud to introduce you to her.

The Meetup Organizer of the Week for July 2, 2008, Angela Bole and her group, The New York Inner City Outings (ICO) Meetup
"In order to live authentically, I think we all need our 'Thing' -- the activity we take on which becomes our central contribution to a better community, a better country, a better world."
 
 - Angela Bole

Please tell us about the Sierra Club's Inner City Outings program.

Inner City Outings (ICO) is the Sierra Club's community outreach program of underprivileged children and adolescents. We're a 100% volunteer-run organization of certified Sierra club trip leaders working to provide young people with outdoor recreational opportunities, leadership training, positive group experiences and environmental education, while imbuing in them a love of nature and the outdoors.

 

The New York chapter of ICO) (NY ICO) works in partnership with social service agencies and schools. For its part, NY ICO supplies at least one or two Certified Trip Leaders, as well as assistants. Agencies are welcome to have their own staff come along on outings, which take place approximately every four to eight weeks. Currently, NY ICO supports two agencies and four schools. NY ICO covers all trip expenses, including transportation and food

 

How long have you been involved?

 

I joined in 2004. My roommate told me about it. It took me about a year to become a Certified Trip Leader.
 
Obviously, ICO is fantastic for the kids. What would you say is the most rewarding aspect for you personally?

 

It's about paying it forward. When I was growing up I had fantastic mentors through programs like Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls (is that group even around anymore?!). In order to live authentically, I think we all need our Thing - the activity we take on which becomes our central contribution to a better community, a better country, a better world. Since moving to New York, NY ICO has been my Thing.
 
How has your involvement with Meetup helped or enhanced your ability to provide this amazing experience?

 

We put NY ICO on Meetup to help organize our calendars a bit better and create a sense of community among our volunteers. We have 6 groups going out almost every month and lots of volunteers who want to know about the trips so they can help out. Meetup has given our volunteers a central location to check out what's going on and let Certified Trip Leaders know they'd like to come along!

 

What is the most memorable feedback you've received from the children involved?

 

Lots of gems like: "That water looks mad refreshing." "I like hiking but I hate all this walking."  "You guys are really nice people."
 
What are some ways the public can support the ICO program (ie: volunteerism, financial and so on)

 

There are several agencies and schools who'd like to be involved with NY ICO, but we can't sign them on because we don't have enough Certified Trip Leaders to lead the groups. We need more people who are willing to make NY ICO their Thing and sign on for a year or two. There are many rewards - one of the biggest being the ability to get to know the kids over an extended period of time. You're really able to grow with them in this way and see how your efforts pay off.

 

Umm....we could also use more guys! For some reason, most of our volunteers are women. It would be nice for the young boys in our groups to have some male mentors to look up to.

 

And, of course, money always helps!  NY ICO is made possible by its volunteers who give generously of their time and skills, and by donations of money and equipment made from its supporters.  Financial support from foundations, corporations, and individuals is always needed to anppreciated.

 
What are you hopes for the future growth of this Meetup?

I hope more of our volunteers will upload their photos and bios and start chatting with each other on-line! It's very rare for all the NY ICO volunteers to get together physically in one place. Using Meetup is a great way for us to keep in touch!

The popular Web site company's radical experiment is putting employees in charge

CEO Heiferman (foreground) has let workers become their own bosses Chris Mueller/Redux

by Heather Green

The management revolt at Meetup Inc. broke into the open last February. Douglas Atkin, a senior manager, yanked CEO Scott Heiferman into a conference room and showed him a list scrawled on a whiteboard. In bright red letters were all the things Atkin felt were wrong at the New York startup, including "We Aren't a Creative Company" and "I Hate the Org Chart." Atkin pressed his boss to change course. "We need to blow this up and start all over again,"
he said.

Meetup is a company built on organization. Through its Web site, people can set up local groups for everything from sharing organic gardening tips online to marshaling volunteers for political campaigns. But as the company grew to 52 employees and 5 million members, Meetup's own organization buckled. It was failing at the very thing that was supposed to be its expertise.

What followed Atkin's confrontation was a management experiment that shook the company. Heiferman replaced the old org chart with a highly unusual management strategy in which workers set priorities and pick their own projects. Inspired by the people who use its service, Meetup loosened the reins and dispersed power. For some workers, it felt like chaos, and they fled. Others thrived.

The process is still under way, but the results so far are largely positive. Morale is up, and the company is cranking out products. On June 10, Meetup plans to unveil a slew of features, including a site redesign, a new payment system, and a method for translating Meetup into other languages. "We got more done in six weeks than in six months last year," says Heiferman, who expects the projects to boost revenues tenfold, to $100 million, by 2010.

Meetup's approach isn't for everyone. But for managers, especially those responsible for younger workers with attitudes and expectations so different from those of earlier generations, the experiment holds lessons: Giving up control can lead to better results. Your workers may have better ideas than you. Gary Hamel, who wrote The Future of Management, predicts more companies will adopt flexible organizations to accommodate Internet Age workers and profit from their skills. "With information so broadly shared now, the sources of influence and power are eroding," he says. Companies already using such approaches include Whole Foods Market (WFMI), and W.L. Gore & Associates, the $2 billion maker of Gore-Tex.

At Meetup, the recent changes were designed to break through layers of bureaucracy that had piled up. Last year, for example, the company established a controversial review board that, along with managers, oversaw what workers could do. Employees talked about being "metrified," or so focused on metrics there was no room for new ideas.

A few months after the review board was established, Atkin cracked. Heiferman listened, sensing he had a problem. For a week in February, Meetup's execs brainstormed alternatives. They considered modest tweaks. But Greg Whalin, head of technology, kept pushing to give workers more control.

WORKING HARDER
On Feb. 21, Heiferman gathered the staff to sketch out the new ground rules. Employees will decide which projects get tackled first. They'll organize themselves into teams to tackle projects. All existing work will be put on hold. One by one, people stood up and volunteered things they wanted to change. The crowd got rowdy, clapping and shouting out their ideas. The execs left and employees spent five hours deciding who would work on what.

Work patterns changed immediately. With more control, many worked harder than ever. Heiferman is shocked at how fast projects have come together. Still, uncertainty remains. Managers worry employees will pick frivolous projects. Some workers are uncomfortable without specific jobs or authority. "People question what their professional growth will be," says product manager Maya Voskoboynikov.

Many companies couldn't operate with workers calling so many of the shots. Consulting and advertising firms have to answer to clients. Size matters, too. As companies grow, experts say most need hierarchy to keep people moving in the same direction. "As someone who has spent his entire life saying 'Liberate people,' I believe you need systems," says Tom Peters, the prominent management consultant.

Heiferman isn't throwing out systems entirely. A strategy group tracks how changes affect revenue and customer growth. And the CEO reserves the right to pull what he calls the "red cord" on projects headed in the wrong direction. He hasn't had to use it. At least not yet.