I just launched a meetup group called, "Menifee Internet Professionals Meetup Group" on Meetup.com...

http://internetpro.meetup.com/31/

My short term goal is to get several of the website publishers here in my local community to meet in person and start a regularly occuring social event. The long term goal is to establish trust between all of us, and rely on each other for tips, partnerships, and business referrals.

Besides myself, there are at least four others that publish websites offering news and information on Menifee Valley, CA. I'm pretty much doing all the local and hyperlocal blogging. The others are publishing web portals. One of my hopes, is to create a "braintrust" on generating business from local advertisers.

I've managed to get all of us five signed up on this meetup group. Now, I need to find a date and time to hold our first meeting.

But it's not easy. At least two of us are very flexible. One gal can only meet on Mondays. Another guy says Tuesday work best. And another gal wants to meet only at night, because she says she's a vampire (I'm not kidding).

So, I have to make a decision on Monday or Tuesday. I think 7:00pm is a good time, though right now the sun is just setting at that time, but I think our vampire will be safe. As it stands now, our first meeting may not happen until beginning of September.

So far so good, as I've already had talks with others in this small group, and there have already been discussions of partnerships. I'm not necessarily interested in selling or merging my Menifee 24/7 blog with anyone. But I am open to partnerships. I mean, I know I need all the help I can get.

I'll give you updates on how this Meetup group does.

And yes, I'll let you know if the vampire sinks her teeth into anyone. I'll remember to eat some garlic that day.  

Update (Sep 6, 2007): I posted a recap of our first meeting here...
http://www.inyourweb.com/2007/09/local-internet-professionals-group.htm

Labels: Meetup Group