So You Want to Plan a Meetup

How Can We Help?

We’re more than happy to be your partner in making a succesul, fun meetup happen. If you’re thinking about putting one on, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll help in whatever way we can! Plus we wanna come.

Planning: We’ll be there for you every step of the way, through thinking of a fun event, to promoting, to nostalgia activities
Publicity: We will promote your meetup on our channels and make sure people see them
Connections: We can provide you with contacts of who lives in your area and will aid you in reaching out to them

Meetup/Activity Ideas

Consider how much buy-in you’re asking for. Are people going to have to work to attend? Are you going to have to work inordinately hard to make it happen? Don’t discount more complex stuff, just be aware. Here are some ideas for meet ups:

Tapas & Drinks

Meet at a bar, pub, or cafe and share some appetizers and get some drinks.

People find it easy to go to a place that lets people either order from a counter or where they can get separate checks.

Nature Hike

Remember how cool Santa Cruz was with all the nature and whatnot? Find a moderate hike that should take a couple hours that everyone could get to and schedule it for a weekend morning or early afternoon.

Lecture Night

Find a speaker/lecturer coming to your area and round up a posse to go see them, then go out together. Bonus points for something social justice or social entrepreneurial related for extra GIIP/Everett nostalgia.

First Friday Events and Art Walks

First Fridays are typically held in a downtown area and shops are filled with art. A lot of times there is free wine…Art walks happenRound up a group of alumni and get yourselves some culture.

Finding a First Friday Event

Just do a search for first friday in MY TOWN and you’ll find something.

Create Your Event

Choose Your Platform

You can create a Facebook event, but keep in mind, not everyone is on Facebook. Feel free to create an event on the Group Page or use your personal account to manage it.

Eventbrite is free and easy for creating an event invite that everyone can access.

In either case, consider making us a manager so we can promote it as much as possible 🙂

Write Good Information

Obviosuly specify the date, time, and location, but also take a few minutes to give it a fun title and write a description that explains why people should come and what you’re all going to be doing.

Invite People

Reach Out

Now that you have something to invite people to, invite them! Don’t be shy. Invite everyone you remember.

It’s a good idea to ask for people’s phone number so that you can text them on the day of. When you see someone sign up, shoot them a message thanking them for joining and ask for their number.

Hey, I saw you signed up for the meetup! I’m so stoked to see you! Could I get your cell number so that I can let you know of any changes on the day of the event? My number is 555-555-555. Can’t wait!

Get Help

Let Us Help

We’ve got extensive knowledge of the alumni network, including information that isn’t publicly listed. We’re here to help you recruit folks for your event.

Let us know you’re organizing a meetup and we’ll give you a list of alums in your area. We can also send a blast out to people we know in the area and provide you with their contact info to help you follow up.

Get Help

The Day Of

A few hours before the event, make an announcement on your event page. Also send a text blast out to everyone for whom you have numbers.

Day of Announcement Sample Text

Hey everyone the day is here! I’m super excited to see everyone at EVENT LOCATION at TIME! If anyone needs directions or anything, please text me at 555-555-5555. See ya’ll tonight!