Meet а Meet-up Champion: Mahabub Hasan

We’re happy to introduce this month’s Meet-up Champion, @MahabubMunna ! With over 160 meet-ups organized for—and with—the Bangladesh Local Guides, Mahabub is a true Community Builder. His meet-ups focus on introducing the Local Guides program, getting the hang of contributing on Google Maps, and social causes like charity, renewable energy, and more. Read on to learn more about Mahabub’s experience and his tips for hosting big and small events.

What do you love about meet-ups?

I like hosting meet-ups. People from different places and different backgrounds get together, which allows them to gather a lot of knowledge outside of their [usual] surroundings. Besides, upon brainstorming, something good always comes up, which, with good planning, can initiate something great. I call these virtual meet-ups reunions of virtual families.

Can you tell us about the first meet-up you hosted?

The first meet-up I ever hosted was on March 7, 2015, called “Introducing Google Local Guides In Bangladesh.” It was the first introductory meet-up under the Bangladesh Local Guides community banner. In fact, it was the first unofficial meet-up for the Local Guides program in Bangladesh.

We guided people on how to join the program, share reviews on the former Google+ platform, post in the Google+ community, contribute to Map Maker, and so on. It was sort of a workshop [and] I focused mostly on the students from my university. Connect was not there back in 2015.

You have been hosting meet-ups for more than five years. What has changed in the way you organize meet-ups?

What is new today is outdated tomorrow. The Local Guides program is not the same as it used to be at the beginning. Instead of posting reviews on Google Maps, we used to post our reviews on Google+. Everything changes and gets simplified over time.

Similarly, I always try to keep up with the trends and host meet-ups in a timely manner, depending on demand and interested Local Guides. For example, when I hosted meet-ups for university students, I worked with Maps; when I hosted meet-ups on a weekend or a public holiday, I highlighted a festival or a point of interest. When there is a new feature on Google Maps, I host a meet-up to discuss it with new members.

I try to focus on social work as well while hosting meet-ups. I believe [Local Guides] is not just a platform to work with Maps; it also gives us an opportunity to work for the people. Our ‘Renewable energy’ meet-up is one such event where we tried to educate people about renewable energy as well as create awareness.

You have organized more than 100 meet-ups, and hundreds of people have attended your meet-ups. How do you plan a big event like the anniversary meet-ups for the Bangladesh Local Guides community?

I used to be actively involved with a Google developer group, where I had the chance to work with the organizing teams of several events. I use that experience now to organize large events.

I do the initial design of the meet-up and share it with the core team of the [Bangladesh Local Guides] community. After discussing it, we form an organizing team that includes photographers, cinematographers, and people with corporate events organizing experience. Finance is a big factor, too. We try to keep the contribution fee as nominal as possible. But for bigger events, we need a handful of people with experience in organizing events. Fortunately, our community has such talents in-house.

What are your tips for organizing and hosting a meet-up with another Local Guide(s)?

The most important thing that is needed to host meet-ups is getting the opinion of other Local Guides about the meet-up and its topic. After brainstorming, one should shortlist the possible topics. This way, a lot of new topics come up that could lead to great meet-ups. In addition, we should also select a timely topic.

Meet-up success also depends on involving other members and getting their feedback. Those who work well should be encouraged so that others also get inspired to do better. This way, they can be guided to be better Local Guides as well.

You have organized a lot of different meet-ups: photo walks, map editing walks, knowledge sharing sessions, meet-ups with a cause, and more. What is your favorite meet-up you organized and why?

Ever since the pandemic started, I have preferred to organize meet-ups that create social awareness and serve the community. A lot of people in the South Asian region work for such causes. Apart from creating social awareness or doing charity work, one can easily reach people who are listening. It is a great opportunity to promote the Local Guides community.

