MGoCommunities, an idea.

56 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
August 6th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
#1
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725
MGoCommunities, an idea.

One of my favorite things about Michigan football Saturdays is the feeling I get when I walk back into my living room after grabbing a fresh beer and see my friends all together. I absolutely love bringing people together, more than anything in the world. 

I've been wanting to start an MGoClub or M Club or whatever here in Evansville, IN for the past two seasons, because I see an uncanny amount of Michigan license plates, car decals, hats and shirts around the city. I want to meet new people and enjoy this great thing with them.

I know it's literally unfeasible to have a seperate thread for every city (especially those the small size of Evansville) destroying the board, but is there anyway we could create something on the blog, or even just use this to organize some kind of MGoClub? 

I really like the model the American Outlaws have, where there are local chapters, with someone heading up each chapter. I wouldn't want to get any $ involved the way they do with dues and paying for tailgates, I just want to hang out. You know, meet up at a bar once a month during the offseason, catch Football, basketball and hockey games together. 

Hell, you might be like my dad, content just watching games by yourself, or with only the people you've been watching with so far. There's nothing wrong with that. 

I'd rather connect. What does the blog think? 

My email address is joshua.pietrowski@gmail.com and I'd love for those of you interested in chairing, or leading your own cities local chapter to let me know. We can get a list together of contacts, and maybe even expand our "michigan bar locator" a bit. 

 

EDIT (OP) : So far, there has been alot of positive feedback and ideas. Here's the plan. CRex, or someone, mentioned using social media (i.e. facebook) to get this beast rolling. 

Step 1. Check on facebook to see if there already is such a group for your desired area. We don't want to be harshing anyone's gig, you know.

Step 2. If there isn't one, create it, and invite your current Michigan buddies on Fbook. Call it whatever you want, but for uniformity's sake, use the term MGo in it. I hope/suppose this is okay with Brian, Dave Brandon, and what not. 

Step 3. If you're the one spearheading the effort in your city/region, please send me an email at the aforementioned address, with the following. Your name, the region, your email or contact info you're comfortable with, and the url link to the facebook group page. We'll see if we can't get a list together for the blog.

Step 4. Remember to set the blog's homepage as Mgoblog. 

 

Mgodemigod Brian, if you see any problem with this effort, let me know. 

 

I'm totally down for any other ideas or commentary you guys have on this. 

 

EDIT #2: Lots of good stuff in the thread. Please remember to connect with me via email at joshua.pietrowski@gmail.com once you get the ball rolling.

 

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:48 AM | I'll show up if you can (Score:4 Normal)
Magnus
Magnus's picture
Joined: 07/17/2008
MGoPoints: 27477

I'll show up if you can charter me a flight every Saturday morning.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

August 6th, 2012 at 10:50 AM | I would love this. I just (Score:2 Normal)
GrowBlue
Joined: 09/15/2011
MGoPoints: 191

I would love this. I just moved to Stamford CT and have no Michigan fans to watch games with.

August 6th, 2012 at 10:56 AM |  I just moved to Stamford (Score:4 Normal)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
MaizeAndBlueWahoo's picture
Joined: 07/02/2008
MGoPoints: 11830

 I just moved to Stamford CT

My condolences.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

August 6th, 2012 at 11:04 AM | Yeah, it's no Chicago where I (Score:2 Normal)
GrowBlue
Joined: 09/15/2011
MGoPoints: 191

Yeah, it's no Chicago where I spent the last 7 years after graduation. :(



Beating Alabama would cheer me up.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:06 AM | Sometimes stuff happens there (Score:1 Redundant)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38883

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

August 6th, 2012 at 11:46 AM | Is that from the first (Score:2 Normal)
beenplumb
beenplumb's picture
Joined: 10/15/2010
MGoPoints: 847

Is that from the first chapter of Civil War?

