Once upon a time, #NWITweetup had its first annual Christmas / Holiday party. It involved free bowling and great friends. And it was good.

A year later, we had a second #NWITWeetup Christmas Party. It had free bowling and great friends. And it was good.

Come this year, we were planning to have an #NWITweetup Christmas Party. It was to have free bowling and great friends. It was to be awesome.

Then something happened…

A little all-eggs-in-a-couple baskets. A little management changeup at the venues we were at. A few projects also needed to come off the ground.

But We’re Patient

And since there are so many good #NWIndiana social media groups that have broken out that have parties, cookie exchanges & potlucks, we thought we’d back it up and, instead, have a Mid-Winter party.

We’re aiming for Late January / Early February.

Maybe some free bowling. Maybe some great friends. And prizes. Definitely prizes.

How does that sound?

Sincerely

- Finn

Photo Credit: Traumatron Illustration via Flickr

As Daver and I started to talk about the user feedback and how we’re shaping up Tweetups going into this season, we started talking about our favorite places and events. This first place he said was, “Cornucopia Coffee Company. They had Gumball Head, wonderful architecture, great food and a PA system so I can be heard. And we spent so much time running around and preparing for the speakers that I didn’t get to enjoy it. Let’s go there. I want to really, really enjoy the place.”

Well, other than his reasonings for the PA system, I thought he was dead on.

Cornucopia Coffee Company has been the place I’ve rooted for this year. With an ambiance immersed in classic roots & rock music and open spacies, brick walls, high ceilings, restored wood floors, wonderful views of Lincolnway and great folks flooding in an out, CCC was designed to be part of the downtown community.

I haven’t been there enough this year. And that’s a shame. I was thinking about that last night while I was attending the concert and auction for local charity 500 Turkeys last Friday night. It was one of those evenings that was filled with enough good people that it gave you hope for the rest of the race. And there might not have been a better place to host such an event as Cornucopia.

And if you can’t appreciate that, well, you really shouldn’t be in Social Media.

To give you a little more, I got the opportunity to interview Rich Halstead, co-owner of Cornucopia Coffee Company before last year’s event. He’s a kindred spirit; a student of all the great lessons learned from the Woodstock generation. It’s a wonder I don’t ask to rent out the back couch after hours so I could live there. The Gumball Head doesn’t hurt.

Here’s a question from that interview:

Could you please describe what it took to make Cornucopia Coffee Company a reality?

We began studying the business on a concert trip to Seattle in 2001. It was something we were interested in and what better place to start?

Shortly afterwards we met Tony Dreyfuss from Metropolis Coffee in Chicago and became friends. He was micro-roaster of the year in 2007, and was also honored with best latte in Chicago the same year. Tony’s small batch artisan roasting is 2nd to none, and the coffee, quality and dedication to product is incredible. For instance, fair trade and sustainability are important to all of us, and he and his team were in east Africa several months ago, visiting farms and co-ops, and buying product to export to the roastery.

We began construction on our building in 2008, and 14 months later were ready to open. We restored the building by removing upwards of 2500 pounds of plaster to expose the original brick, and 4200 pounds of flooring to expose the original 1903 maple floor, which we refinished. Any damaged areas of the floor were laced with vintage Notre Dame basketball court flooring that we acquired from one of our acquaintances. The circa 1910 espresso bar is from a bar in Kouts that went out of business after a small fire. Our tin ceiling is also completely original from 1903, and we integrated parts of it into the design of the bar, and stage platform.

Make Sure You Join Us!

We’re keeping it nice and loose and enjoyable. And if you want to have a specific beer there, let us know in advance so we can get it scheduled. So far, we’ve had a request for Guinness.

Otherwise, bring your sense of good times. As for me, you’ll probably be able to find me on Cornucopia’s patio enjoying a brisk October evening in downtown Valparaiso.

October 2011 #NWITweetup – Cornucopia Coffee Company Quickfacts

Time: DaverTweetup – 6:30pm. Tweetup – 7pm.
Date: October 19, 2011
Place: Cornucopia Coffee Company. 210 E. Lincolnway. Valparaiso, IN.
Specials: Sampler specials. Food Specials. Drink Specials

Map to Cornucopia Coffee Company

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Photo Image: Cornucopia Coffee Company Facebook Page

“Culturally close to Chicago in both economics and politics, and with a reputation for governmental corruption and labor union aggression, our northwest corner is a place employers are more likely to flee than invest in,”

- Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans. (source: NWITimes.com)

According to NWITimes.com, Governor Daniels says he has hope for Northwest Indiana despite the grim picture he paints in his book. He says it in the same way the OldOld Man says he has faith in the Chicago Cubs: he keeps watching but it ‘sure as Hell ain’t pretty right now.