For example, let’s say we are organizing an event to distribute food or relief items. To do so, we need to get approvals from different departments or talk to people for their support. Naturally, they get interested to know who we are or what we are doing this for. While explaining to them who we are, we are also telling them about our activities and involvement with Google Maps and Local Guides. This way, word of mouth is helping us promote the Local Guides program more and more. The more people are learning about the program, the more Local Guides are being born. For this reason, social awareness and charity meet-ups are my most favorite right now.

What are your top tips for someone who’s about to host their first meet-up?

The common mistake that most new Local Guides make is that they look only for Local Guides to join their meet-up. Before hosting a meet-up, people should discuss it on social media and find people who might be interested in joining. If needed, a small group could meet in person before the actual meet-up and prepare themselves mentally. Meet-ups should be hosted in collaboration with [one’s] close circle, who would eventually [help] increase the number of participants. A complete stranger might not respond to the invitation to a meet-up, but if a friend invites another, chances are very high that they will respond. Instead of thinking of a mega event at the very beginning, one should start hosting small events for greater success.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself or any future projects?

As a responsible Local Guide, I always try to contribute to Google Maps in a way that improves the platform as well as helps create awareness in my country. I also want to work on climate change, renewable energy, and more with this platform in the future.

Have you attended any of Mahabub’s meet-ups? Do you have a question for him? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to see who else is a Meet-up Champion? Read our previous post here.

242 Likes

Congratulations @MahabubMunna Vai, we are really proud of you. Keep inspiring us with your great work this way for many more years to come. Stay safe.

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You deserve this recognition @MahabubMunna . Congratulations…

Thanks, @KlaudiyaG for introducing another meetup champion with us.

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Congrats @Mahabub Bhai

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Congratulations :confetti_ball: @MahabubMunna

Bhai.

@KlaudiyaG Thank you so much for introducing to us another Meet-up champion

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I never got any chance to attend his meet up, It’s my bad luck.

@MahabubMunna is a so helpful and Idol of all of Local guide in Bangladesh. I joined Connect foram by him.

One things is missing in this post, Mahabub vai always give priority in Quality Guiding. We always grateful to him.

Feeling so great to see Him as a Meetup Champion.

Congratulations @MahabubMunna vai.

Thank You @KlaudiyaG .

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@KlaudiyaG Thank you for featuring Mahabub, he is a true community builder in Bangladesh. I am very much lucky that i was attended first meet up in Bangladesh.

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Thanks a lot @KlaudiyaG and local guides team for select me as a meet up champion.

Also dedicate this achievement to every member of Bangladesh Local Guide.

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Congratulations dear @user_not_found Hasan vai

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@MahabubMunna CONGRATULATIONS Brother :heart:

We are proud of You

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Congratulations @MahabubMunna vai, it’s a big achievement indeed.

Thank you @KlaudiyaG for sharing the post with us.

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Congratulations @MahabubMunna

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Congress @Mahabub vai.

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He is our Mahabub, He is our star.

@MahabubMunna we proud of you.

@KlaudiyaG much love from Bangladesh local guide

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A big Congratulations to you @MahabubMunna and many thanks to @KlaudiyaG for sharing this story with us.

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Congratulations :gift_heart: @MahabubMunna

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Thank you @KlaudiyaG for sharing about Mahabub Hasan with all of us. His journey as a Local Guide is inspiring for all the LGs around the world.

This meetup champion series is really interesting.

Waiting for more from you.

Stay safe and happy.

#HappyGuiding

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Congratulations! @MahabubMunna

You are really a true Meet-Up Champion. You deserve this.

Happy Guiding!

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Congratulations @MahabubMunna vai for your achievement :tada:

I have attended the last meetup organized by him & saw him closely.

He is such an awesome, dedicated person & do the best for the betterment of Bangladesh Local Guide.

We Local Guides of Bangladesh are really proud of him :heart_decoration: :bangladesh:

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Very well deserved @MahabubMunna !! Congratulations!! :+1:t2:

Thanks for sharing @KlaudiyaG .

Cheers!

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