My Twitter Story by @melissaar

Over the year, I have met other people and gone to other tweetups. It’s a friendly and entertaining group who are there for you when you are up and are praying for you when you are down. They managed to save the dean of UALR Law School’s life. (well sorta) I’ve had the opportunity to meet people that I wouldn’t have met under any other circumstances and to share ideas with people whom I probably wouldn’t have had time if I had to do it one on one. It also reminds me that I am not alone and the world is bigger than the town I am in.

Read her full post at runmelissarun.wordpress.com

I have a #LRTweetup story, and I’ve never attended a Tweetup by @erniebufflo

I still can’t get over the fact that a group of people I’ve never “met” nominated me for an award, though I guess it’s a testament to my tendency to insert my loudmouthed self into the center of things, but more than that, a testament to this group’s welcoming attitude.  I can’t wait to meet each and every member of the #LRTweetup community.

Read her full post at erniebufflo.wordpress.com

How Twitter Saved My Life (kinda) by @jmdipippa

Twitter allowed  me to break out of the isolation my recuperation imposed. I don’t like to be cooped up and rarely sit still at work but moving was challenging and uncomfortable. Twitter gave me incentive to work on my recovery.  I tweeted the number of steps I had taken that day or my recovering appetite or my new Guitar Hero scores.  And the encouragement from my new twitter buddies kept me accountable to them and gave me even more incentive to take a few more steps the next day.  It kept me happy and helped me to become healthy.

Read his full post at ualr.edu/jmdipippa

Untitled by @plecroybrown

While only a little bit of information can be conveyed in 140 characters, a relationship with another person can be formed via multiple posts or direct messages over time. Forming relationships is the true power of Twitter and I feel that is where this platform will excel in the upcoming years. Like-minded people will gravitate  toward each other to form new partnerships or friendships and thus create new ideas, perpetuating the underlying creativity behind Twitter.

Read her full post at plecroybrown.wordpress.com

But What’s Your Real Name? by @laureneclark

I love to meet the real people with real lives and real names behind the nicknames we recognize from our minute-to-minute glances at our screens. We’ve all found ourselves in the middle of introductions referring to each other as @______. But nothing beats seeing each other IRL…and nurturing those virtually founded friendships. So don’t be surprised if, after the great things you and I may have shared on this Twitter-thingy, I smile and ask “But what’s your real name?” when we do finally meet. Because behind every good Twitter name…there’s a real person, #fine and #fabulous!

Read her full post at burstofquestioningwind.tumblr.com

These Are My People by @kerrijack

Last year, two friends I know professionally in town Natalie and Angel started joking around on Twitter that each were getting close to (I think it was) 400 followers. A bet was made that whoever got to 400 first got a drink from the other. My friend Stacey and I both perked up like Scooby Doo, “Drinks? Social? Fun?” Things took off from there. Let’s invite EVERYONE! So the call went out: We’re having a TweetUp! Anyone in Little Rock on Twitter, let’s meet up at Sticky Fingerz. We’ll be nerds. Won’t that be fun?!

Read her full post at damnyoulittlerock.wordpress.com

On Little Rock Tweetups by @mattbarnette

… I realize what kind of people are out there, and I, more than anyone (and this will seem strange coming from me, probably) am in love with the world. I am constantly amazed, dumbfounded, and learning about the world I live in and the people who inhabit it. Sure, when life on our planet is gone it will barely be a blip on the galaxy’s radar, but I am part of that larger community and it is beautiful and I am proud to have been a tiny speck of dust in it.

Read his full post at mattbarnette.com

Are You The Answer to My Mid-Life Crisis? by @pstrack

This is a community that has encouraged me to Take Time To Give. A community that has taught me that you won’t find a Gowalla at the Zoo, but you might find Monkey Boy there. A community that has shown me the power of 140 characters. A community that may despise presentations, but loves the Prezi. A community that has convinced me that Print Lives. A community that stays up all night, and is still able to  contribute incredibly during the day.  A community that not-so-gracefully informed us all that ice cream isn’t just a treat for kids!

Read his full post at pstrack.wordpress.com

I Didn’t Win an iPod. I Won a New Community by @alextcone

… it wasn’t until I went to an integrating media conference that I knew I would never turn back. @pstrack gave away several iPod Nanos. I didn’t win one, but after that day I won a new community. I met @amybhole, @cherylferg, @KatieMcManners, @RobMcBryde, @kerrijack and so many other exceptional personalities. #LRTweetup finally made sense. There would be no more holding back. My wife would permanently think me a dork, but I would forever be a card carrying member of the Little Rock twitter community: #LRTweetup

Read his full post at alextcone.tumblr.com