SMBMSP: a changing community

A good community has conversations, right? I’d like to put in my two cents about the recent changes to Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis-St. Paul (SMBMSP).

I have waxed about the value and community I have gained through Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis-St. Paul. “SMBMSP has given me a free outlet to access information that enhances my career and the larger library world.“  I consider Mykl Roventine one of my closest friends, and he and Rick Mahn have given me this amazing opportunity to expand my skill set and meet a group of people I would not have otherwise. I even hosted two of the meetings well over a year ago (one at the Central Library for 80 people and one at the Brookdale Library for 180). The group grew quickly and venues and reserved spots became more and more difficult to find.

Recently, there has been a dust-up about the group becoming more pro by taking on an Agency of Record (another organization I love Sterling Cross Communications) and now charging a $10 + processing charge entry fee. I agree that in order for Mykl and Rick to continue these steps are necessary. The group needs to evolve and change.

Let me be clear, I support Mykl and Rick in this decision and do not object to the fee. I know there is a great deal of work that goes into these events. Working with Ashley Schweitzer and NetSquared Net Tuesdays this past year has been tough, and I am ready to pass the torch.

As a past SMBMSP regular, however, I am nostalgic and even sad for the time when the community was so open.  A public librarian could step up and speak at a social media event or volunteer. I’ve never felt that MIMA, PRSA, or the other alphabet orgs were affordable or could help me find answers and frankly, friendships like SMBMSP. I joke that I joined SMBMSP to meet men- not entirely untrue, but I have met some great professionals in what I dubbed as the Rotary Club of Social Media. Some of the folks, like me are not in the larger advertising/marketing/pr world, but fufill these roles within our organizations or companies. I will miss the ease and casual feel of the old, but I will pay to attend SMB when the topic is right.

Present

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is mystery
Today is a gift

(-Eleanor Roosevelt)

Remember Ramona Quimby? She was told by her teacher to, “Sit here for the present.” She did as she was told- anticipating a fantastic present she was going to receive. I see the error of my ways. I’ve spent a lot of time waiting for that present. Planning for the exciting future, delaying happiness, I lost days, weeks, months.
I also notice myself looking back and getting stuck on details, asking why events unfolded one way or another. 

Were there great times scattered through all that careful planning, anticipation and anxiety? Sure. However, I do recognize a lot of energy spent vigilantly planning for a future that never arrived.

How do I course correct? All I can do is embrace today. Right now. Want to join me? The easiest way to get started is to list three reasons you are grateful. I am grateful for:

35

Dear Reader,

I love July 2, not only is it my birthday- it is the half day of the year. 2010 has reached her halfway mark.

I asked and life delivered. On my 34th birthday, I was ready for a significant life change- and now, at 35, I’m engaged!! I didn’t learn how to decoupage, but I did visit Venice, Naples, and Rome this January. And I joined the Catholic church- no small feat.  The other ideas for significant life changes from last year aren’t ruled out either.  I may still get a PhD or have a career change. I crossed off  a couple of those more casual goals, but left some behind. This hasn’t come without a little crisis. Changing my name, choosing a new home, and carving out a new identity have been challenges I am embracing. I’m even exorcising some old demons at the Emily Program.

My hope for 35 is to grow more creative and more flexible.  I have a really great year ahead: a move, a wedding, living with a spouse (full-time eek), and my greatest hope is to start a family.

To return to Lao Tzu, the inspiration for this blog’s title,

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

Happy New Year, everyone. Love, Meg

Thank you

Thank you to all who attended the Texas State Library and Archives Commission Webinar! Getting Started with a Social Media Plan (Using Social Media in the Library Series) is the first of three webinars I will be doing. I’m looking forward to meeting you virtually or in person someday soon.

Care and Feeding

I’ve neglected MSS (this blog) in favor of MSF. I confess I’ve been working on new concepts for new blog and new name, and I am not yet sure what this means…

In the meantime, I thought I’d share my little victory of the evening. In 2007, I rented the film Penelope and was dazzled by the terrariums in the title character’s bedroom:

So I bought two glass apothecary jars and made big plans.

Flash forward to today (yes, 2010). My parents bought Kevin a bonsai in September and it is still thriving.

I decided to ask him for some support. We bought:

• this book
• charcoal for planters that don’t drain
• some small plants that don’t need lots of sun and can tolerate moisture
• potting soil
• moss
• garden gloves

I’ll let you know how it goes. They should be pretty low maintenance.

I’ll be back on track with blogging again soon, too.

xo, Meg

Lent

Did you know Lent means spring? (Okay, my Dutch relatives reading this are probably rolling their eyes.) Of course, the season of Lent is a also religious observance. Many Christians observe Lent by giving up favorite foods or trying to break poor habits. Some do as the church instructs, spending more time in prayer, giving of time and money, and abstaining from meat on holy days. This includes Fridays. I had never attended a Fish Fry or a Soup Supper before this Lent.

