New in January (2008)

Holy crud! I just now caught the "Meeting" changeover.

YUCK!!!!!

Even though it's not quite as inaccurate for our meetup as it is for y'all who are doing movies, bowling, wine-tastings and so forth, count me also as just HATING this. It competely changes the whole vibe of what (I thought!) we were about. Most people do NOT relish the idea of more meetings in their lives.

I hope you all will read and re-read what Len has written. He is saying it clearly and truly.

Once upon a time, Meetup seemed all about a vision of a grass-roots, user-driven platform to bring people together. Now, it seems the emphasis is on commercial success and is bean-counter driven.

I am a good little capitalist, and would never suggest the bottom-line is not important. But "meetings," and those big honking Google ads (some of which are REALLY inappropriate for the group where they are displayed), and springing, without choice or warning, Official Meetup-sponsored merchandise that runs roughshod over the hard efforts and enthusiastic creativity of so many organizers is worse than clueless. To me, it points to the ascendency of corporatism over people.

And that really is too bad.

The only good thing is, the 50 or so members at my EVENT last night - said they never even pay attention to ANY of their meetup group's sites other than to look at the calendar and RSVP to an event, which they are taken to when they click on the link directly from their email.

Now, what that says, that most of the members of meetup aren't really paying attention to the other parts of the page....I don't know....

But at least they aren't noticing things like event becoming meeting...and when I told them that event became "meeting"- they seemed to just shrug it off and said "who cares what its called...we know what a happy hour is".

I also asked them about the store and they said "Rita, members never pay attention to all those goobly gobbly links down the side...that's all spam...besides, why would we spend money on anything anyway - we are single" hahaha!!!

I was then told to "chill out" that I worry about "silly things"....

I guess it put into perspective how I look at some changes as an organizer, and how others as members look at them (or rather, don't...it appears they are focused on things that aren't in an organizer's radar).

I still hate Meeting....I want event back...or at least "Meetup" I'll compromise with that...

I still think that for people with their own stores, having the ability to turn that feature off would be good...

But, I got a new view point last night and I guess, in the scheme of things, this isn't something that's being noticed by members that much...so I guess that's good for right now.

Have a great day guys.

Rita

I really like the new upgrades of "Meetings" and "Meetups" we belong to on our profile page...it really brings a sense of unity to Meetup!

Not really impressed with the get your Meetup gear permanently pasted on our group's pages.
My opinion of Zazzle products...they are inferior to a good old mom and pop business.
I wouldn't want my Logo on their products.

The improvements are greatly appreciated.

-Mary

Hey Mary :)

I haven't seen you around in awhile, hope you are okay. I agree...I use a local vendor here to make shirts, etc. with my logo...the quality of zazzle products or cafepress shirts, etc. - well I have been unimpressed - they aren't good quality and they weren't something that I wanted to put my logo on...I agree.

I wouldn't mind "Meetup" in place of Event...but on the calendar, when I have "Snow Tubing" posted, and then it says "discuss this Meeting"...well, it isn't a meeting...it's an event, or a meetup...but a meeting is with a President, VP, Treasurer and Secretary and minute taker, where someone firsts and then seconds and then adjourns ;)

Plus, I really am having a meeting as an event, for the organizers...and it said somewhere talk about this "meeting meeting" haha - that sounded a bit silly ;)

Rita,

I love the Meeting Meeting! ROFL That is great!

How does someone take minutes for a 'meeting' held at the movies?

ROTFLAMO!!!!

Seriously, though, some groups have Meetings while others have Events. The groups that have Meetings should be labeled as such and vice versa. It may create a bunch of nitpicky work for the Meetup staff, but out of respect for those of us who don't have Bowling, Dining Out or Movie Meetings, the proper distinction needs to be made...and PRONTO!

Once upon a time, Meetup seemed all about a vision of a grass-roots, user-driven platform to bring people together. Now, it seems the emphasis is on commercial success and is bean-counter driven.

Like that saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It's a numbers game. All of America is. Not to diss Meetup. I think it's a very well run Organization (which is why I choose it over their other, disorganized and scatterbrained competitors - cough: MEETINLA, MY PEOPLE CONNECTION: cough). I just don't like the fact that Meetup just goes and makes changes to groups that we as Organizers have worked so hard to build from the ground up without warning us first. At the very least, they can select a few Organizers to beta test their changes. Right???

I am always willing to be a part of Beta Tests. Even just throwing the ideas on the Discuss Meetup forums would be great. At least we would have the opportunity to give our ideas and input before the techies start working on all of their code and such.

Does anyone have this problem:

When you open a thread which has removed members on it, do you see the name of the last active member on each of the posts where the members are no longer in the group??

What I mean is....

Brandi posted something.

Then, below it someone who is no longer in the group posted something, but Brandi's name is shown as the person who posted.

Carol,

Yep I am having the same issue. i responded to your other post here also. Hopefully Meetup staff will read these soon and check into it.