- I need a gym workout partner. Anyone a member of CourtSouth? If not, is anyone interested in becoming a member? C’mon, you guys!
- I got the following email from Mike today. If you’re interested in helping to form a local blogger group, let him know.
Hi all,
Daryl and I have been discussing a meetup group for bloggers in Knoxville. Some background; a while ago I learned of a programmer who just moved to the area (Hi Joe) and invited him to hang out with some other programmers when we get together to talk tech. Since we just had a Flock meetup group, we needed a topic (read: excuse) for another one. After floundering around, I realised I send a good portion of email about tools I’m using with my blog, and asking what tools you’re using.
So this evolved into a meetup about what sites, software, and methods people use to blog. What do you record/edit audio with? Where do you host it? Blogger or Wordpress or build-it-yourself? What software do you compose your posts in? How do you deal with photos and images? What’s the difference between a ping and a trackback - or what the hell is a ping and a trackback? In thinking about this, it occurs to me this might have a much broader appeal than just a few geeks -anyone with a blog might want to join in.
Where we are at: I’m sending this around to gauge interest, and also if you know of a topic you want to present or have presented to speak up. Send this out among friends you think would like to attend (or rather, you would like them to attend).
We also need a location. Some of us geeks have managed to sire offspring - as shocking as that sounds - and we want a family friendly place. We also need Net access - and free. I can offer my house as a fallback should no such place exist, but I would think most people don’t want to meet at some guys house they met on the Internet (unless you met him on MySpace of course). If interest grows, we can turn this into a regular thing.
August 12th, 2006 at 8:58 am
I recently went to a blogger Happy Hour here in D.C. This might be a good way to get it all started and you don’t have to have too much structure at first. You can meet everyone and get some ideas and go from there.
We are lucky we have DCblogs.com
Also chack with your local online paper to see if they watch the local blogs.
August 12th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
The Knoxville branch of the Rocky Top Brigade used to get together from time to time, but haven’t lately. I’m game if you find a place.
Tish, just quit Courtsouth and join Fort Sanders and I’ll work out with you anytime!
August 16th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Tish–
From the success of the Middle TN group, let me offer some of my experience.
Set a date and time and make it a recurring thing. For example, we try to meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the same time to keep things consistent..that helps people in planning.
Invite people….personally. General invites will catch some but not all.
Meet somewhere public like Books A Million. Or somewhere with free wireless access so you can surf or liveblog.
Now this is a difficult one. OK, you will get some people who come out and are comfy with it. Make sure you appreciate them, but brainstorm..who are bloggers in the area people read and y’all wanna meet. Invite them. Get somoene like Michael Silence to come out….at least once.
Have fun.