The Official Meetup HQ Blog

Meetup to a new career path!

by Victor

I really enjoy hearing about all the ways that Members are benefiting from their association with Meetup. I hear stories every day about people who have made new friends, learned a new skill...even changed career paths!

Here are a few examples of Meetup Members who have harnessed the face-to-face experience of Meetup to connect with the career of their dreams:

Member Jennifer Milano always wanted to work in the travel field, especially an internet based travel service. Jennifer recently accomplished her goal when her 599 Club Meetup Group gained her the exposure she needed to get her resume noticed by travel site Kayak.com.

As a freelancer, Jennifer had been trying to use her social networking knowledge to get organizations greater exposure. Though some organizations weren't on board with utilizing social networking, Jennifer decided to do the "next best thing - do it for fun." Jennifer started the 599 Club Meetup Group to bring together Members who purchased the All-You-Can-Jet Pass from jetBlue. Her unique Meetup soon had everyone from jetBlue to Time Magazine raving about her.

Member Hal Glassman was recently featured in a New York Times article. Hal, a former airline pilot who was laid off by United Airlines, joined The NYC Job Seekers and Career Strategy Meetup and has made several contacts that will help him use his Zoology degree to find his dream job.

“This could be a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I’m not desperate, and I have time to look around and do something I want to do.”

Member Susan Eckert, was recently featured in a newsday.com article. After a long career as a career coach, Susan was finally able to use her passion for photography to make a career switch of her own. She attended local photography Meetup Groups and soon after started her own business, LI Art Photography.

Congratulations Jennifer, Hal and Susan!

Just further proof that there really are many opportunities out there. And finding them is as simple as attending a local Meetup!

Meetup Groups really make a difference.

Victor is on Meetup's Community team.

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Greener Earth, one Meetup at a time

by Victor

Meetup Organizers are genuinely doing amazing things every day! This is just one story about how Meetup Groups are effecting change in their local community and making the world a better place:

Organizer Anthony Esposito and his Growing Augusta the GreenWay Meetup Group was created to help their city be bike and bus friendlier while also "making Augusta more racially and culturally harmonious, and helping Augustans to rediscover downtown."

Anthony and his Meetup have been very active and have made an impact on Augusta. 

So much so, that Verge magazine recently featured Anthony and the Growing Augusta the GreenWay Meetup in its June issue. You can read the full article here.

Anthony wrote in to me and told me about all the success the group has achieved:

We have been able to get bike racks installed on the city buses, the city to set up a registration for bicycle serial numbers, and the bus systems to put their routes and schedules on Google Maps.

In addition, we hosted an Augusta Canal Clean-Up that helped remove 2 couches, 1 mattress, and about 50 bags of trash from in and around the Augusta Canal.

[And we] got permission from the State to clean up a 17 acre piece of abandoned State property that had been blighting our downtown for the past several months.

Great job, Anthony and crew! Keep it up.

Victor is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Who's behind Meetup.com? Episode #18: Victor

by Davide

One of my earliest memories at Meetup is hearing your voice on the phone helping Organizers. Everyone smiles when you are on the line. How long have you been chatting with Organizers to make them get the best out of Meetup?
I am so loud! I totally know it. Sorry Meetup Staff. I was actually really happy when I first heard you and Adam on the phone. Neither of you are as loud as I am, but I can hear you both when you are on the phone. Now I don't feel like the odd (loud) man out anymore.
I've been assisting Organizers get the best out of Meetup for just over a year. Feels much shorter, though. Guiding Organizers through everything Meetup has to offer is a great experience. I get to meet so many awesome people, who are doing really creative and amazing things. I genuinely learn so much from speaking with Organizers - which is great for me because it helps me advise other Organizers even better.

You lived all over the world. Tell me one thing you miss from every single place you called home.
I was definitely born with way too much wanderlust. I jump at any chance to go anywhere - even if it's just for a day!  I think you and I may actually be very similar in our passion for travel. You've traveled pretty extensively from what I've heard. You've been to Japan and probably some other places I've never been. We should take a road trip!
I've called at least 8 cities around the world home ("home" = lived there for at least 6 months) so my answer would be way too long. Here are my top three "home" cities and the one thing I miss about them:
Istanbul, Turkey - Among the most beautiful cities in the world. I miss being woken up at dawn by the Islamic Call to Prayer booming from speakers affixed to the tops of minarets. "Hasten to pray," "Hasten to pray" repeated in a reverent Arabic singsong. Simple, but beautiful. Though I never hastened to pray, it was a very pleasant way to acknowledge the gift of a new day.
Mexico City, Mexico - It's just a mess. Unruly, overcrowded, sinking into the ground, ever on the verge of collapse... and all this truly makes it one of the most exciting places in the world. I miss looking out my apartment window to salute Popocatepetl Volcano. Seeing this natural weapon of mass destruction looming just outside the largest city in the world (at the time), honestly inspired me to appreciate everyday.
Berlin, Germany - Overly organized and meticulously maintained, yet always ready to have fun. I miss the Love Parade - a music festival/parade/demonstration for peace that is held annually. People from all over the world come out to dance and show the world that no matter our differences, we can all get along.

