Announcing Meetup Alliance!

Karina,

As far as I can tell, this only works for non-private MEETUP groups. Yahoo, Google, MySpace, etc. and private Meetup groups must all manually enter this data.

~ Pamela ~

does the platform allow me to add two groups? I tried adding a second group but I don't see that option?

Hey Robert,

I would also like a calender of that sort

For the message boards, they are already in place here on meetup although they are not used too much by the membership (at least the ones I have visited)

When you're on a group page there is a link called >topic< meetups everywhere
Click that, and on the next page there is a link on the left hand side named message boards

I'd like to see a joint calendar on the alliance that shows all the events of all the meetups in the alliance. That way an organizer could instantly see if any other meetup has already posted a similar event. A message board, only accessible to members of the alliance would also be useful.

Robert

Thanks, I know that but, that is not what I have in mind. Part of creating cooperation between groups is to have a place where organizers could plan cooperation and also work out differences. Not all of that should be open to the public where anyone can see it. I looked on the meetupalliance site and it looked kind of bare bones to me so I was suggesting what could make the service more useful.

Robert

Thanks, I know that but, that is not what I have in mind. Part of creating cooperation between groups is to have a place where organizers could plan cooperation and also work out differences. Not all of that should be open to the public where anyone can see it. I looked on the meetupalliance site and it looked kind of bare bones to me so I was suggesting what could make the service more useful.

Robert

Ok, I get you now.

That would be a nice addition

Steve

Can someone explain the value of joining an alliance? I have made half a dozen alliances with Meetup organizers on my own. Why would I want to join a Meetup alliance? I only see this being beneficial to the person that is head of the alliance no? I am concerned for the branding of my group and marketing of my group. Joining an alliance is like saying I will go under someone else's wing because I have a similar group and I am not as successful as they are with obtaining members.

Jesse,

I like the idea of joining an alliance for "singles groups" or "singles in the suburb" that is world wide. This gives you a larger base to share ideas, get ideas, etc. Much like the Organizer thread of this discussion board, this will allow you to focus on a certain area and share ideas, files, etc. I will probably come in contact with others in the alliance that I would never have started an alliance with on my own.

Well, I'm confused about everything - but, that could be that the site design for Meetup Alliance is just so awful - Anyone else agree? There's no way a designer worked on it.

All that aside. What are you all ready to pay for the service?

Remember, Meetup sucked us in with a free service and then when they had enough organizers started to force them to pay.

This seems like it's just another way to get more money out of organizers. A simple "friend" another group, invite another group to join your group, or shared mail-list functionality would have done the job right?

By opening this up to Facebook, Google Groups, and Yahoo Groups, Meetup is also clearly using this as a way to get more groups to change their models and become Meetup Groups. As companies like Gather, Upcoming, and MSN Groups continue to flood the market with free group organizing services Meetup appears to be grasping at straws to increase their user base with smoke and mirrors.

It's all just very suspicious and we all know that the company doesn't do anything for "free" -- I just don't trust the service where they don't seem to make any real points of value or clarity. And, before getting too invested in an unclear product, I'd wonder about the costs that are going to hit us later on.

Unless, you all are ready to pay for your groups and your alliance.

Well, I'm confused about everything - but, that could be that the site design for Meetup Alliance is just so awful - Anyone else agree? There's no way a designer worked on it.

All that aside. What are you all ready to pay for the service?

Remember, Meetup sucked us in with a free service and then when they had enough organizers started to force them to pay.

This seems like it's just another way to get more money out of organizers. A simple "friend" another group, invite another group to join your group, or shared mail-list functionality would have done the job right?

By opening this up to Facebook, Google Groups, and Yahoo Groups, Meetup is also clearly using this as a way to get more groups to change their models and become Meetup Groups. As companies like Gather, Upcoming, and MSN Groups continue to flood the market with free group organizing services Meetup appears to be grasping at straws to increase their user base with smoke and mirrors.

It's all just very suspicious and we all know that the company doesn't do anything for "free" -- I just don't trust the service where they don't seem to make any real points of value or clarity. And, before getting too invested in an unclear product, I'd wonder about the costs that are going to hit us later on.

Unless, you all are ready to pay for your groups and your alliance.

What I find very suspicious is they're currently in 'beta' mode and closed to new members. Well, if the Meetup Alliance is closed to new members, then why the blazes are they dangling it front of everyone like a carrot, only to be told, "Sorry, no new members"? That's not very nice.

Why would I want to bother with Meetup Alliance once it's out of 'beta' mode, if there's a strong likelihood new registrations would be blocked from that, too?

An explanation would be in order.

b

geez. first there are complaints about how meetup doesnt do beta testing, and then when it launches a new product there are complaints about the beta testing. can't do anything right....

however, i would be interested in a status update. i am at a point where i really, really, really need advice from other outdoor activity organizers. the meetup alliance platform seems to be awkward at this point, allowing for comments rather than discussion, with nowhere to really facilitate communication. i'm really not sure how to use it or what the benefit is? aside from being quasi-linked to other outdoor groups.

but it might just be preview mode? if Meetup Alliance is coming out of preview mode soon, i can wait to see if it will work out. but if it doesn't, like within the next six weeks or so, i'll need to find a new method of discussion....?? start a new meetup? a yahoo group? (I'm at my limit for organizing 3 groups and just can't afford a new set right now--financially or timewise!)

i have a few emails going around to different orgs here & there, but it is getting confusing. would love to have a message board, place to post files, etc.

please, can we get an ETA of the "full" meetup alliance release? or at least approximately when a few more features will be added?

I still can't figure out what Alliance IS and what it's FOR.

Is it supposed to be a grouping of google groups, yahoo groups, and meetup groups?