Aynne Malmborg is Meetup's Organizer of the Week for September 24 - 30, 2007

Greetings! Normally I start these interviews with my own brand of traveling metaphors...and this week is no exception, except to say that perhaps my musings are a bit more relevent!

That being said, lets fly off into the clear blue yonder with an organizer who incorporates her life-long passion three-fold in her life. Her work, her leisure and now a Meetup network of great people who love to travel as much as she does.

Her story is great...and I'm thrilled to introduce you to the Meetup Organizer of the Week for September 24 - 30, 2007, Aynne Malmborg and The Naperville/Weaton Travel Meetup

Take it away, Aynne!

1. Tell us a bit about your travel adventures, favorite location, etc.

   
   

   I love Italy, especially the west coast of northern Italy to an area called Cinque Terre. I love the people, the scenery and of course the food! I am going back to Italy on Oct. 3rd with five "Meetup" members! We're doing a 10 night tour of Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi, Lucca, Orvieto, Verona, Tuscany, etc...We can't wait!

   
   

   I've been very fortunate to have parents that love to travel, so I've traveled my whole life. I've been all over Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, China, Russia, U.S. (Alaska & Hawaii) and gone on many cruises. I just can't get enough. I am a hands-on learner, so traveling has really taught me things that I could never have learned any other way. Its exhilerating to be in new places with new cultures.

   
   

2. Did you use any alternative methods of promoting your group other than the Meetup site and your television program "Travel Talk" ?

   
   

   I begin each Meetup with a trivia contest and I award prizes for the winners. I hope they bring the quiz home and share it with friends to spark interest in our group. I've also emailed my extensive list of friends and acquaintances and posted on Craig's List. I feel that "word of mouth" is the best so I try to mention my Meetup when conversations steer toward social gatherings or travel.

   
   

3. How did you come across Meetup.com?

   
   

   I was looking to join a group to network about travel--but I couldn't find any that met my needs. I did a google search and found you. When I saw that I could start my own, I decided to try it.

   
   

4. It must be such a treat for your members to have the opportunity to travel with you! Is there a method to choosing who is the lucky participant?

   
   

   My method is this...If you have a pulse and the desire to go, you are invited! Everyone is welcome to join me!

   
   

5. If you had to choose one particular Meetup related experience as most memorable, what would it be?

   
   

   The night I lost my car keys...On our third Meetup night it was pouring rain but we still had a good turnout. My well planned discussion of "weekend getaways" turned into a discussions of "the many toilets of Europe". After much laughter and a great night, the Meetup ended and most of the people went home. After I packed up all my signs & name tags etc., I couldn't find my car keys. I went to my car in the pouring rain, my umbrella turned inside out and laden down with all my Meetup supplies, to see if I'd left them in the ignition. They weren't there. As I stood in the pouring rain looking like a drowned rat, one of the members who I'd never met before in my life, drove by and offered to take me home to get my extra set. She (Suzie) patiently drove to my house, waited for me to get my keys, and then took me back to the restaurant. The next day, one of the members discovered she had two sets of keys and had picked up my car keys by mistake. I got them back the next day...But what a night and what a great group of people I have!

   
   

6. In what ways would you say your life has changed or been enhanced organizing this Meetup?

   
   

   I've met some very amazing and interesting people and I've gained lots of great travel info. I think after this trip to Italy, I will have some more lifelong buds to travel with!

   
   

7. Lastly, do you have any special plans on the horizon for the group?

   
   

   We are currently considering a European river cruise next year, either through French Wine Country or from Budapest to Prague...Also, I have been inviting guest speakers from various cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators to give us the "inside" scoop! Our group has been steadily growing and hopefully we will be big enough to qualify for some significant group travel discounts! For those that can't travel right now, the group allows them to enjoy traveling through someone else's eyes via the many stories shared at each Meetup.

Be sure to share your congrats with Aynne in the Organizer's Forum.