Hello and welcome to another 52 Weeks of Blog Community task! I’m really happy that you were all pleased with our 52WoC Party #8. I’ll be sending off prizes as soon as I can. So, thanks to all who joined us. Really reminded me why I enjoy doing such virtual parties.
Anyway, now, we’re on to task #43. And, this one’s based on one of the suggestions that was given by one of our 52WoCers, Lynn Stevens (via 52WoC #39 task). She suggested to have a talk about web meet-ups. So, for this task, please share your “online-to-real life” meet-up stories in the comments section and/or on your own blogs.
As some of you might know, I enjoy such meet-ups. I have formed a lot of wonderful friendships and contacts through people that I have been meeting from my online life.
So, what about you? Have you met a lot of fellow bloggers and online folks in person? Do you have any memorable stories to share?
In any case, here’s a round-up of our participants from our 52WoC#42: Reconnection task -
Really great turn out for this task. It seems like the theme of reconnection has really been good for us. So, I hope you’re all enjoying what you’ve reconnected with. Thanks again so much for taking part.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Melissa W 07.15.09 at 10:27 pm
Funnily enough part of my reconnection task actually applies here too. I’ve been to three Brown Owl meet ups now and amazingly I have met a large number of women that I have only known online up until now. I will be chatting to whoever happens to be standing near me and all of a sudden they’ll say “Oh you’re flamehair! I know you!” or I’ll realise they are Go Mama and that I’ve actually been commenting on their blog for several years. I have really enjoyed putting people to websites and creating another layer of friendship and connection, and I hope that continues as more people come along to our meet ups.
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Kari 07.15.09 at 10:47 pm
Surprisingly, of all the blogging buddies I’ve made over the years, I’ve only met one! My friend Amanda who I first knew through her blog after moving to Tulsa is the only person I’ve gotten to meet IRL.
My other buddies are pretty spread out as you know between you and NZ, CN and spread across the US. I truly hope I can meet you all one day! Until then however, I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a local meetup for creative types which the book I’m reading refers to them as Creative Dream Teams. If I can find the time it sure would be good fun!
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blue rose 07.16.09 at 9:12 am
oh!oh! sad to say that i haven’t meet personnally any of my blogger friends except of course the person who introduced me to blogger because she was my officemate before.
but i hope to meet you all one day!
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Justin Marlow 07.16.09 at 4:25 pm
I have met a couple of my blogger buddies in Orlando. Its great to see the face behind the website and share stories IRL. Its one of the best ways to make lasting connections and in a way since knowing the person behind the site, more respect is formed for the work that they do. (not that I don’t respect it anyway). I still visit them to date and have an offline relationship as well.
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Frances 07.16.09 at 7:10 pm
This is such a lovely topic. Well, I have met a lot of people from online who became my friends.
Back then, I was not so keen to the idea of meeting them for real. It was either I was wary or I found it so jologs. Hehehe.
I was glad I scrapped that idea for I have known them to be real with great intentions. I have a handful of those online buddies whom I considered as my lifetime friends.
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Lynn Stevens 07.20.09 at 7:46 am
I guess I’d better get on this one!
I’ve met face-to-face 5 people via my blog in just over a year’s time. Since my blog has to do with my community, readers tend to be more local. With the two blog gifts I’ve done, I offered to bring the gift to the recipient. One took me up on it and we shared a couple of beers.
I also invited a couple of blog commenters to join a steering committee for a community project that I also served on and met them there.
And by linking to another blog I frequently read, then having the blogger regularly comment on mine, and remembering the blogger was going to visit Chicago for a conference, I invited him to my neighborhood while he was in town. To boot, I invited another blogger who lives in the city, but whom I had not met, to join us as well. The three of us spent quite a bit of time together and shared ideas and good conversation. It really energized my blog posting for a while. It’s probably time for another such meetup – LOL!
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Lynn Stevens 07.20.09 at 7:49 am
I thought of one more that should take place by the end of the month.
I connected with this blogger when she was the subject of another blog. Turns out she lives in my neighborhood, and I got her involved with a community festival to be held at the end of the month, when I hope to meet her.
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Christine 07.22.09 at 11:34 am
HI Shai..
Got heaps of people I met online and some of them have become friends…like you. Most memorable? One of them is my trip to Adelaide to meet you, of course!
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Shai Coggins 08.24.09 at 5:42 pm
Melissa W: Sounds like they were fantastic meet-ups.
Kari: Just one? Wow. Well, I do hope you do get to have many more meet-ups. The Creative Dream Team sounds good. And, I hope to be able to meet you too one day.
blue rose: Hope you get to attend some more blogger meet-ups someday. And, yes, maybe we’ll get to meet too.
Justin: Aren’t they great? I find as well that I really do enjoy meeting blogging buddies in person.
Lynn: Sounds like you’ve been busy.
It all seems great – and hopefully, there will be more ahead.
Christine: Indeed, indeed. And, that was definitely a memorable meet-up.
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Shai Coggins 08.24.09 at 5:42 pm
BTW, thanks again for taking part in this one, everybody. I’ll be closing this shortly and doing the round-up.
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