Scott Heiferman of MeetUp.com writes today…
I’ve come to realize that the uphill battle Meetup faces isn’t just getting people away from the screen to go offline & face strangers — nor even having them embrace community or realize the power of self-organized groups. Perhaps the biggest challenge is getting people to see the value in institution, in organization, in structure… a “Meetup Everywhere about Most Everything” means there’s a grounded community organization in-place when you need it. When your social network can’t do what you need. The social graph is great for a lot of things (eg. relationships & help & events), but there’s a need for Organizations. Just-in-time organization is flimsy. It’s not there when you need it. Relationships aren’t in-place. Infrastructure isn’t there. Commitments are weak. Engagement begets durability — structure & relationships that weathers storms.
Based on our growing experience operating Front Porch Forum, I think he’s on to something. People increasingly see FPF as part of the infrastructure around our pilot area. And often the initially weak social connections that happen through FPF grow strong over time because they are made with clearly identified nearby neighbors.
And some folks want FPF to be more than it is… to become an “institution” as Scott describes above. But it’s not that (yet)… FPF is best at introducing people and catalyzing connection and community among neighbors. But they still need the bowling leagues, neighborhood associations, churches, scout troops, schools, etc., to be there over the long haul.
Union Square Ventures announced today that they’re investing in MeetUp. I’m glad to hear it. MeetUp has been chugging along, innovating and growing since its start in 2002. I wonder how many dot.coms took USV money since then that are now out of commission.
Brad Burnham has an interesting post for USV and says, in part…
We agree with Tim, John, Umair, and everyone else who argues that the real impact of the web will ultimately be in its ability to organize people online to make a difference offline.
But none of these folks make the related point that for the web to have a greater impact going forward it will not only have to touch the real world, it will have to reach real people.
At USV we have been thinking about this challenge for the past several months. Our most recent portfolio company, Meetup, has been thinking about this challenge since it was founded in 2002. Organizing people online to make a difference offline has been the central mission of Meetup since the beginning. The team there has always understood that there was a difference between collective intelligence and collective action.
I take it as a good sign for our work with Front Porch Forum that a leader like USV is talking and investing in this way.
This is a good fun…
Water-balloon toss? Shot-put with a bowling ball? Come show your “side-pride” as Burlington Field Day pits the North End vs. the South End in a day of fun athletic competition.
The third installment of Burlington Field Day will be held at Battery Park on July 26. South Enders need to exact some revenge for last year’s loss to the North End… come one, come all.
Front Porch Forum, covering both sides of town, will, of course, remain perfectly neutral (go South End!).
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more