Forum Contest: Smaller Indiana -- Rain Makers -- BNI -- Indiana Business Network -- IndyTweetUp

[Doug Vann]

Smaller Indiana -- Rain Makers -- BNI -- Indiana Business Network -- IndyTweetUp
If one so desired, they could fill their calendar up with meetups with all of the networking groups in Central Indiana or interacting online with those same networks.
Pat Coyle gave us SmallerIndiana.com It appears to have some good discussions going on but efforts to move from thr virtual into the physical seem to be challenged; by what, I don't know
BNI under the Indiana leadership of Hazel M. Walker boasts 12 weekly meetings in Indianapolis and many more across the state.
http://ibn.collectivex.com is Eric Kallin's network started about October 2008 and boasts 374 members. Like BNI and RAINMAKERS it charges fees for attending events.
http://indytweetup.com/ is a failed attempt by IUPUI Professor, Dr. Thomas Ho to bring the www.twitter.com/indytweetup group to the physical realm. Their website is down.
How many more have come and gone? Who's cooking up the next "big network?"

I'm asking you all. What's it all for? What's it all about? Why do we start these groups? Why do we join them? Why do we show up? Are we getting anything out of them?

You tell me. Are you spinning your wheels or are you finding value? If you're paying for these networks, what's your ROI? Why is one network better or worse than another.

I'm all ears... Some one tell me what's really going on here. It's not evident to me that there is any quantifiable, appreciable results from all of this. Maybe I'm wrong. Personally, I find that networking comes very naturally to me and thus I do it. As the founder and leader of the http://groups.drupal.org/indiana local Drupal Users Group, I Do very specific networking and it works well for me.
What I'm asking you is, what are you doing with all of these networks and is it worth it to you?
- Doug Vann
- http://dougvann.com
- http://www.twitter.com/dougvann

[John R.(Dick) Troll]

Doug
I plan to be there with my Drupal hat in hand begging for crumbs of knowledge.

[Thomas Ho]

How many people showed up?

[Doug Vann]

I was alone. :-)
The rain made traffic horrible. I was 10min late.
I'm doing it again for Next Tuesday at 7:30 am same place.

[Thomas Ho]

Why don't you schedule an @IndyTweetUp so that you'll have "company" in case no one shows up for help with Drupal. Just DM @indytweetup

[Doug Vann]

It's not a Drupal event. I spend enough time with Drupal. :-)
When Dick made his Drupal comment he may have been thinking of last nights regular Drupal Meetup.
I will post a DM to @indytweetup I had originally planned the Paradise Cafe Breakfast to be an event for the SI group "Referrals, Referrals, & More Referrals"
But it has spread beyond that now.
I look forward to seeing some of you there!
- DV

[Mike Seidle]

Just call a tweetup. Start tweeting @indytweetup Time, date, place. #indy #tweetup

You never know who will show. And you are the Drupal guy, so it's no wonder people want to talk Drupal with you.

[Doug Vann]

At the request of more than a few, I have created an official SI event for this breakfast meeting.
Feel free to note your intentions at http://smallerindiana.com/xn/detail/1736855:Event:347546
Thank You!
- Doug Vann

[Crista Tharp]

Gail - I understand just where you are. There are MANY networking groups out there and the basic reason is because eveyone likes their own feel - or way of doing things. SI is great to meet people & get support & throw ideas around. True networking DOES NOT happen in the meetings. That is just a starting point - an introduction so to speak. You do not need to join them all (nor should you). Find what works for you and stick with it.

I would suggest Indiana Business Network. I have tried just about every network group out there & I LOVE this format. It is inexpensive & they charge month to month if you need to try it out. They put a huge emphasis on support and helping each other. I also see it similar to the 3 Mastermind groups that I belong to. If you can't go because you are busy with a client - they applaud you for that. It is in a casual setting (we are all in a professional setting all day) and we get more than the 30 second commercial to get to the meat of our business. We don't have to sit through boring educational segments that don't apply to us unless the group decides as a whole to do it.

Please understand, I think ALL networking groups are great! I have been a part of them all and my business has thrived because of them. There is no right or wrong here. You just need to find what works for YOU. Looking at your post - I would say you should stick with SI, and look into www.IndianaBusinessNetwork.com. Have you joined your Chamber of Commerce? Do they have any networking groups you can be a part of? Just a thought.

[Doug Vann]

I'm enjoying the conversations I'm reading on this thread. Thank you to you all for speaking out.
As I mentioned earlier, I have the Paradise Cafe gig next Monday [as featured in the "Referrals, Referrals, & More Referrals" group. If it goes well, I think I'll just keep it going as an open invitation to whom ever may come.
As you walk in the Southern door, there is a small area to your right. It seats 20, but I can't imagine we'll fill it this Monday. [maybe some day] :-)
I have no idea what could come of this. I have been in formal groups before, but I hope the "come as you are" approach will provide a warm welcome to some people who want to get together and start their week off with other professionals on the North side.
Once a core team is made evident, perhaps we'll introduce a defined structure and make motions towards specific goals. I have no problem with that possible evolutionary scenario.
- DougVann

[Mike Seidle]

Gail - I'm not sure what website you looked at: Here's a link to the Indiana Business Network website. I think you'll find it's fairly up to date with the lead article dated in the past week, and many, many recent activities (big box in the middle of the home page). The site is pretty active with over 380 members and over 30,000 page views per month.

There are a few links posted by members that date back to last November, but links don't expire over night.

[Damon Richards]

Networking is another of the many things in life where you get out what you put into it. So many networking groups get started because the founder(s) really want to create a way to give back to a specific group. In the haste to grow in numbers, they attract the Takers -- people who come to get all that they can from the group without giving anything of value. You know the type. As soon as your group has more Takers than Givers, the group dies.

I belong to a group called the Circle Business Network. It's been around since the early 80s. We don't do much advertising in the calendar sections of the Star or the IBJ. We invite people we know to join us for breakfast on Thursday mornings. Our group has a membership of around 20 people and an average attendance of a dozen or so. Every one of us knows every other one fairly well. We don't just swap leads. In fact, if gathering leads was my goal, I'd have left long ago. We learn from one another about business, society, technology, culture, politics, everything.

We're a gregarious breed. People will always find a reason to gather together. But they won't keep coming back if they leave each time feeling drained.