Meetup Grows.
Myles Weissleder, vice president, communications for Meetup, emailed me an update on this service that uses a web-based application to schedule monthly meetings at local cafes, bars and restaurants among people with similar interests.
I don't usually quote extensively from company newsletters/press releases, but I've done so below. I think what Meetup is doing makes sense and they are getting a lot of traction on the web. If I were an association or other formal organization, I'd be scared - very scared. Or, at least, I'd explore what Meetup is doing and learn from them.
I'm going to try to go to the next Meetup weblog meeting in DC. I keep saying that - well the next one I'll definitely attend.
Here's the Meetup newsletter:
#1) 250K / 1000+ in 300 days
In only 300 days since launching on June 14, 2002, Meetup has surpassed 250,000
members. A grassroots stronghold, as nary a dime has been spent on advertising.
SugarPlum from NYC, NY takes home the honor as the #250,000th person looking to Meetup-- in her case with Fellow Ferret Lovers. There are currently 1044 topics
people have created and signed in to Meetup about... from 2004 Presidential
candidate supporters to Xena and Buffy Fans; from entrepreneurs to sport bike
riders; fans of Sean Hannity and Howard Stern to Knitters and Book Club members, etc. If there's an interest, chances are there's a Meetup.
#2) Partners.
- Meetup creates local Meetups for the DEAN FOR AMERICA Campaign; has already helped former Vermont Governor Howard Dean's presidential campaign raise upwards of $750,000.
See: http://www.deanforamerica.com and http://dean2004.meetup.com and
http://press.meetup.com/announce/archived/2003_04_02_index.html#200088404
- Meetup & WEBRING partner to bring Meetups to the WebRing world.
See : http://press.meetup.com/announce/archived/2003_04_10_index.html#200128098
- Meetup and ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES partner to enhance Global Elvis Fan Meetups.
See : http://press.meetup.com/announce/ or
http://fotolog.net:8080/team_meetup/?photo_id=58517
- Meetup and the UFC partner to connect Ultimate Fighting Championship fans locally. See : http://press.meetup.com/announce/archived/2003_04_04_index.html#200117491
#3) Webby Nomination.
Meetup has been nominated for a Webby Award in the community category.
See: http://www.webbyawards.com/main/webby_awards/nominees.html
#4) The Pew Research Center.
The Pew Research Center reports Meetup has "already had an effect on the 2004
race for the Democratic presidential nomination."
See: http://press.meetup.com/archived/2003_03_21_index.html#200019094
#5) New Meetup cities.
Meetup adds and fine tunes cities. Now Meetups can occur in 561 cities and small
towns worldwide, including local spots in: Hollywood-East LA, CA; Santa Monica-West LA, CA; Long Beach, CA; Northern Virginia; Montgomery County, MD; San Rafael, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; San Mateo County, CA; Torrance-Manhattan Beach, CA; Pasadena, CA; Pomona-Claremont, CA; Halifax, NS; Monterrey, Mexico; Mumbai, India; Wellington, New Zealand; Karachi, Pakistan; Valencia, Espana; and Cairo, Egypt.
#6) The Meetup One-Sheet.
Perfect for printing and sharing. It's in PDF form.
http://press.meetup.com/pdfs/onesheet.pdf
#7) E-Z access links.
Meetup Home : http://www.meetup.com
Member Buzz : http://www.meetup.com/buzz
In the Media : http://www.meetup.com/press
Statistics : http://www.meetup.com/stats.jsp
Announcements : http://www.meetup.com/announce
#8) On the radar.
Meetup has been tapped into -- and featured by -- a number of prestigious media
outlets from the New York Times to NPR. See the "Hot List" @ http://press.meetup.com. [Doug Fox -- The Future of Meetings]
6:42:11 PM 
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