Today we hosted our second NetTuesday event in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and decided to do things a little differently. I spread some large sheets of scrap paper out on the table and bunched together some textas and crayons in a jar. The atmosphere was informal, and everyone was encouraged to participate whilst sipping lattes and munching on muffins, although I ended up visually facilitating the session (people are afraid that they can't draw!) based on the discussion. The idea was to capture some ideas, experiences and general conversation about ways people are making a difference.

NetSquared Local is growing with groups getting started all over the world. But groups aren't just coming together once a month, they are finding even more ways to connect the local community and make positive social impact. The first NetSquared local group in Spain, NetSquared Madrid, is a new group that's already going above and beyond to spread opportunities and informaiton about social entrepreneurism in Madrid.

NetSquared Madird is organized by five Spanish Engineers with a passion for innovation and social change:

This is a lightly revised note that I shared with 157 fellow Net Tuesday Organizers this past Friday evening, concerning Causes' recent announcement to 'abandon 184,674 users' on MySpace. Here's a quick way for you to share it on Twitter & Facebook.

Dear friends,

I hope this note finds you well on a lovely evening. Or morning. Or afternoon. We're a truly global bunch - so this note could find you at just about any time of day or night. Which offers somewhat of an introduction to something I want to share with you.

So much of the work we do is around connecting people across boundaries, from different countries & time-zones (from Douala to Tokyo to Vancouver) to different ethnicities, classes, and cultures within our own communities. While we don't have a stated mission, it may be fair to say we use the web to strengthen the fabric of our social ties with the intent of weaving together a better world. We use and push for tools that break down barriers, help diverse voices get heard, and bring more of us together for the beautiful array of changes we all seek.

Sadly, Something recently happened in the world of web tools for social change that seems to go against this -- of what we aspire for and work towards with a democratic web.

NetSquared Local is the offline component of NetSquared's work.  These groups provide a consistent opportunity for local communities to come together, learn, share, and collaborate.  Net Tuesday events bring together nonprofits and foundations, governement and service providers, designers and developers, entrepreneurs and innovators.  There are now over 52 cities around the world!  Here's some highlights from one of the newest groups: Net Tuesday Warsaw, Poland!

Hear more about the success in Warsaw and how you can start a Net Tuesday group

NetSquared's local organizers around the world are the real superheroes delivering the global NetSquared's mission on the ground.  Organizers have created groups that provide consistent opportunities for local communities to come together to learn about new technologies that benefit social impact work. Organizers are also stepping up to create events and opportunities for even deeper learning and collaboration around the world.

NetSquared's local groups, often known as Net Tuesdays, are popping up in cities around the world so quickly we can barely sit still from all the excitement.  The global NetSquared community is really filling in the globe!  I hope you'll join me in welcoming some of our newest organizers and groups: you can find out more about the newest additions below, and learn about how you can get involved here.

NetSquared's local groups are as unique and different as the cities where they are located. Some have small networks, others large; some meet once a month and others can't get enough; some create local projects and others rock their region! Net2NO, the local NetSquared group in New Orleans, LA, is a leader in making real impact on local communities. And it's only been a year!

Congrats to Net2NO!

New Orleans CityBusiness just named Net2NO as one of the city's Top 50 Innovators of 2009!

Netsquared Jozi will be held once every two months in Johannesburg. These gatherings provide a networking and collaboration opportunity for all those interested in the intersection of social technologies and social change, whether you are part of a non-profit organisation or a for-profit organisation, a funder or a consultant, a developer or an entrepreneur.  The first Netsquared Jozi meetup will be held on 14 July 2009.

This month's Net2 Think Tank question is: How do real-world (offline) events fit into social media conversations and campaigns?

My thinking: Social media conversations and online campaigns create whole new models for bringing together & powering the progressive movement. Although at core: People coming together in the real-world are key to fueling how we organize for change. We need real world events to be a central part of our online organizing. We need offline events to meet each other, bond eye-to-eye, and forge the collaborations that will make our social networks stronger, better connected, and ultimately transformative.

So - a major question is: How can your online community also support events in the real world? What kind of offline events are the best fit for your community? And what real world event models can you learn from or partner with? Well, let's look at five different event types and see if one or more of 'em sparks some ideas for your community!

After successful collaborative events with P!oneers and the 1%Event, get ready to kick off  Net Tuesday Amsterdam's own event just before we all turn on summer-mode.

Details: