The Official Meetup HQ Blog

Who's behind Meetup.com? Episode #31: Shavanna Miller

by Davide

When you arrived in January we sat together in the international room. What is your best memory from that room and what do you do in your current community garden? Is it true that you can speak and write German?
My best memory of the international room has to be the goodbye party we threw in there for ourselves. Not because we were leaving our über-exclusive room, but because of the absolutely delicious Argentine empanadas and Brazilian chocolate candy that Mercedes and Camila made for the occasion. That and the awesome PRIVATE PARTY sign we taped to the door.

Kate and I now share a plot in the community garden at Meetup, where I help Organizers and members in all of their Meetup-related needs. Pop by and say hello in the Organizers Forum! I went to K-12 at the German School of Washington, DC which is, oddly enough, actually in Potomac, MD. It's near my parents' house, and my mom's German, so it made sense for me to go. That and having half my family still in Germany means yes, my German's not too shabby.

You can hear the JMZ trains from your apartment when they emerge overground into Brooklyn. Does that make you feel like a character out of some New York novella? In general, how has the city been treating you since you moved?
The trains I take to work go over the Williamsburg Bridge, so I see the Manhattan skyline every day and it makes my morning commute indeed quite Look At Me in the Big City Novel-esque. The romance of the noise from trains as they ride by my apartment window, on the other hand, wore off pretty quick. Good thing I'm an incredibly deep sleeper. As for the city – last time I was here was for school, so I was spending most of my time on the upper west side and it was a very college-y experience. I went to London for grad school in between, and feel like much more of a "real New Yorker" this time around...whatever that means. :)

What's so cool about aquariums? When did your passion develop and what city hosts your favorite one?
A lot of people would probably disagree with me on this, but it's really fascinating watching fish interact – especially when you have lots of different species and schools of fish in one environment. Aquascaping and how you simulate natural environments aesthetically is one of my favorite parts of fishkeeping, too (google 'takashi amano' to see what I mean). I think my first fish was from one of those throw a ping pong ball into a bowl games at a county fair.  I started keeping and breeding them on a larger scale when I was maybe 9 or 10, and had to break down around 30 aquariums when I headed off to college. My favorite aquarium is still the Baltimore Aquarium. Berlin's is pretty good too, as is the one in Monterrey Bay in CA. You didn't ask, but the worst I've seen was definitely the one in London – it's literally like a couple tanks in someone's basement. Worst £20 (~$8,000) I've ever spent.

You're the Organizer of Overcoming Torpidity, an amazing group for people interested in detaching themselves from their keyboards. As an Organizer, what feature do you find yourself requesting... to yourself as a Meetup HQ staff person?
Yes, and you've been an integral part in making Overcoming Torpidity a reality! In terms of a feature request - probably the ability to more easily allow other members to host Meetups from ideas and things they suggest. Or maybe more easily motivate members to schedule Meetups from ideas they suggest if I make them an AO? There's something here around having others share the organizing legwork. Luckily, there's a team at Meetup now working to make this more of a reality. :)

You went to St. Louis with Scott and Victor for an Organizer Meetup and now you're Houston-bound for another big Meetup. Can you drop the names of some cool Organizers you met? Did I mention I'm jealous?

Jennn (yes, three 'n's), who was the host of the Meetup picnic I went to in St. Louis, is a very impressive and super chill Meetup Organizer who put together a fantastic afternoon for at least 25+ Meetup Groups which we were able to attend. I'm really glad I got to join Victor and Scott for it! I'm headed to Houston next week with Brendan, Justin, and Simon for what's sure to be another great chance to speak face to face with Meetup Organizers 'on the ground.' It's being hosted by Crystal, the Organizer of the Meetup Organizers of Houston Meetup Group. If you're an Org and in the area, join the group to RSVP and come say hello. Tell them the blog sent you. ;)

Davide is a QA engineer at Meetup.

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Adventures of Fun Friends' tricked out Meetup banner

by Shavanna

Ali of Libertyville, Illinois' Adventures of Fun Friends Meetup Group recently shared her super awesome customized banner with us over on the Organizers' Forum.

Each week, she updates the banner with upcoming Meetups in a calendar-style header at the top of her Meetup Group.

If you don't have Ali's skills as a graphic artist, why not check in with your members about making a new custom banner for your Meetup Group? Who knows, maybe one of them has some hidden Photoshop talents they'd be willing to share!

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community team.