Now those of us in Porter County could hang our hat on how the Governor singled out Valparaiso as a community that’s on the right track, but truth told, no matter how we try to make this look, we’re all a part of The Region. Our fates are entwined.

So, Is Governor Daniels Right?

The article quotes quotes him as saying that we in The Region need to take some some responsibility – as if we aren’t already. Is he right?

Governor Daniels’ stance on The Region will be the topic of #NWITweetup’s first Lunch & Learn. We will be sketching out his vision of the problem as well as potential solutions we can address with the use of internet marketing & social media. We will also be addressing the next community-building steps #NWITweetup will be taking along with fellow companies ValpoLife.com, Cartronix, Certified Home Inspections, Gosser Corporate Sales, getUnoticed.com…
We hope you listen, debate, interact participate and, hopefully, join us.

The Lunch & Learn will take place on October 26, 2011at 12:15pm in the offices of Certified Home Inspection located at 103 East Morthland (Hwy. 30) Suite 3, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Hosts for the event will be none other than #NWITweetup’s Nat Finn & Dave Woodson along with Certified Home Inspector’s proprietor, Jim Ulom. We will be providing a light luncheon buffet (which is code for, “a party sub, potato salad, and other delicious goodies donated by Michelle Ulom’s company, Innovative Cleaning!), along with refreshments. If you’re a Coke or Pepsi person, now is the time to tell us! And if you want to bring your own food, we have no problem with it.

Knowing us, we’ll scrounge up some door prizes as well.

#NWITweetup Fall 2011 Lunch & Learn Quickfacts:

Date: October 26, 2011
Time: 12:15pm-1:30pm
Host / Venue: Certified Home Inspections.
Address:

Themes: Social Media’s Role in Economic Development in Northwest Indiana
Food & Drink: provided (if you like party subs & potato salad – UPDATE: More donated food to come!!!)
Prizes: TBD
Map to Certified Home Inspections:

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And, Governor…

We’re not the Northwest Corner. We’re The Region. Please call us by our proper name.

Photo Credit: republicanconference via Flickr

One likes to get up and sing, “Me & Bobby McGee,” during Karaokes. The other likes to sit on a Mission rocker and play guitar. Together, Nat Finn & Morgan Voss will be filling in as co-hosts during this week’s Stop the Hush’s Open Mic night at Uptown Cafe in downtown Valparaiso on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011 from 7pm-10pm.

What Is Stop the Hush?

Stop the Hush is a 5013C non-profit movement that helps give a voice to those who fight everyday against the ravaging drug problem in Porter County, Indiana. They provide support through such venues as the weekly Open Mic nights, art exhibits & fund-raiser events with special guest speakers. Their long-term goal is to own a local community center where they can educate, stimulate and provide a safe haven for those in need (I hope I said that right. If not, Stop the Hush President Laurie Jo Kjelstrom will set me right when she gets back).

As the Stop the Hush website says

Chris Gomez at a recent Stop the Hush Open Mic Night

“Stop the Hush began after watching friends and family struggle to let go of their addictions and find a way to stay sober and make positive decisions.“

“I am very much looking forward to it,” said Morgan on Finn’s Facebook wall. “And[I] am so happy to be of any help.”

She also claims she’s going to bring her tambourine & sing a song if we raise $500 that night (by the way, Morgan, I told them if we’d raise $500…)…

What to Expect at Stop the Hush Open Mic Night

The best of people
A fine crop of musicians
Great delicacies and drinks
That spark of inspiration and spontaneity that spurs from a fun-filled evening of engagement, friendship and music.

And with Finn & Morgan running the room, just expect the unexpected.

September 14, 2011 Stop the Hush Open Mic Night Quickfacts:

Venue: Open Mic Night
Date: September 14, 2011
Time: 7pm-10pm+ CST
Cost: $3
Can Anyone Play During the Open Mic Night?: Absolutely!
Food & Drink Specials: Uptown has daily food and drink specials. Come by and check them out!
Location:

Map to Uptown Cafe

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What Songs Do You Hope to Hear That Night?

For me, I want to hear Chris Gomez play Blind Melon’s, “Change,” as well as Chris Bake play anything on either his banjo or Resonator guitar.

Not to mention all those I have yet to hear!

Hey, Fellow #NWITweetup Director,

Take a look at this post and see if you can note the changes in the following:

• Taxonomy
• Engagement
• And, wait, are those Google +1 Buttons?

Also, check the plugins. I deactivated a few, consolidating them into the Yoast SEO Plugin per Douglas Karr‘s infinite wisdom. There’s a related post plugin I need to add but, other than that, this thing is ready to rock with phase two.

- Finn

PS – Make sure you put the Metadata in the WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin. Once you look it over, I’ll write a bigger post about why I made the changes I did. You know, the thoughtleadershippy thing we said we’d all do back in Spring of 2010.

photo credit:  Fish Gravy via Flickr

Hey, guys,

We’ll be starting back up with #NWITweetups again in the fall of 2011, but before then we thought we’d lend our hand to a sweet, nice young couple who met during one of our #NWITweetups. Let’s see if we can get them some help to cut down on their expenses.

