Buffalo is my hometown. I grew up here born and bread. Buffalo has never exactly been known as a social media hub like Boston or Seattle. However, in the past year or so I have been able to find quite a few like minded people in the Buffalo and Niagara region. I have co-founded a Buffalo Tweet-up group that meets once every other month in the summer and once a month in the winter. Also, to add to the social media pick me up in the area I have also co-founded an event in the beautiful Niagara on the Lake region called the “Niagara on the Lake Podcasting and Social Media Meet-up” We often cross borders for our geek meet-up’s and social events. My Partner in the NOL meet-up is John Meadows from Toronto, and Connie Crosby attended our last Buffalo Tweet-up! There are quite a few social media enthusiasts in the area and the number seems to grow everyday.

So, now that I have provided some context I am going on a bit of a personal mission to have Jeff Pulver to town. Jeff is the co-founder of Vonage, a huge social media buff, a serial entrepreneur, a start-up junkie, and an all around communications and new media guy! Jeff has recently been posting messages on twitter and facebook that he is compiling his social media breakfast schedule for next year and I would like to see him here in Buffalo, home of the Bills, the Sabers and the Chicken Wing!

If you have never been to a Pulver breakfast like myself I suggest you check out some of the YouTube Video’s and blog posts about these Pulver sponsored events in which Jeff brings his truly unique brand of online networking to the offline face-to-face world.

YouTube:

Breakfast in washington D.C.
Breakfast in Tel Aviv
Breakfast in Miami Beach

Blog Posts/Articles

From Jeff himself, man this looks fun! Networking on Steroids!

With Bryan Person, founder of the Social Media Breakfast Series.

Jeff Pulver talking about how a bit of “Social Awkwardness” engaging Harvey Weinstein of Mirimax Films fame helped him create the Pulver Breakfasts and networking events. This is interesting because Harvey Weinstein actually started his career here in Buffalo NY. He used to run a concert and theater promotions company called Harvey & Corky Events. Harvey Weinstein is also a graduate of the University at Buffalo.

So how does this relate or have anything to do with my art? I have been using web 2.0 interactive tools for about a year now. I have spoken to arts organizations and I have spoken at Podcamps on the subject. For me, bringing Jeff Pulver to town would not only help with the visibility of our city, but also prove that the technology is global and boundless. You don’t need to live in the middle of silicon valley to take advantage of the new media tools or social networking. All you need to do is get out there, help others, be selfless, create community, and take pride in what you do.

If this blog post helps in any small way to get Mr. Pulver to come to Buffalo I will be forever grateful, for it would just be another small step in the social media growth of this great reemerging city. So please if you would also like to see a Pulver event here in Buffalo, please leave a comment and let him know that we would love to host him!

Mr. Pulver, I will personally pick you up from the airport myself.

Keith Burtis
“The New Media Woodturner”

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