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The best of both (business networking) worlds

by Shavanna

In a recent article on social media and business networking in Boulder, the author points to cyberspace as a critical component in connecting with other entrepreneurs in today's seemingly web-centric world. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter all serve an important role in this new era of online networking.

As one interviewee notes, however, “we are in a transitional stage, but there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. There is nothing like sitting down across the table at a coffee shop to get business done."

Enter Meetup - you can feel oh-so-2009 by first getting connected with potential business partners and contacts online. Then turn them into real connections with true face to face, handshake, here's my (paper!) business card Meetups offline. It truly is the best of both worlds.

Why not search for a business networking Meetup Group near you? There are more than 4000 small business and entrepreneur Meetup Groups worldwide, so there's bound to be one nearby.

Meetup's tagline to 'use the internet to get off the internet' never felt so relevant! ;)

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Meetup Chief Org in Wired Magazine

by Shavanna

You might remember the trip that Meetup's Chief Organizer Scott took to Iraq a few weeks ago with a bunch of other executives from tech companies like Google and YouTube. 

A reporter from Wired Magazine has written a behind-the-scenes account of the trip, giving insight into the execs' meetings with Iraqi government officials, conversations with professors and students from the University of Baghdad, and impressions the trip had on the group of U.S. technology leaders.

 Of their purpose in going to Baghdad, Scott notes:

"...we were there to sell the Internet," Heiferman says. "If we raised the consciousness on that even a little, maybe it can help the people self-organize."

You can see the rest of the Wired article here.

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Who's Behind Meetup.com? Episode #21: Davide Gualandi

by Shavanna

This week, join guest interviewer Shavanna as she turns the tables on famed Meetup blogger Davide Gualandi.

First things first. You work for Meetup.com, where you have a very nice L-shaped desk. What are you typing at your computer and how long have your digits been punching on that keyboard?
I mostly write love letters to Organizers and Members of the Meetup community, both in English and Italian (the Official Language of Love). I also speak with them on the phone, listening to their stories and sharing my knowledge of the website with them. I love them and most of the time, they love me back. On a weekly basis, I also translate new features from English to Italian, so that people in my country of origin can use the cool stuff we release.

You've been in the states for about five years now, with time spent in San Francisco, some town whose name escapes me in Massachusetts, and now here in New York City. Why do you love America so much, and how is it they keep giving you a visa to stay here?
Well... I moved to America because I fell in love with San Francisco when I visited back in 2002. I moved there in 2004 and spent two years by Alamo Square. After that, I think I decided to stay because this country has somehow allowed me to change things around in my life quite easily. America is not that hard to navigate, nor that complex... it's pretty straightforward and fairly pragmatic for the most part. I'd say Europe is more self-asserted and self-referential - kinda stuck in its own ways. Europeans take a lot of pride in keeping up those old ways. Hopefully one day I'll have a piece of paper that allows me to switch in between continents with no hassle.

Recently, an interview you did with Dirty Projectors was the cover story on Blow Up, an Italian music magazine. Of course, you also have this long-running series on the Meetup HQ Blog. How long have you been such a successful interviewer, and how does the fame not get to your head?
I've been a music writer since I was seventeen. I've written about this Brooklyn band Dirty Projectors a few times before. Their new album was quite hyped, so my interview ended up taking the cover. Regarding fame... well, I've been doing this for many years, so my only pleasure is to turn readers on to obscure music. I write mostly about really weird acts, so I have very limited stories about sitting backstage inebriated or trashing hotel rooms.

You grew up in Modena, Italy, but you're a vegetarian. It would be difficult for you to care less about soccer matches, and the most you wolf-whistle at is a nice Engineered Garments button-down. What other things make you a non-stereotypical-Italian?
I know. I really fail as an Italian. My favorite food is Indian or Thai, I'm always early when it comes to appointments or meeting people, I used to despise Invicta backpacks when they were in fashion, I prefer a White Chocolate Mocha to the best Espresso, I have no flirting skills, no charm, no interest in cars (I've never even had a driver's license)... That said, there's definitely an Italy that I relate to, although I understand my relationship with it is mostly based on nostalgia. I'll redeem myself by saying that I crave Italian pizza whenever I consume your greasy American slices.

When we used to sit in the International Room together, you'd often regale us with original songs about various Meetup-related things. You also had a phase where you were in a punk metal band as a youth. What role did you play in that band, and how has it influenced your later lyrical work here at Meetup? Can you give us an example of one of your more popular Meetup ditties?
I like singing songs about the office and making people laugh. It's my own kind of folk songwriting, you know? I'm like Meetup's very own Daniel Johnston. My taste in music has changed a lot throughout the years, but yes, I played guitar in a hardcore band in my late teens. I don't think there's any correlation between that and my talent in crafting a beautiful tune about sandwiches and people's habits in the office. Since this skill surfaces spontaneously, I cannot gift you an example right now... but I'll take commissions from Organizers if they want a song about their group.

