(jeff)isageek.net

This past week I had a chance to go to the first Highlight Midwest (and sure not to be the last) here in Kansas City which highlighted developers, entrepreneurs, social media, new media, ect. in the Midwest (mainly KC, Omaha, and Des Moines) in an effort to bring the community together and show the midwest is more the just a bunch of flyover states for the east and west coast.

The end result was it was a total 100% success….I met all kinds of great people from throughout the region getting to see some great projects in the works, ideas of the future, and was able to network and add some new people to follow throughout the interweb.

As I had mentioned early this is clearly an event that will happen again and you can bet I will be there…already there is some great media out there highlighting the events of the day including pictures, video, and blogs. I thought I would highlight some of them here in the post as well as I plan to post some videos up here on the site of some of the presentations I went to as well for you to enjoy. I hope to get my hands of the video from the panel at the evening session and share atleast a link if not the video embedded (keep your eyes out for that).

Blog posts about Highlight Midwest
Highlight Midwest - by Christina Maki
What I Learned At Highlight Midwest - Troy Rutter

Highlight Midwest Flickr stream
Pics or it didnt happen - pics of the evening panel by Christina Maki

Check out the recorded live stream by LiveCrunch

Another kool part of the evening session was some suprise videos from a few familiar faces….

Sarah Lacy’s Highlight Midwest Introduction from Highlight Midwest on Vimeo.

Chris Pirillo’s Highlight Midwest Introduction from Highlight Midwest on Vimeo.

Gary Vaynerchuck’s Highlight Midwest Introduction from Highlight Midwest on Vimeo.

In closing I just want to thank everyone who was in charge of the planning of this event, thank you to all those who came not only from the kc area but for those who traveled from omaha and des moines, and thank you to all those who are out there in those cities and others in the midwest showing that the midwest is a place where tech/social media can be born and can have the same impact of those from both coasts!

After all the events were over and we were all traveling back to our homes and such the question was asked where do we go from here? What do we do to keep this great thing called Highlight Midwest going? How do we help it grow even more?

We’re following each other on twitter now, let’s take that a step further and start reading each other’s blogs. Do a little exploring on people’s twitter profiles and find blogs/sites that interest you. Add at least a few of the people from each city to your RSS reader.

1. Don’t just subscribe, but commit to reading their blogs.
2. Don’t just read, take it up a notch by commenting on their blogs.
3. Don’t just comment, share their blogs with your network by tweeting about their posts.
4. Don’t just talk up their blogs, ask them to do a guest post on your blog.
5. Shake it well, repeat.

What can you do to help the midwest tech community grow and become even better!

Think about it.

There is a HUGE event coming to the Kansas City area Wednesday October 29th in Kansas City, MO. called Highlight Midwest. What exactly is Highlight Midwest you ask?

Highlight Midwest showcases the entrepreneurs, innovators, and early-adopters using web technology to grow their businesses, advance their careers, and enrich the regional economy in new ways.

Three of the area’s up and coming social media strategists will present an overview on how the web is changing their cities for the better and how new opportunities for innovation are expanding the importance of web-based technology in the Midwest.

Focused highlights: 9:00am - 4:00pm at the Record Bar Some of the region’s finest entrepreneurs, technologists, social media experts, and new media success stories presenting.

I am really excited for this event as it is a great way to find out some of the great projects going on in our area, meet some of the people behind those projects, network, and overall just meet others that have similar likes and interests in the tech community.

Talking to some of the organizers of the event they are wanting to get some social media exposure at the event as well so if you are interested in maybe talking about a project you have in the works or just wanna talk about the social media landscape here in the midwest or all over definately feel free to contact the gang over at the Highlight Midwest site.

For me events like this are just great ways to mingle and learn about different aspects in our area from develpment types, social media types, and pretty much hanging with the geeks from around the midwest. I will say it is looking like I will probably be doing some video stuff for the event, live blogging/twittering, and of course geeking out hehe.

I hope everyone is able to attend and by all means lets get some great discussions going while we are there about new technologies, new services you are really into, the emerging mobile web, social media topics, ect. the ideas are endless and stuff like that will just enhance the event.

Below is a little information on the event to give you an idea of what is going on at this time. I hear there is more and more stuff being added as planning continues upto the 29th.

Reasons for having Hightlight Midwest

* To highlight the best and the brightest web-related success stories in the Midwest
* To connect nearby communities
* To demonstrate local innovation in a rapidly changing economic landscape

Focused highlights include (more to be added soon)

The region’s [Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines] finest entrepreneurs, technologists, social media experts, and new media success stories.