@beenplumb

procsqlrunning.tumblr.com

August 6th, 2012 at 12:21 PM | Yup. It was sadly the only time I've heard of Stamford. (Score:1 Normal)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38883

And I guess Nitro blowing up a school isn't GOOD excitment...but hey, at least there's another Wolverine there...

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

August 6th, 2012 at 12:50 PM | It's not too bad... (Score:1 Overrated)
Real Tackles Wear 77
Real Tackles Wear 77's picture
Joined: 07/05/2008
MGoPoints: 546

Stamford actually has a vibrant downtown scene and great restaurants. Its no Chicago but a 30m train ride to Grand Central and the UM club there has good events. There are a lot of UM alums in the immediate area, but generally are older (outside of Stamford proper) given the high cost of living.

LSA '11
August 6th, 2012 at 9:26 PM | coupla options... (Score:1)
goblue_jb
goblue_jb's picture
Joined: 05/27/2011
MGoPoints: 142

if you're in stamford, you can definitely join up with the NY club, Westchester County club or Fairfield County club... :-)  you might want to sign up for the relevant email lists (can do so from each club's website, link here) to hear about events that arent too far away.

as a NYC heads up, the club is holding a preseason football event next wed aug 15th w/ Brian and TomVH... if you can make the the ~40 min trek on metronorth should be a fun one...

August 6th, 2012 at 10:53 AM | My idea would be to get the (Score:4 Normal)
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725

My idea would be to get the "head" of each cities chapter together, and then once there is a list, give it to Brian to post under MGoBoard or Useful Stuff, whichever is more appropriate.

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:55 AM | (No subject) (Score:5 Normal)
KevbosLastingLessons
KevbosLastingLessons's picture
Joined: 08/23/2010
MGoPoints: 2600

Final Four Thoughts!

August 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM | MGoPiet (Score:1)
Craze for Maize
Craze for Maize's picture
Joined: 11/11/2011
MGoPoints: 764

I've noticed you're from the midwest from pevious post. What area are you in?

August 6th, 2012 at 11:08 AM | Obligatory........ (Score:5 Normal)
Bosch
Bosch's picture
Joined: 04/03/2009
MGoPoints: 4281

All right Lemmings. Bring the heat.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:10 AM | Evansville. (Score:2)
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725

Evansville.

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:13 AM | I didn't realize you were the (Score:1 Flamebait)
Craze for Maize
Craze for Maize's picture
Joined: 11/11/2011
MGoPoints: 764

I didn't realize you were the OP. Please neg me to death.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:20 AM | No worries.  (Score:2)
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725

No worries. 

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:54 AM | I just moved to Okemos from (Score:3 Normal)
dothepose
dothepose's picture
Joined: 12/30/2008
MGoPoints: 4261

I just moved to Okemos from Ann Arbor...I would love to take over the area as well.

You know, Dude, I myself dabbled in pacifism once. Not in 'Nam of course.

August 6th, 2012 at 12:19 PM | Okemos (Score:1)
mach42006
Joined: 10/06/2009
MGoPoints: 17

I'm also in Okemos, at least for another year.  Surely there must be a decent number of us in the Lansing area.  

August 7th, 2012 at 3:20 PM | The problem is you need to (Score:2)
wolverinestuckinEL
Joined: 09/21/2010
MGoPoints: 183

The problem is you need to have a large group and find a place willing to give you the space and piss off the Sparty fans around you.  I have wanted to put this together for a while, I know there are enough people in the area, but most watch the games at home because it is such a miserable experience watching them at any good sports bar in town.  I might know a bar in the area that would do this, if enough people were interested.

August 6th, 2012 at 10:54 AM | You could always make (Score:2)
KevbosLastingLessons
KevbosLastingLessons's picture
Joined: 08/23/2010
MGoPoints: 2600

You could always make Facebook or LinkedIn groups, or something.

Final Four Thoughts!

