I thought that this was really great. And bold.

Thanks Scott.

Fellow Meetuppers,

 

I don’t write to our whole community often, but this week is

special because it’s the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many

people don’t know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

 

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles

from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought

local community doesn’t matter much if we’ve got the internet

and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I

hoped they wouldn’t bother me.

 

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors

in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to

neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they’d normally

ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each

other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being

neighborly.

 

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring

people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was

born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet — and

grow local communities?

 

We didn’t know if it would work. Most people thought it was a

crazy idea — especially because terrorism is designed to make

people distrust one another.

 

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months

after 9/11.

 

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it’s

working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,

Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups… a wild variety of

100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common — except one

thing.

 

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to

neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.

They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and

motivate each other, they babysit each other’s kids and find

other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace

together. They make friends and form powerful community. It’s

powerful stuff.

 

It’s a wonderful revolution in local community, and it’s thanks

to everyone who shows up.

 

Meetups aren’t about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it

weren’t for 9/11.

 

9/11 didn’t make us too scared to go outside or talk to

strangers. 9/11 didn’t rip us apart. No, we’re building new

community together!!!!

 

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we’re just getting started

with these Meetups.

 

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)

Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup

New York City

September 2011