Time magazine called internet service Meetup.com "A convenient, non -threatening way to connect to other people who share similar interests and live nearby. The Toronto Sun said, "…An opportunity to reconnect with yourself and others in a stress free environment. It's as simple as that."
     Last November, Beach Blader member Anna Schafer suggested using meetup as an additional way for local skaters to find the skate club and join area skates. She signed up as an organizer with Meetup.com and got other local skaters to do the same. Now there are 35 members enrolled. Beach Blader members can create their own profile and communicate ("give a shout") to other members to arrange their own skate or sign up for a scheduled Beach Blader skate.
     We urge you to join Meetup even if you are already a Beach Blader member.
It's easy to sign up to Meetup just go to : http://inlineskating.meetup.com/83/
and follow the easy instructions. Once you sign up, you'll see a member's directory including individual photos and profiles. You can create your own profile (just write a few words about yourself) and you can select how you want to receive reminders about upcoming skates.
     You can chose to log on to see them, have any reminders sent once a day or as they are received. Other benefits include automatic notices about local club skating events. You can set up a skate of your own including inviting other skaters to join you. In addition, you will be able to use the membership directory to see individual photos and profiles for each member who have signed up and completed his or her own profile.
     While we offer several skates during the week, based participation of individual skate events we know that more local skates on different schedules would draw more skaters. So now would be a good time for other Beach Blader members to sign on as an assistant organizer and host skates in their local area or favorite location. If you are interested please give Anna, Gene or Jim a "shout."
Check it all out at: http://inlineskating.meetup.com