August 6th, 2012 at 10:55 AM | So we are starting a (Score:5 Normal)
Brown Bear
Brown Bear's picture
Joined: 01/10/2011
MGoPoints: 2649

So we are starting a motorcycle club? I'm down with that.

I poop excellence
August 6th, 2012 at 10:57 AM | Motorcycles you say? (Score:3 Normal)
CRex
CRex's picture
Joined: 09/28/2009
MGoPoints: 8743

Dibs on being a 1%er.  

August 6th, 2012 at 11:41 AM | Hmmmmm.... (Score:5 Normal)
clarkiefromcanada
clarkiefromcanada's picture
Joined: 11/21/2008
MGoPoints: 13009

Sons of Brian.

If the haters don't hate you then you're doing something wrong. - David Cone

August 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM | The Alumni Association Is Way Ahead Of You (Score:5 Normal)
CRex
CRex's picture
Joined: 09/28/2009
MGoPoints: 8743

http://alumni.umich.edu/get-active/clubs-and-affiliates/local-clubs

They're surprising diverse and everywhere.  I was even to find a local in a midsized Chinese city to hang with for a game.  Even if you aren't an alum, you're typically welcome at the Michigan friendly bars where people meet to watch games.  Having us set up a parallel community seems like an odd balkanization.  Although maybe we need a secret handshake or something to mark we're from MGoBlog.  

Otherwise just do a Google Doc al la our ticket exchange program, only one for local meetups.  Alpha by state and then sublists of cities.  

August 6th, 2012 at 11:04 AM | I agree that a mirroring (Score:2)
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725

I agree that a mirroring effort would be kind of dumb, however, the alumni list and association does not have any listings for my city, and I am sure they may not for many other mid-sized cities. I'd like to get something going here...where I live.

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:18 AM | I wish you the best, but if (Score:3 Normal)
CRex
CRex's picture
Joined: 09/28/2009
MGoPoints: 8743

I wish you the best, but if our massive alumni association can't get you an active group in your city, I'm not sure if MGoBlog which contains only a subset of diehard Michigan fans can do it.  

I'd email the alumni group at the nearest city to you and ask.  It could be they're a more of a regional force and they can pass you on to a local guy.  Ex: PA has a Philly Regional Club and for the big events everyone on the east side drives to Philly, but there are local gatherings at bars in Lancaster, Harrisburg, etc.  

August 6th, 2012 at 11:22 AM | Thanks, man. (Score:2)
MGoPietrowski
MGoPietrowski's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 725

Thanks, man.

fomerly known as "hailtothe"

hailing from Evansville, IN...

To hell with Notre Dame.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:29 PM | spirit groups... (Score:1)
goblue_jb
goblue_jb's picture
Joined: 05/27/2011
MGoPoints: 142

FWIW,  the alumni association has what they call 'spirit groups' for areas without large enough populations to support a full club structure - you might want to reach out to them... not sure the process necessary to get it going, but the advantage for doing it is you get the support/resources of AAUM.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:13 AM | GR is a huge area, yes...but (Score:2)
icefins26
icefins26's picture
Joined: 02/01/2009
MGoPoints: 10528

GR is a huge area, yes...but I'd be more than willing to set up a MGoGrandRapids location.

August 6th, 2012 at 3:22 PM | Gr (Score:2)
mgolegend
mgolegend's picture
Joined: 07/09/2012
MGoPoints: 26

I'm on board if we can put something together in grand rapids

August 6th, 2012 at 4:07 PM | I'm in for GR. I bet we could (Score:1)
MgoBadFish
MgoBadFish's picture
Joined: 01/30/2012
MGoPoints: 149

I'm in for GR. I bet we could get a big enough group that a bar could help us out. Making sure we have audio would be key but with a good size group that shows up every Saturday, maybe we could get some deals.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:24 AM | I would prefer to hang out with the MGoCrowd (Score:5 Normal)
UMich87
UMich87's picture
Joined: 09/07/2009
MGoPoints: 3792

I find a large portion of the alumni association to be poorly informed on football, and I blame it on MLive, the DetNews, Freep and Bleacher Reports.  You can wear yourself out and grit the enamel right offf of your teeth in a conversation with some of these people.  I'll still be at the kick-off dinner, though.  I just won't talk to anyone.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:33 AM | Nail meet hammer. Boy did you (Score:2 Normal)
mGrowOld
mGrowOld's picture
Joined: 10/04/2010
MGoPoints: 13180

Nail meet hammer.