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Street Chalk Festival Meetup makes a case for sunny California

by Shavanna

Whether a trompe-l'oeil waterfall or a cheery rabbit like the gem below, street chalk art is a great way to play with your everyday environment.

The adults of the Orange County Outdoor Parents Meetup Group connected with their inner child (and their actual children) recently with a trip to the 11^th Annual Street Chalk Painters Festival.

You don't need to wait for a festival to have a street chalk art Meetup, though. The best part about it? The only limitations are the size of your paved driveway and the weather forecast.

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Meetup Groups show off some veggie pride

by Shavanna

If you're in the New York City area this Sunday, May 17th, consider stopping by the second annual Veggie Pride Parade! You can lend a hand to the 18+ local vegan and vegetarian Meetup Groups that will be there showing their Veggie and Meetup pride!

Demetrius and members of his NYC Vegan EatUp Meetup Group will join other organizations from the tristate area in the parade, which starts in the meatpacking district around noon and will wind it's way up to union square by 1:30 or so. After that, stop by to check out the EatUp Meetup table to get info on great veg*n Meetup Groups and other resources available for non-meat-eaters in NY.

A word of warning, though – the Costume Contest is sure to cause cute overload from all of the baby tomato, carrot, and peapod-costume-swathed tots.

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Oh, Mothers!

by Shavanna

Christy has been the Meetup Organizer of the longest running Mom's group on Meetup, the San Diego Mom's Meetup, since 2005 -- a huge high five to her for her amazing dedication and organizational skills, as well as to her members for their fantastic and active participation.

Prepare to be wowed by their stats...

Founded November 14, 2002
997 Meetups so far
5-star rating with 136 ratings in the past 3 months
248 Mommies

...and just in case you didn't read that right the first time, that's nine hundred and ninety seven Meetups and counting!!!

Cheers to everyone in this truly awe-inspiring Meetup Group: happy 7th Mother's Day on Meetup, San Diego Moms Meetup Group! Here's to seven more!

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Saving Money on Business Conferences... with Meetup!

by Shavanna

Stuart Foster recently wrote about 5 Ways to Save Money on Conferences and Events over on Mashable.

Conferences are notoriously pricey, especially once you factor in hotels, airfare, cabs, meals, emergency toothpaste, etc...The author has some great suggestions for getting into events you might otherwise not be able to afford (Get blogger press credentials! Volunteer at the conference!).

One of the suggestions Stuart has for attending events in a more wallet-friendly way is to use Meetup. What a wonderful idea! On that note, I hope you don't mind if I see your 5 Ways, Stuart, and raise you another 5.

By pure coincidence, they are all related to Meetup.

1. Find a Meetup Group in your area that relates to your industry. Many of them host monthly mini-conferences, showcasing speakers or providing classes at a fraction of the cost of an “official” conference (or even for free!).



2. Find a Meetup Group in your area that's dedicated to networking with people around you across industries. Our Business Strategy & Networking Meetups are a great way of meeting your next partner or client.

3. Find a Meetup Group in your area that will help you live more frugally - so you can afford the big time conferences! Our Debt Proof and Frugal Living Meetups will get you started.

4. Find a Meetup Group in your area that brings some cutting edge thinkers together. Brainstorm conference-saving tips at one of our Entrepreneur Meetups.

or...

5. Start a Meetup Group, get members to join you who are interested in the same things you are, and make your own conferences!

Upsides to all of these include less transportation time, housing costs, and relief from the guilt of gas-guzzling plane rides - 'cause your Meetup events will all be local.

Another upside? If you're having trouble paying for a Meetup, the Organizers will totally let you go in the back and start washing dishes.

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Unofficial study finds direct correlation between successful Meetup Groups & adorable kids

by Shavanna

Congratulations to John of the The Milwaukee Spielgruppe Meetup Group! He's our Organizer of the Week, helping to keep the city's historic connection to Germany and the German language going strong with his fantastic Meetup Group.

It's a playgroup for bilingual families, and they've had an event every week since it burst out of the gates in November of '08.

Check out our interview with John here (thanks to Angela for putting it together!):

[The kid in the middle just finished Schopenhauer's Die Welt und Wille als Vorstellung. Sweet!]

Shavanna is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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