[OSList] Story of Meetups and Self-Organization

[Christine Whitney Sanchez]

I'm in a Ken Wilber Meetup group in Phoenix so I was especially  
touched by this story from Scott Heiferman, co-founder and CEO of  
Meetup.

Begin forwarded message:
>
> Fellow Meetuppers,
>
> I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is
> special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
> people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.
>
> Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
> from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
> local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet
> and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
> hoped they wouldn't bother me.
>
> When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
> in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
> neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally
> ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
> other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
> neighborly.
>
> A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
> people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
> born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and
> grow local communities?
>
> We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
> crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make
> people distrust one another.
>
> A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
> after 9/11.
>
> Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's
> working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
> Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of
> 100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one
> thing.
>
> Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
> neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
> They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
> motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find
> other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
> together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's
> powerful stuff.
>
> It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks
> to everyone who shows up.
>
> Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
> weren't for 9/11.
>
> 9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to
> strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new
> community together!!!!
>
> The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started
> with these Meetups.
>
> Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
> Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
> New York City
> September 2011
>
> --
> Add info at meetup.com to your address book to receive all Meetup
> emails
>
> To manage your email settings, go to:
> http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/
>
> Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895
> New York, New York 10163-4668
>
> Meetup HQ in NYC is hiring!
> http://www.meetup.com/jobs/
>
Christine

Christine Whitney Sanchez, Partner
Innovation Partners International
480.759.0262
www.innovationpartners.com


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