New in January (2008)

I would ask: Why not keep both terms? Have Meetup default back to 'event,' but give organizers a choice to call it a meeting. Many of the support category Meetups do in fact have meetings. (Crazy, I know, but it's true.) Given the dreadful health care situation in this country that leaves many people without a sufficient support system, one would think that using Meetup's platform for community resource purposes would be encouraged, not discouraged.

This is a good point. There are some meet-ups that do actually have meetings, and there are some meet-ups that actually have events. I have two suggestions:

• Replace the term "meeting" with the term "meet-up", which is a good use of the site name and applies to either meetings or events.
  
• Whatever default term you decide to use, allow the Organizers to decide what term they want to use, just as Organizers are allowed to decide what term they want to use to designate Members.
  

Michele

This is a good point. There are some meet-ups that do actually have meetings, and there are some meet-ups that actually have events. I have two suggestions:




Replace the term "meeting" with the term "meet-up", which is a good use of the site name and applies to either meetings or events.

Whatever default term you decide to use, allow the Organizers to decide what term they want to use, just as Organizers are allowed to decide what term they want to use to designate Members.

yes well said !!

ciao



hi Everyone,

We're very happy to announce the January release. Down below you'll find a quick overview of the upgrades and changes we've made. Keep all the great suggestions and feedback coming and we'll keep on working our hardest to incorporate them into our new features and improvements.

Happy 2008!



Meetup Shop Promotion
For months we've been hearing great stories about Meetups creating customized merchandise to promote their Meetup, recruit new members and foster a sense of community. We talked to a whole bunch of other Organizers and members and learned that most of them weren't even aware that they had a Meetup Shop where they could customize t-shirts, button, business cards and more.

So we spent some time making the Meetup Shop more visible! Everyone will now see a link to the Meetup Shop on the meetup's homepage, and if you're an organizer, we'll show you some great ways to promote your meeting after you've created, edited or emailed your group about an event. If you want to learn more about promoting, we've created an article all about it called "Recruit Members," which you can find within the Promote section of the ORC.


Improvements to the "Meetups in the Making" Experience
People who are already on the "Meetups in the Making" list for a certain topic will now see some new information targeted to them on the Local Topic page, with a clearer guide to what you can do on that page. For Organizers, we've replaced some "Start a Meetup" messaging throughout the site with prompts and encouragement to recruit people from the "Meetups in the Making" list. We also added pagination to the "Meetups in the Making" list of people ... previously, you couldn't see everyone on any list longer than 100 people, but now you can.


Improved Support for New Meetups
We've expanded the length of time before the 'New Meetup Announcement' is sent out, from 24 hours after a Meetup starts, to 72 hours. This gives Organizers more time to prepare their Meetup before it we sound out an email announcing the new Meetup to everyone interested in that topic in that area. In addition, we've provided guidance-- tips and successful examples-- to help Organizers use that time effectively so that their Meetup looks great when people see it.

We've also made some changes around the site to call attention to Meetups that are less than thirty days old. We've learned that the more quickly a new Meetup can get its first few members, the more likely it is that they'll be successful over the long term. By calling attention to these Meetup newborns (awwww!), we're hoping we can help them get their first few charter members!

Improvements to the "Meetups in the Making" Experience
People who are already on the "Meetups in the Making" list for a certain topic will now see some new information targeted to them on the Local Topic page, with a clearer guide to what you can do on that page. For Organizers, we've replaced some "Start a Meetup" messaging throughout the site with prompts and encouragement to recruit people from the "Meetups in the Making" list. We also added pagination to the "Meetups in the Making" list of people ... previously, you couldn't see everyone on any list longer than 100 people, but now you can.

Does this mean we can finally get the interest-specific lists back? Having a list of people interested in a cats-Meetup isn't going to help me if I do a dogs-Meetup. I don't care if the list is "longer than 100 people," what I care about is whether those members are interested in a specific Meetup group topic. Isn't that the reason those lists exists in the first place, so we can invite members interested in a specific topic? General, non-specific lists don't help *anyone*.

Hey Brian,

I'm sorry about the confusion on this.

I replied to your post about this here .

If you have any further questions about this, please feel free to reply there.

Thanks.


Lucette

As far as the meetup/meeting wording thing, here is a thought.

Prior to this upgrade, there was as series of buttons (Social, activity, etc.). They are gone.

Bring them back, and include 'meeting' as a button. Then when scheduling the event, the organizer can call it what it is and that text can be used whenever that particular event is described. Then go back to calling general items 'events' or 'meetups'.

Just my $1 worth. (Inflation, and the lack of a cent sign on a keyboard, now makes my opinions worth a dollar.)

I like the idea of having the options. Give me the choose of how to best classify my event, party, hike, trip etc. They most likely won't fall under the meeting category but maybe one of these days I could use it. Bring back event tho!

So you are saying that you agree with the statement that you were an alcoholic when you attended meetings? After all that was the premise of the argument. I attend lots of meetings, both at work and out of work and absolutely none have to do with alcoholism or any other kind of addiction.

Definition of Meeting:

1: an act or process of coming together: as
a: an assembly for a common purpose (as worship)
b: a session of horse or dog racing

I love this definition, thank you! I thought I would share the latest EVENT that went out today so that you all can see what I mean about how ludicrous MEETING sounds:

New Meeting: Ages 0-5 St. Patrick's Day Craft and Playdate

So my toddler will be attending a Playdate MEETING....if we go by the precedent that Robert so eloquently set ....should I have my 4 year old bring his suitcase??

I like the idea of making a choice when you create and event. I think the default should be MEETUP not MEETING. JMHO

So - Meetup Staff first of all ~~~

*HIRE AUDREY as your new clothing designer for Meetup --
LOVE YOUR T-SHIRTS!!! (If you're not going to hire her, at least get her input for new stuff) And boy that t-shirt that is featured on my Welcome Page - we wouldn't be caught dead in it --- UGLY~~~

Thanks Toni!! I am glad you like them! The logo makes them for sure. I just got the logo changed, and got my first shipment of shirts this weekend....haven't taken my hoodie off!! LOVE IT!!

I think we need a cute Meetup sign posted in all colors, Black, Pink, Blue etc. I love meet up and it sure has been fun. I posted a Meetup on my MySpace page and it looks tacky and doesn't match my profile. Kind of sticks out. : (

Maybe if we had the option of color tab. for URLs or links it would attract more attention.
Thank you : )