You are my neighbor. Once and for all, where does Williamsburg end and Bushwick start?
Depends on the Realtor... pa rum pum. This has been a contentious subject among several of my friends for some time now. The truth is, though, New York 'hood boundaries are always slightly changing. I recently did some research and discovered that currently Williamsburg ends and Bushwick begins where Bushwick Ave. meets Flushing Ave. Last year, though, Bushwick began about 6 blocks in to what is now called Williamsburg. Also, there seem to be a lot more "Williamsburgs" appearing on maps: North Williamsburg, Central Williamsburg, South Williamsburg.  So, I think this will be a debate for the ages.

You once told me you love house music. Tell me one song that will always get the dance floor wild.
This is by far the easiest question you've asked me today. "Move Your body (The House Anthem)"  is guaranteed to set the dance floor on fire! From the disco influenced upright piano intro, through its thumping four-to-the-floor bass line, this song is quintessential House Music. Even the lyrics proudly proclaim it:

"Gotta have house..music, all night long
With that house..music, you can't go wrong
Give me that house...music, set me free
Lost in house..music, is where I wanna be
It's gonna set you free" 

What do you tell those members dying to join your super-private Brooklyn Lego Meetup Group? Was Lego your favorite childhood toy?
My Meetup group isn't as exciting as a super-private group should be. It originally started as a way to get  Meetup Support Staff Members to come out and enjoy  more unusual activities in our amazing city. It quickly turned in to a test group, though! I use this group to try new product releases and try to reproduce errors Organizers/Members indicate they have encountered. I always feel bad declining a Member's request to Brooklyn Lego, so I am totally honest with a Member about what the group is all about: "Sorry, employees only" and I usually try to find them a suitable alternative group.

Lego was my favorite childhood toy! Being the youngest out of eight kids, the only hand-me-down I ever really cared for were toys. By the time I came around, my siblings had accumulated a small fortune in toys - especially Lego. Unlike my siblings, though, I ended up having so many Lego pieces that I was able to build a fully constructed castle, and I'd use the knock-off Lego pieces as artillery to defend it! I did dream of building an igloo but I never had much success.

Davide is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!

by Victor

Cinco de Mayo is a great example of what a group of people can accomplish when they come together and get organized.

Though it's not Mexico's Independence Day, it is an important regional holiday commemorating the defeat of the French army by Mexican forces in the city of Puebla.

There will be plenty of things to do today and a lot of fun to be had, so come out and celebrate the power of the people!

*Practice your Spanish with the Philadelphia/Manayunk Spanish Language Meetup over drinks and tacos.

*Take a two hour bike ride with the Herndon Cyclists Meetup in Herndon, Virginia.

*Watch Mexican wrestling with the Downtown L.A. Hiking (and occasional random events!) Meetup.

*Hang out with the Charlotte Geeks as they enjoy beers and sci-fi talk.

*Try saying "Another round, barkeep" in German with the New York German Language Meetup Group at their German Happy Hour Cinco de Mayo Meetup.

* And if you aren't too hung over, come join The Brooklyn Scrabble Meetup for the day after Cinco de Mayo scrabble game!

But whatever you do, take the advice of the Los Angeles Drink & NOT Drive Meetup group - don't drink and drive!

P.S. Menudo (a spicy Mexican tripe soup) is a yummy and effective hangover cure!

Victor is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Puppy Power!

by Victor

Our own Gary Helmling (Meetup Lead Software Engineer), his wife Robin and (the too adorable) Marlow Organize the Hoboken Puppies Meetup Group.

And this weekend, they'll be taking part in the ACS 'Dogwalk Against Cancer' event on May 3rd to raise awareness and donations for the fight against cancer.

To donate or join the Hoboken Puppies ACS Dogwalk Against Cancer Team, check out their Team page: Team Hoboken Puppies.

Great job Marlow!... I mean, Great job Gary, Robin, and the rest of the Hoboken Puppies Meetup Group.

Victor is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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Meetup Group 'Presses' for Gov't Transparency

by Victor

Congratulations to Matt Cooperrider, Organizer for the Open Government NYC Meetup, on being recently featured in a New York Observer article.

The article highlights the efforts of groups like Open Government NYC, who are using technology to bring together people working on initiatives to improve government transparency and accountability. You can read the full article here!

If your Meetup group has received press coverage,  Meetup would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment with more details.

Check out the great articles on the Organizer Resource Center for how to promote your Meetup group and get local press coverage!

Great job Matt!

Victor is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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The Humble Boardgame is Back!

by Victor

Congratulations to Ray Creveling, Organizer of the Lancaster Area Boardgames Meetup, for the great article about his Meetup Group on LancasterOnline.com.

You can check out the full article here.

The Lancaster Area Boardgames Meetup has been around since 2006 and generally meets monthly. 

The Meetup has a devoted following of Members who come from all over the greater Lancaster area looking to have fun and make new friends.

All are welcome to join in!

 "One of the great things about our group is that while we are competitive, we never get so competitive that we let it interfere with making friends."

Has your Meetup recently been featured in the press? We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a comment with more information.

If you're looking for ideas on how to promote your Meetup, get local press coverage, write a press release or simply get advice from other Meetup Organizers, check out the great articles on the Meetup Organizer Resource Center!

Great job Ray!

Victor is on Meetup's Community Support team.

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