* Fresh Ideas, Sharp Angles, Zachary Cobb
* Infegy’s Social Radar, Adam Coomes
* Leveraging Amazon’s FPS, Jon Crawford
* A Better City Web Site, Dusty Davidson
* Myriad Tech for the Enterprise, Ryan Flannagan
* Sustainable Giving through Real Estate, Joe Frost
* The Formulator’s Search Engine, Bruce Ianni
* Comics on Rails, Scott Kahler
* Introducing Urbata, Dan Melton
* Humanoid Robotic Demonstration, Mike Overstreet
* Bringing a Japanese Phenomenon West, Elissa Rose
* Sojern Demonstration, Matt Secoske
* Scalability from the Start, Matt Secoske
* Tiovivo, Pete Thomas

Where can I check out all these great presentations and network with everyone?

** Reception: 5pm-8pm
Kauffman Conference Center
dinner and cocktails provided

4801 Rockhill Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110

Get Directions
(816) 932-1000

[View Map]

======================================

** Focused Highlights: 9am-4pm
lunch provided

The Record Bar

1020 Westport Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111

Get Directions
(816) 753-5207

[View Map]

Updates on Highlight Midwest on the Interweb

Blog
Twitter

REGISTER : Make sure you register for both events to ensure you have a seat available

So do you plan to attend? Maybe you are doing a presentation or discussion? Let me know your thoughts on the event or what you might like to see added. Comment away and see you there!

Its that time again…time for another blogger meetup in the kc area.  I have been wanting to go to one of these but have had to miss them for various reasons.

This month though I will make sure I get there!!!!  I have never been to the blogger meetup but have met a few people at other meetups and look forward to meeting some of the others who show up.

If you wanna join us here are the details (Wed Sept 24th @ 5pm)

112 Missouri Ave
Kansas City, MO 64106

(816) 421-3505

Come find us on the patio!

Recently I have been working with others locally here in Kansas City who are in the Social Media Scene to work on getting a Social Media Club setup here in the area. Basically the idea behind the club is just bringing different people togather to share and socialize together.

This past Wed night we had our first meetup and it was awesome…if you are interested in the social media scene this is the group for you but that is not what I am writing this about.

This morning we had our meetup where we discuss future events and ideas we have for the group and I brought up the idea of putting togather either a blog or a social network together using a service like ning or something…..well to make a long story short we decided to go with ning and when I got home I started hacking away at it.

I am proud to announce the site is live and if you want to join up you are more then welcome to jump over to http://socialmediaclubkc.ning.com/ sign up and start meeting new people out here in the KC and surrounding areas.

With the site you have the ability to find others with common interests, find out about future events coming up in the area, as well as join in the forum discussions and let you voice be heard.

With a new week comes a week full of meetups which I must say is pretty exciting.  If you are in the Kansas City area and have a chance make sure to come visit with fellow bloggers, social media types, and geeks in general.  Here is a rundown of the meetups I plan to attend this week.

Tuesday (August 26th, 2008) - KC Bloggers Meetup [link]
75th Street Brewery - 5pm

This will be my first time at the bloggers gathering…look forward to meeting some local bloggers.

Wednesday (August 27th, 2008) - Social Media Meetup [link]
Perceptive Sofware - 5:30pm

There should be all types at this event….bloggers/podcasters/social media types/everyone else.  If you are into any of the aspects of social media or the social web try to come to this event.  hearing about all the planning for this event…this one should be a good one.  hope to see you there.

Friday (August 29th, 2008 - Social Media Breakfast [link]
Broadway Cafe in Westport - 7:30am

This is an event were we usually get together…discuss future events and ideas for meetups and such.  Come have some coffee, chat, and help come up with ideas for future events.

Friday (August 29th, 2008 - Kansas City Geek Out
Daily Dose in Olathe - 11:00pm

If you are a geek then this is the place to come hang out on Friday nights.  All geeks welcome….computer, security, comic book, gaming, whatever you geek out too come and share.  Always a good time.

So there you have it…a busy week of meetups here in the Kansas City area.  I am looking forward to them all as it is always great just hanging with others and meeting new people with different thoughts and ideas.

Hope to see you there.

Well all the details have been ironed out and there will be a KC Social Media Meetup next Wed 8.27.08 at Perceptive Software in Shawnee,KS.

If you are a tweeter, blogger, podcasters, social media guru, social media fan, or even non of those please join us for the event.  Its a great way to meet new people, maybe somone you follow on twitter or another service on the interweb, and also a way to meet others from around the social media scene.

Looks like it is tapped to start around 5:30pm and go until who knows…but if you cant make it right at 5:30 that is fine…just arrive when you can.