Boy did you ever express that correctly.  Living here in the Cleveland area I've gone to few functions (none lately) but the general understanding of the game seemingly consisted of "Woo...we scored....woo!" and "Do you like RichRod?  I think he might suck.  Would you like some more wine?"

It reminded of the scene in "The Big Chill" where the Michigan game was on........

 

 

August 6th, 2012 at 12:02 PM | Especially... (Score:2 Normal)
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 10896

after being an MGoAddict for a decent amount of time, I feel like this even if I'm talking to an Ohio or ND fan or something (about their own team). There are a ton of people here more versed in ND's depth chart and off-field issues than a lot of season ticket holders in South Bend. Here, it's normal and accepted behavior, in the outside world, apparently it's "obsessive" or some stupid term like that.

Go Blue!

August 6th, 2012 at 12:12 PM | I got the same feel.... (Score:1)
HELLE
HELLE's picture
Joined: 07/26/2011
MGoPoints: 649

at the one and only Alumni Association tailgate I ever attended. It's not my thing. I would rather haul a grill and a case a beer to every away game, than sit through other one of those.

Go Blue!

August 6th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | I am thinking (Score:3 Normal)
maizenbluenc
maizenbluenc's picture
Joined: 07/21/2009
MGoPoints: 2678

some of the Alumni association crowd are completly non-informed - they don't even read MLive, et al. There were these olden days when if you lived somewhere other than Michigan, you were only going to get a snapshot in an issue or two of SI.

Thank God I live in the information age ... and thank Brian for creating MGoBlog

August 6th, 2012 at 12:50 PM | "Thank God . . . and thank Brian" (Score:2)
InterM
InterM's picture
Joined: 01/16/2009
MGoPoints: 1103

Wait . . . you're saying there's a difference?

August 6th, 2012 at 11:27 AM | For Those in Metro-Detroit: (Score:4 Normal)
BOX House
BOX House's picture
Joined: 12/14/2008
MGoPoints: 673

I know we have the map of Michigan-friendly bars, but it kind of neglects the metro-detroit area. Anyone know of any good bars outside of Ann Arbor for Michigan games? Obviously all bars in the area will be showing the game, but I'm wondering if there is a Duffys-type Michigan bar around. 

Life and Loss with Michigan Basketball

August 6th, 2012 at 11:35 AM | I'm on the North Shore, but (Score:2)
Wenham Wolverine
Joined: 08/10/2010
MGoPoints: 1221

I'm on the North Shore, but I'd be down for a more general Boston MGoClub.

August 6th, 2012 at 11:43 AM | Intriguing Idea (Score:2)
LSAClassOf2000
LSAClassOf2000's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 8761

I wouldn't mind an MGoGroup which, in my case, roughly mirrors the boundaries of the University Of Michigan Club Of Downriver (defined as south of I-94 and north of the Monroe county line, between the Washtenaw county line and the Detroit River). As others have mentioned, it ends up being difficult to hold a conversation about really any of the varsity sports at the alumni functions because of where a majority of people get their information, so watching games with them can sometimes be a rough experience if you actually want to talk about the plays and the players. I would actually be willing to help facilitate this for, say, western and southern Wayne county.

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3

August 6th, 2012 at 11:58 AM | count me in. I'd imagine (Score:2)
BOX House
BOX House's picture
Joined: 12/14/2008
MGoPoints: 673

count me in. I'd imagine there's a lot of MGoBloggers in this area.

