All I wanted was an easy way for users at my two websites (The Den and Beltboard) to contact me by text message if there was a problem with one the sites, to share scores, and breaking news when I didn't have a chance to fire up Wordpress and cover it. So far its been a customer service bust and so many mobile sources are out there now that I rarely bother with scores. 

I piddled with Twitter but it wasn't until several local media people started using it that I really became interested. 

The now rarely seen @LT started talking about a tweetup and I was very curious about it all. Adding to my interest was the fact that @cherylferg was involved in a long job search that wasn't going well and was bemoaning a lack of tech skills. I figured she could network and pick up some skills on this service that was getting a lot of media hype but no one had quite figured out how to apply to the world. 

Once I found out that @dougkrile was going to be there I really wanted to go. He had been a big force in dragging @KARK4News into the internet world. The sports board there was a huge reason why my sites exist today. When channel 4 got sick of moderating the sports discussion boards I started an ASU discussion board to provide a home for the displaced ASU fans. Plus you just have to enjoy the company of someone who has interests, knowledge, and curiosity about fields outside their designated field of work. 

WE HAD TO GO!

The trip was well worth it. 

I've found great places to go in Little Rock that I was barely aware of before. I've learned a lot of new thing. I've had the opportunity to force my unsolicited advice on unsuspecting people about a wide range of subjects. 

I've met people like @tsudo, @bryanjones, @pstrack, and @cottonr who sadly for their wives share a similar sense of humor, a geek outlook of wanting to explore new stuff, figure out new uses for things, and refuse to constrain their professional curiosity to just their job description. The users of my sites have a better experience because of tips I've picked from people I've met at #LRTweetUp and thanks to @Pleth there have been fewer problems since they became my web hosting company.

LRTweetUp is more than a social group or business networking program. The participants care about Central Arkansas and making it a better place. Helping local non-profits has been a big part all along. Choosing that path has been essential to the character of the organization. It reminds us to put others before self and that shapes the tone of our community.

We share a lot with each other, sometimes too much, but we know a lot of things about each other that our regular circles of friends and family don't know about each other.

There is trust and genuine concern for each other.

In the early morning hours when I had to call an ambulance because @cherylferg was in such pain that she could barely speak or respond I didn't want to call anyone because I didn't know how serious things were. I tweeted what was going on after they loaded her in the ambulance. It would be a few more hours before I started calling the usual suspects. Our TweetUp family was there through the frustration of days filled with pain and tests and pain and more tests. Without you guys to vent to I'd probably have been the most hated man at Baptist Springhill.

I'm not alone in turning to the group in time of crisis. Quite a few of us have shared some of our worst days with each other and every time, the community has been there to share the pain. There have also been a lot of shared celebrations as well.

I'm thankful for the LR tweeps and maybe someday I'll give back as much to the group as I've received.