If you are going just leave me a comment…that away I will know to look for ya.  I am looking forward to meeting some new people as well as everyone I have already met around the kc area at different events.

Address to Perceptive Software
Perceptive Software in Shawnee
22701 West 68th Terrace
Shawnee, KS 66226 [map it]

Over the past few months I have been working on making it to local meetups here in the Kansas City area that fit interests I have in hopes of meeting kool new people, make contacts, and just have a good time.

I am happy to say so far I have been pretty successful and wanted to share will all my local readers.  If you have any other meetups you know of please feel free to contact me or leave a comment for myself and others with a link or any information on meetup places and times.

SocialMediaClub - KC Edition
So far we have had 2 meetings and right now it is in the early/planning stages but I have already met some new people and we have begun to start talking about future events with speakers and demonstrations.  If you have any interest in social media from user to content provider to developer make sure you check it out.

For more information on upcoming meetings, events, and links check out the wiki at socialmediakc.com

Kansas City Podcasters
This meetup is for podcasters as well as fans of podcasting or those wanting to get into podcasting.  I have been toying with the idea of doing one and have dabbled in it a bit but again just a fun group to get togather with and talk about whatever be it podcasting or something tech based.

Meetings usually take place on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Johnny’s Tavern on 119th street.

[Meetup Page]

Geek Out Friday
Geek Out is the newest meetup I have been going to and it is pretty much just geeks getting togather and talking about whatever geek topic we want…could be web related, tech related, gaming, ect.  Pretty much just a place for geeks to hang out.

Takes place at Daily Dose at 135th and Quivera on Friday nights from 11ish to 2am (closing time).

Do you go to any of these?  What are your thoughts on them?  Have another meetup you would like to share with those in the kc area?  Feel free to add a comment to the discussion and let us know any details.

My main reason behind this post is to let those in the community know about different ways they can meet others with similar interests.

This morning we had the 2nd meetup for SocialMediaKC which is a meetup for anyone in the Kansas City area who are interested in any aspect of the social media scene which as you get to look into it has a wide range of subjects/topics/areas.

Right now the group is growing and contacts are being made. This month we talked about possible locations for future events so that others maybe not close to the Overland Park area can attend as well as thoughts on special guests and subjects that could be presented at future events.

If you are someone who is the social media arena, has a product related to social media and would love to come speak with the group please feel free to contact ed roberts or zena weist and they can speak with you on getting something setup.

Interested in the format of the meetups or the environment? Here is a little video I took to kinda give you an idea:

Attendees this month
edroberts
zenaweist
duckman1221
thewebdawg
seanbot2000
techguytom
banky (not binky)
wrytir
(jeff)isgeek
silverzippo
ruthi (who is not on twitter…can you believe that!!!)

Next Meetup
Friday August 29th at 7:30am
Broadway Cafe in Westport
4106 broadway
kansas city, missouri 64111
(816) 531 2432
[map]

SocialMediaKC Wiki
socialmediakc.com

This Thursday night I will be going to the movies to relive a movie that I consider one of the key factor’s in me becoming a geek.  This is the 25th anniversary year of the movie “WarGames” a 1983 film staring Matthew Broderick playing a young hacker who thinks he is playing a war simulation with a computer but soon finds out it is a real military system putting us on the brink of WWIII.

Fathom and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios are proud to present WarGames back on the big screen after 25 years. Don’t miss this one-night-only event in select movie theatres nationwide on Thursday, July 24^th at 7:30PM (local).

The event will include never-before-seen interviews with cast and crew on how the movie was ahead of its time and its relevance today. Additionally, only at this one night event, get a sneak peek at the making of the sequel – WarGames: The Dead Code.

What are some movies you credit with helping mold you into the geek you are today?  Wanna know if the film is showing in your area this thursday check here on the Fathom Events page for the anniversary.

Note : If you are in the KC area and planning to attend let me know as I know a few people who will be there and would love to meet some of my fellow readers/geeks.

The other night I decided I should go ahead and purchase my ticket for the the Batman movie “Dark Knight” which will have a midnight showing next week which I will be attending at the AMC 30 here in Olathe,KS.

Thats when I thought you know what would be kool is find out if anyone else is gonna be there who might follow me on twitter, my blog, or the other handful of services I am on these days and do a little meetup…maybe there will be a bunch of people or maybe there will only be a few but in any case it would be great to meet everyone and what better time then at a geeky event like the premiere of “Dark Knight”.

So my question to everyone out there….will you be at the midnight showing (and of course at the Olathe 30) and would you be interested in a little meetup?  Let me know.