Over the years, we’ve seen Local Guides host amazing meet-ups. To celebrate the outstanding creativity and dedication of meet-up hosts, we’re kicking off a new series, Meet a Meet-up Champion. Each month, we’ll get insights and tips from some of the best hosts that we hope will support you on your hosting journey, too.
This month, meet Denise Barlock ( @Denise_Barlock ). She lives in an RV and travels the United States, discovering a new city every month. But that doesn’t stop her from hosting one of the longest-running virtual meet-up series on Connect: the #StateChallenge. Denise describes herself as a proud Local Guide who finds purpose in contributing on Google Maps and organizing the challenge series, and she’s even created a Google Maps list of all the places she’s hosted the #StateChallenge from.
Here’s what Denise had to say about her experience of hosting a virtual series.
What do you love about meet-ups?
I love my extended family and friends! I look forward to every Saturday to be with wonderful people from all over the world. I enjoy seeing folks get excited when their name is called, hearing them laugh at a funny answer, and so much more! I believe I have grown as a person after working with so many Local Guides.
The #StateChallenge became a favorite on Connect. How did you come up with the idea for it?
@Kwiksatik had suggested that the U.S. attendees going to Connect Live 2019 write articles about the United States. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that summer of 2019 for this initiative.
I wanted to meet other U.S.-based Local Guides, show pride in our country, show that it was more than just the popular tourist locations, and meet Local Guides [from] around the world. Once virtual meet-ups were happening [in 2020], I realized that physical location was no longer a challenge. I reached out to @Kwiksatik and asked her if she would like to team up with me for a #StateChallenge meet-up series that would cover each of the states in the United States and its territories. It was quite a commitment to take on this series as it would require more than a year to complete it.
And how did the series become #WorldChallenge?
Most of the attendees aren’t from the United States. There are many regulars who love the format, fun, and competitiveness of the meet-up: @Silvi , @KashifMisidia , @RosyKohli , @Erna_LaBeau , @NareshDarji , @TusharSuradkar , @JaneBurunina , @AnshukMitra, and SO MANY MORE! I’m so appreciative of their support.
Many asked how to do the same thing for their country, [and] I realized that the best solution was to incorporate their state or country if they were willing to take some responsibility as a co-host. This suggestion was happily accepted, and the #WorldChallenge (and #CityChallenge) is now every other week.
What goes into planning a meet-up?
Currently, the series is run by myself and @jayasimha78 . We split up the responsibilities, [which include]:
- Scheduling a guest host. There wasn’t a “guest host” at first, but ever since the sixth meet-up, there has been one for each event.
- Creating images and meet-ups for Connect and Facebook.
- Writing article(s) about the featured location on Connect. As the series became more popular, more Local Guides [started to] contribute.
- Creating a Study Guide on Connect that lists all the articles along with a short recap of the previous week’s meet-up.
- Creating a Google Photos album that attendees can contribute to. These photos are used for the recap, giving everyone the opportunity to be highlighted.
- Creating a quiz from the articles. That’s where the meet-up has truly morphed over time based on feedback and experience. Initially, participants responded via chat after hearing the question. [Then], we tested out the Bingo format, but many didn’t enjoy it. In late January 2021, we tried online Jeopardy, [where] attendees have a multiple-choice option to answer, and that’s easier for them. We also use a spinner to pick an attendee to select the next question, which gives almost everyone a chance to participate.
- Creating and announcing the meet-up URL. After being hijacked during our Halloween meet-up where non Local Guides joined, we moved to a Google Group, [and] it is from this group that we distribute the URL. I would LOVE a better solution and am open to suggestions as our current approach makes it difficult for new attendees.
What are the three most important things you’ve learned from organizing meet-ups?
- Be ready to adapt the program and be more inclusive with the attendees.
- Be ready to listen to suggestions from attendees and understand where those suggestions are coming from.
- Be ready for something to go wrong: poor internet, personal emergencies, low/high number of attendees. Be ready to quickly make it work.
What are your tips for organizing and hosting a meet-up with another Local Guide(s)?
Many Local Guides want to contribute to a meet-up, but some can be uncomfortable hosting one. I try to understand what the Local Guide would like to get out of guest hosting or co-hosting. I’m also upfront with my expectations about their responsibilities. I start regularly interacting with the Local Guide about a week and a half before the meet-up to make sure they are still comfortable with what they’re going to do.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone who’s about to host their first meet-up?
Attendees like to contribute and participate. Have a format or agenda that allows them to feel they are a part of the meet-up and not just listening.
What do you think a good recap post should include?
I think it’s good to reference the participants’ contributions and participation as much as possible. The #StateChallenge [recaps] highlight articles, photos from the meet-up, and current and past winners.
Do you have a favorite meet-up from the series?
[My] favorite meet-up was about Halloween. Everyone was encouraged to dress up for the holiday, and they did! We even had a winner of the best costume, @RosyKohli. Many have asked for another meet-up like that, and I need to do it!
Have you attended any of Denise’s meet-ups? Do you have a question for her? Let us know in the comments below.
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