Life and Loss with Michigan Basketball

August 6th, 2012 at 11:46 AM | I'm in for Downriver (Score:1)
victorsvaliant01
victorsvaliant01's picture
Joined: 02/01/2009
MGoPoints: 60

I live in Wyandotte and am all about this for the Downriver area!

"Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!"

August 6th, 2012 at 11:59 AM | I find this very strange (Score:1)
Jon06
Jon06's picture
Joined: 09/19/2009
MGoPoints: 2099

You should start a local alumni club, since they have all kinds of infrastructure ready to go, and then host MGoEvents through it. People who are unhappy with their local alumni clubs should just ask the people in charge to host an MGoEvent. I think Brian said he was giving talks at a couple of alumni clubs, so you could try to get them to bring him in to get people interested in the blog, too. This seems like a more feasible longterm strategy than founding competing groups.

RIP my avatar, June 14, 1998 - October 26, 2012.

August 6th, 2012 at 12:17 PM | Oops (Score:1)
mach42006
Joined: 10/06/2009
MGoPoints: 17

Sorry, I was trying to post a reply to someone else.  

August 6th, 2012 at 12:34 PM | Anyone else? (Score:2)
airmanwolverine
airmanwolverine's picture
Joined: 01/11/2011
MGoPoints: 321

MGoAbilene TX?

www.beltway.org

 

August 8th, 2012 at 7:48 AM | Any Mgobloggers in Bburg/VT? (Score:2)
Bombadil
Bombadil's picture
Joined: 01/22/2011
MGoPoints: 693

Any Mgobloggers in Bburg/VT? There's no alumni group here that I know of.

August 6th, 2012 at 2:15 PM | El Paso (Score:2)
exmtroj
exmtroj's picture
Joined: 10/24/2008
MGoPoints: 2231

I can head up an El Paso area group, as long as people don't mind dealing with occasionally frightening outbursts of profanity.

 

 

"All I've had today is, like, six gummy bears and some scotch"

August 6th, 2012 at 2:22 PM | My kid is only 18 months but (Score:2)
RowoneEndzone
RowoneEndzone's picture
Joined: 09/27/2008
MGoPoints: 3123

My kid is only 18 months but I taught him "earmuffs" last fall. 

"Wasn't that Michigan drive just great.  That's like Patton riding into Berlin." ~Bob Ufer

August 6th, 2012 at 3:12 PM | Looking for input (Score:1 Normal)
smithjt
smithjt's picture
Joined: 08/06/2012
MGoPoints: 1

Hey guys,

After lurking on the board for a while, I finally decided to create an account and post.

I'm a student at U-M in Ann Arbor and could use your guys' input on a project I'm working on with a few other students. We're building a platform that would enable sports fans, their friends and others to connect online to watch games and shoot the sh*t together. It'll be accessible on computer, tablet and smartphone. Our goal is to create the kind of fun, familiar environment you might normally find at a neighborhood sports bar or tailgate.

We're largely building this platform for passionate, committed fans who, like many of you, may be scattered across the country or "out of market" and who would enjoy watching and discussing their favorite teams with others--virtually.

Anyway, I'm sure you guys have tons of ideas about what might work/not work about this. We're going to be focusing much of our attention this fall on serving Michigan football fans.

I don't want to hijack this thread, so if you could contact me offline, that'd be great.

jtsmit@umich.edu or 314.827.4126

Thanks in advance!

Josh

@smithjt @fanstomp

August 6th, 2012 at 3:59 PM | If you're for real, and have any prayer of making this real (Score:4 Normal)
M-Wolverine
M-Wolverine's picture
Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 38883

You should contact Brian, as he's looking for a way to do the livechat on here with the CiL.  Even if you can't get it up and running by this season, he may not want to do the twitter thing or whatever they choose permanently, and would probably love their own set up. If you think you can really do it, you might get some backing from the blog.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.