Breakdown for US - Northeast Diabetes group

Would you guys mind sharing your thoughts about how we could best break down the US- Northeast Diabetes group?

Currently the group serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

How could we group states so that we have tighter groups? Or do you guys even feel that is necessary?

The thought is: with smaller groups, we can start working towards having more local meetups and use the Group page as a web-based hub for them.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Shapiro on December 11, 2008 at 1:22pm

Well, there is the tri-state area, which is NY/NJ/CT. PA and South Jersey could be together. Then you could have an Upper New England group with the remaining states. Or, MA/RI/NH could be together. I'm not sure where that leaves VT and ME, though...

Permalink Reply by Sarah Shapiro on December 11, 2008 at 1:28pm

Yeah, everyone drives past us but never stays very long, haha.

I think because New England states are so much smaller than the rest of the country, it's easier for us to get around for meetups. I don't know about Western PA, though. They may need a separate group.

Permalink Reply by Jackie on December 11, 2008 at 1:34pm

I was thinking New England and Mid Atlantic and Upstate NY and CT people can choice who they feel closer to.
As someone from Western MA (but I live in Boston), which is more "CT minded" and closer to many places in CT than in MA, I think that state borders do not always reflect attitude.

Permalink Reply by ErinArg on December 11, 2008 at 1:35pm

I'm not sure about the more northern states, but New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are known as the tri-state area and are a good breakout. Just a thought, but I do know of other "groups" / companies that group these 3 states together.

I'm interested in other people's thoughts too!
Erin

Permalink Reply by ErinArg on December 11, 2008 at 1:37pm

Guess I should have read peoples replies before I did my own repetitive one.... LOL... I responded straight from the email. Yes, Sarah, most people do drive straight through CT. Me, I've been here for 39 years!

Permalink Reply by Sarah Shapiro on December 11, 2008 at 1:45pm

Haha! I see you live in Stamford - I'm from Trumbull. I'll be in your neck of the woods for happy hour tomorrow. :)

Permalink Reply by ErinArg on December 11, 2008 at 1:50pm

So, where are we meeting? I'd love a beer : )

Seriously, if we're that close, we should have a TuD meeting... post it here on the NE site?

Permalink Reply by Sarah Shapiro on December 11, 2008 at 1:52pm

I think that's a fun idea. There must be other people from the area. Hopefully more people will contribute to this forum topic!

Permalink Reply by ErinArg on December 11, 2008 at 1:56pm

So, for those willing and able, I'm proposing a meeting in the CT area for ... January? I believe we all have a lot on our plates this month, but I think it would be fun to gather face-to-face. Lunch? Dinner? We can sit and compare carb-counting? Open to suggestions and willing to take the role of coordinator.

Permalink Reply by tmana on December 11, 2008 at 2:03pm

Right now, NY, NJ, and PA are both in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic groups. I think one issue we have are overlaps. In central NJ, I'm in spitting (though not necessarily public-transit) distance of NYC and lower NY, and not overly far from Philadelphia or from Northeastern PA. I'm the oddball in this area in that I don't have a car (or a license to drive one). Many folk living in NYC do not own cars, and there's a further compartmentalization mentality based on borough (or area of Manhattan).

In terms of meetups and such, I think we need to start with arranging "supermeetups" -- kind of like Bernard's summer picnic, but in commutable locations and with a more business orientation...

Boston area should be reasonable for car owners from as far south as NYC and as far East as the NH/ME border.
NYC is (of course) a commuter hub.
Philadelphia is also a hub, but better for the Mid-Atlantic group.

If we can aim for one supermeetup a month, not necessarily in the same hub each time, we should be able to start figuring out how and where to target monthly meetups for TuD members, and how and where to target community outreach.

Once we get monthly regional meetings and/or monthly local meetings under weigh, the supermeetups can be made less frequent, and can have an orientation that is more social and less business.

Permalink Reply by Cindi on December 11, 2008 at 2:15pm

Tri-State works for me. I'm in the very northernmost part of NJ. I would be interested in face-to-face meetings of othger type-1's in the area. mAm still deciding on which pump/cgm to go with and would really like someone to decide for me!!!
After Feb. would work for me...not too fond of driving far in bad weather!

Cindi

Permalink Reply by Susan Van Abs on December 11, 2008 at 2:26pm

Manny

Fist of all - love your profile picture!

I agree with many of the posters in this discussion. New England could stay together - Mid-Atlantic States and NY could be together.

Personally - I would drive anywhere.