Meetup Organizer Of The Week: 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.

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!

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?

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!