Kevin works for the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (CSBSJU) and with that employ has come a really wonderful group of friends. Last year they revived a Fish Fry Crawl that makes me proud. They’ve been interviewed by The St. Cloud Times and the Minneapolis Star Tribune this year.

Krista and Katie at St. Albert the Great

Some of you are aware I have been attending classes and have even completed the first of three sacrements to become a full member of the Catholic Church this Saturday night at the Easter vigil. I attend the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, but Kevin and I are preparing for marriage near the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN at the Church of St. Joseph.

Committed: a mysweetestfind.com cross-post

Marriage becomes hard work once you have poured the entirety of your life’s expectations for happiness into the hands of one mere person. Keeping that going is hard work. A recent survey of young American women found that what women are seeking these days in a husband—more than anything else—is a man who will “inspire” them, which is, by any measure, a tall order. As a point of comparison, young women of the same age, surveyed back in the 1920s, were more likely to choose a partner based on qualities such as “decency,” or “honesty,” or his ability to provide for a family. But that’s not enough anymore. Now we want to be inspired by our spouses! Daily! Step to it, honey! – Committed

I’m reading and loving Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert. The Eat, Pray, Love author examines married life as she once again finds love and circumstance require her to marry. Like any good librarian, I enjoy immersing myself in the topic.

For the record, I haven’t always loved Elizabeth. Oh, when Eat, Pray, Love came out I bought nine copies sending it to friends, giving copies away, even accidentally losing a copy to a Mexican rainstorm. Then, I confess, I got really angry when I reread the book after my ex-husband walked out on me. I dubbed her a thoughtless, careless person who had no regard for the spouse left behind.

With Committed I have found a lot of peace and more respect for Elizabeth and I hope she’ll forgive me for my judgmental past. She does a brilliant job of showing her tender heart, cataloging her faults, and talking about marriage in an inspiring and hopeful way.

I myself have never been a skeptic about marriage. I will work to temper those, “you must inspire me!” tendencies for a partner in life, a soft place to land, someone with whom I can share the journey. I feel fortunate that through all the pain of divorce and broken dreams, I have emerged on the other side with my heart remarkably intact. Elizabeth and I may have different views on commitment, but I think we agree that we’re fortunate to choose who and how we love.

I thank God and the universe everyday for Kevin, a good man who believes in the risk and reward of marriage.

Is it still a single step, if Meg isn’t single?

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” -Lao Tzu

Meg’s Single Step was launched , when I was newly single in December of 2007. With a broken heart and a new life to invent, Lao Tzu’s words plus the double entendre felt just right.

Now with immense happiness, new love and a new future stretching out, Meg’s Single Step is just that- the next step in the journey. It’s here to stay. As for our joint ventures, Kevin and I have started a new blog for family and friends: My Sweetest Find.

So I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere.

I was looking back at birthday goals from 7 mos. ago, and wish #1 has come true. I have had a significant life change. Looking at the others, I have also found a  few geocaches and been mayor of several places of Foursquare. It is good to look back at the list. Maybe I’ll get working on another soon.

Wedding Ingenuity in the Twin Cities

Walking down the aisle a second time allows a girl a little perspective. Luckily, my groom is full of ideas, plans, and helpful opinions too!  One of the cooler things that has blossomed with the DIY movement is a new way of looking at the overpriced wedding industry and encouraging some creativity.

There are amazing events like Goodwill Easter Seals’ Bridal Showcase on February 19th and 20th. From their site: New, gently used and bridal store samples, Gowns with designer labels like Reem Acra, Vera Wang, Aimee Atelier, Justina McCaffrey, Amsale, Lazaro, Amy Kuschel and Marisa at up to 90% off the original retail price!

I love the idea of handmade save the dates, invites and thank yous. Paper Source is having a couple of wedding events in Uptown.

Although less local, blogs are also a great resource and I love reading the Wedding Porn posts from Offbeat Bride. Stay tuned for our new wedding/ joint website, too.

A Valentine to the Pinole Library

My good friend Heidi Dolamore is a librarian in the Contra Costa County Library system in California. We keep in touch via gtalk, and tonight Heidi popped on to chat.  “I’m delivering all of our valentines on Tuesday, did I tell you about that project?”

Did I mention Heidi is a genius? “We’ve got over 500 (valentines). This is for the branch that got cut to 4 days/24 open hrs because the city cut funding.”

These are so raw and so sweet.  You can see all 500+. Read their messages of hope, loss, and love for their libraries. Just when I was feeling a bit uncertain about our future, I see digital storytelling, a community mobilizing and some beautiful use of technology.