Editors note: Organizing a meetup is a great way to get involved and support your community.  Below, a team of Federal employees share how they set up their first meetup.

We are a team of six Federal employees enrolled in a 9-month long Executive Leadership Program (ELP). We come from different agencies, Department of Education, US Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of Defense – Navy.  As part of ELP, we were tasked to come up with a team project that was designed around an issue or policy matter facing an agency, non-profit organization, or other entity.

One of our team members decided to search potential community service projects, an area that is near and dear to her heart, and started by looking at organizations she could connect with through her regular community service work.  On the Boys and Girls Club of America website, she stumbled across a link to their Healthy Habits program, which is affiliated with the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign.  The more she read about Let's Move!, the more she realized it would be a great way for the ELP team to get involved with a national program at a local level, and make a difference in our community at the same time.

Our team decided to promote and participate in the Let's Move! campaign by organizing events through a Let's Move! Meetup and we encouraged others to do the same. One of our members has already hosted a successful event in Salt Lake City and our second Let’s Move! Meetup event will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2010 in the DC Area.

For our September 26 event, we’re partnering with Horton's Kids, an organization recognized for educating and empowering the children of Washington, D.C.'s Ward 8.  Horton's Kids help out in all aspects of these children's lives: mentoring, tutoring, enrichment, advocacy, and family support. In a neighborhood considered a “HotSpot” by the Metropolitan Police Department, many of these children do not have easy access to safe play spaces outside.

Together with the wonderful Horton’s Kids Staff, we look forward to the opportunity to have fun by engaging in physical activities in a safe environment.  This is at the spirit of our team project, which is to promote physical fitness amongst our youth.

Learn more about volunteering with Horton’s Kids and organize or attend a Let’s Move! Meetup in your community.