Here’s a note from the soon-to-be groom:

Hey all. Two of our NWITweetup regulars are getting hitched next summer. Mary Nolan (@grammarpanda) and Justin Roseberry (@TV_MA) have entered a Dunhill Tuxedo Facebook photo contest in an attempt to win free tuxedos for their wedding. Please show your support and help them by liking their photo on Dunhill Tuxedo’s Facebook photo gallery.

To assist you must first like Dunhill Tuxedo’s Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/dunhilltux and then proceed to like their photo here: http://is.gd/xRYgBw.

The contest ends August 20th 2011 and they will need to beat over 320 likes before then. Your support is appreciated so much so that if they do win Justin has volunteered to take a pie in the face for the entertainment of you all at a NWITweetup event.

Any support you can give them would be greatly appreciated. And before you think you might be getting a lot of Dunhill spam on your wall, you really won’t. And if you don’t want to get their updates, you can simply block them.

And, of course, if you have your own worthwhile cause you want help on, just contact us at this website and we’ll help out!

Let’s get them free tuxes. I don’t want to get cut by The Panda (she has a couple katanas, but she really doesn’t use them much. It’s an inside joke the creative team a Livemercial used to use. She really is sweet. Come to the next NWITweetup and meet her!)

Hey, guys,

First, the Sad News

We talked it over and we decided that we wanted to do the lunch thing, well, right. We didn’t want it to be haphazard. We want people to get the most bang for their buck so for now, we’ll be postponing the celebration until the end of September. That will give us time to get our heads together and do it up proper.

A Big, “Thank You,” Goes Out to Those Who Were Willing to Speak on Social Media Day.

When we set up the lunch in September, we’d love to have you come out and speak for us on that day!

Now, For the Good News

We will be meeting up at Old Chicago – and old favorite of #NWIDrinkup – on Social Media Day, June 30th, 2011 @ 7pm CST. No frills, no specials. Just good times and great friends. I think I can vouch for Carter, Gosser & Daver when I say that we’re ready for a couple of light, free-flowing, fun formats. Sometimes we spend so much time planning events that we don’t get to enjoy them. Personally, I haven’t seen much of anyone this year so I’m looking forward to meeting up and seeing how everyone is doing. Seeing how people are doing with their career moves, job changes, moves, house sales, broken noses (Hi, Rahsaan) and the like.

I hope you can make it out. Daver’s buying everyone a round because he needs the mojo (hi, Daver). Just Kidding

Winner of the “Pick the Venue. Win Some Dinner,” is Chris Hedges. Chris, Daver will be buying you dinner. He might expect a little goodnight kiss afterwards so be on alert (jk).

Scheduling Monthly Events & Activites – Take 2

And come this fall we’ll have a new schedule set of events and activities. We won’t try to put it all into one event like we did last season. Blame me. Daver was the one who wanted to split them up more. I’ll take the blame on that.

Thank you, guys, for letting us know.

#NWITweetup Social Media Day 2011 QuickFacts

Date: June 30th, 2011
Time: 7PM CST
Venue: Old Chicago, Hobart / Merrillville, IN
Venue Address:
740 E 81st Street
Merrillville, IN 46410

Questions: Contact Finn @ finn[@]nwitweetup.com  or twitter.com/natfinn
Map to Old Chicago:

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Photo Credit:  Copyright Old Chicago. Hope they don’t get mad at us for using it to promote them.

So, typically speaking, June 30th is recognized as Social Media Day. All around the world people will be organizing meetups, tweetups & other 2.0 events in order to celebrate the success and splendor that is Social Media. Power users, casual users, business users and those who don’t like to admit they tweet all come together, put down their smart phones and hang out face-to-face.

Last year, we celebrated Social Media day at Pepe’s in Valpo. Here’s a video from the day:

Why did we celebrate it at Pepes? Because that’s where I eat on Wednesdays. This year, we want the place where we celebrate to be picked in a similar fashion.

Pick the Venue! Win Some Dinner!

Over the next few days we’ll be asking people how & where they want to celebrate Social Media Day. We’ll be tweeting it, blogging it, throwing it up on Facebook, and emailing people. We’ll listen to any and all comers. The winner gets their meal paid for by #NWITweetup (unless you are the venue owner -then Dave’s tipping double!). On May 31st, we’ll take those suggestions and start contacting venue owners and then a couple days after that, we’ll let you know the venue(s) and who won! And from there, we’ll get on the specials.

So, plan NOW! Please. Pretty Please. You know, if you want to

Thank you for you time. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely

Finn @ NWITweetup
Photo Credit: Andrea Knapp via Flickr