On this day, June 30th, 2008, the news brings to our attention a grassroots cry for help to Bob Barr, a reminder that “real change” happens offline, a look at what happens when you make the netroots angry, and much, much more.

• Sally Kohn, senior campaign strategist with the Center for Community Change, reminds us to log off once in a while.
• It looks like Bob Barr’s supporters would like to see him read Ms. Kohn’s article.
• With regard to environmental issues, Chinese Millennials are starting to make something happen.
• Don’t piss off the Netroots.
• Community organizes to help family (aw).
• With regard to mobs, does ’smart’ necessarily equate ‘wise’?
• Perhaps you’d like to know the (speculative) future of e-politics.
• And finally, want to win a campaign? Bring a camera

-Filed in Ideas, News, Uncategorized

On this day, June 17th, 2008, the news brings to our attention super-young organizers, thoughts on Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty, a look at how to take action, suggestions on how to blog from the road, and much, much more.

• The third in a three-part series on Public Participation Theory
• What would Trotsky read? The left decide to get into organizing… book clubs.
• Even more of the same on how Americans are [politically] using the Internet
• Need to blog from the road? Here’s a way to do it.
• The youth, social justice, and thinking outside of the box.
• The All-Powerful Drudge and the art of the Internet boycott.
• Wiki-what? Britannica pulls stick out of their…
• A conservative considers Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty
• And finally, Mr. Shirky and the leveraging of the network for social action.

-Filed in News

On this day, May 29th, 2008, the news brings to our attention the appearance of guerrilla gardening in L.A., words from the “Libertarian dark horse,” community organization in Kenya, and more.

• Virtual Assassination as a Counterterrorism tool.
• Guerrilla gardening takes root (ha!) in L.A.
• Straight from the [Libertarian dark] horse’s mouth.
• Chinese bloggers go on attack against Sharon Stone.
• Lessons from Kenya’s top organizer.
• Russian Communists boycott Indiana Jones.
• First they were Macs and PCs, but now they’re Yahoo and Google.

-Filed in News

For this, the final in our three part series about Meetup and those who organize there [see part one and two here], we asked our surveyed organizers how they have carried their online experience to their offline efforts. What perspective has their online organizational experience given them with regard to their overall experience as leaders and activists? Has their experience on Meetup made a lasting impression on their approach to action? Here, they share their experiences on the site, how they have accordingly synthesized and processed their experiences, and why Meetup continues to be relevant in how they get stuff done.

Post-Meetup perspective:

For most of the organizers surveyed, the range of perspective they claim to have gained from their Meetup-based experiences varies from person to person. Donna Orlando of the San Diego Libertarians sees Meetup as a tool, not something from which she has gained substantial perspective, and she has thus used it accordingly to put her agenda into place. David Sutherland of Vegan Chicago has had the converse experience and explains that without it, he wouldn’t be organizing. He says, “[Meetup] does most of the heavy lifting and most of the repetitive tasks that I would otherwise have no time for [...Thanks to the site] I have a strict formula that has allowed me to do one vegan dineout event a month since 2003—all in my spare time. People seem to like to be able to come out without having agendas but at the same time they don’t want a democratic approach. When we first started we voted on venues and such but that was way too much work and people wouldn’t come after all of that. Benign dictatorships are the way to go.

Paul Davis of Austin Revolution [for Ron Paul] has been similarly moved, crediting Meetup for having impacted him greatly. He has learned that as an organizer it is important to get volunteers to “work within their areas of strength and to keep focused.” Other important factor learned by organizers is the importance of preparation, according to Dexter Jones of Tampa Bay Black Professionals. “Nearly all of the work necessary to have a successful meeting happens before anyone ever shows up,” he explains. Citing possible drama, trust issues, greed and other elements, Timothy Tipton, North Denver Medical Marijuana Discussion Group says that organization is not easy. But, he says of his experience, these elements fade over time.

Meetup in real life:

Organizers also carry their Meetup experiences into their real-life organizational experiences. David Sutherland, for one, has learned that “Social organizing really is like herding cats,” and that it’s best to not expect volunteer activists to RSVP or to read carefully crafted emails. Despite Sutherland’s lowered expectation with regard to communication, Brett Mandel of Philadelphia Tax Reform has picked up on a new appreciation for understanding the importance of clear communication.

Finally, Meetup organizers unanimously agree that they have been particularly touched by their experiences with the site. David Sutherland is now fostering several vegan meetups outside of Chicago and he is excited about the connections that he has made as he meets other vegan activists that drop into his meetings while they travel. Paul Davis is proud of and excited about the role he plays in “coordinating freedom fighters,” while other organizers are similarly excited about their participation in growing a social exchange around a cause. Collin of Miami Critical Mass is most touched by his group’s experience putting together a “ride for peace,” which helped to provide dozens of bikes for dozens of the poorest kids in Miami and access to classes on bike safety. Further, he sites political advances made in the town as a result of his meetings. Donna Orlando found love in one of her groups.

And in the end…

Overall, the organizers that we have spoken with are satisfied with their places in the community. To be fair (and accurate), we have sought out presently active Meetup organizers, making this a far more anecdotal than survey than a scientific one with regard to user experiences on the site. Organizers’ overall experiences, however, have been positive. To those we spoke with, Meetup has been used as a tool for some, an inspiration for others, and had a generally positive impact on all.

Do tell - What has your experience with Meetup as a website and meetups as a phenomenon been?

-Filed in People