Hello everyone! I am still new here, so I am not sure if this is better here as a Gratitude post or better as a #USAMeetup 2026 follow up post.
I just hit LG level 6 this am and wanted to give a shout out to the people who attended the first USA meetup for inspiring me. I was @DustinBerg’s +1 for the meetup and was not planning to attend because I was not a LG and had no idea what this event/group was about. I thought it would be boring (*GASP* ). I WAS SO WRONG! Not only was it the most fun, EVER, but I’m finding that I finally have a purpose for my cell phone photos and thoughts. I am enjoying reviewing, suggesting edits, uploading photos, etc on maps. I am just learning this forum and starting to explore the topics and posts, but I already know that if the rest of you are even a fraction as awesome as the LG’s I met at the #USAmeetup 2026, this forum is going to be AMAZING! I can’t wait to connect, learn from you all, and share our adventures!
Jessica,
I am so glad that you came to the Meetup. And I’m especially happy that it has inspired a new interest for you in being a Google local guide. Our meetup in Florida was just fabulous. And everyone as you mentioned was very friendly and welcoming which made it a terrific event. Gratitude is definitely what I’m feeling!
Thank you so much @JessicaBerg for joining us. From the moment we met at the Welcome Cookout, I knew you were going to be fun to hangout with! You brought so much enthusiasm in to doing the scavenger hunt. It was cool to see you and your husband hunt down those historical markers and how happy you all were doing it! You may have found the joy in this hobby that keeps up mappers going! But beware, this is only the beginning and the rest gets even more addictive!
Jessica, my dear friend, congratulations on leveling up to Level 6! That’s awesome!
It was such a pleasure meeting you at #USAMeetup2026. You are an incredible person with a beautiful soul, and your enthusiasm lifted all of us throughout the event. I was amazed at how effortlessly you connected with everyone and became part of the Local Guides family.
Even though you attended as a +1, none of us saw you that way—we considered you a Local Guide from day one. At our next meetup, you should register as a Local Guide, not just a +1!
I’m already looking forward to seeing you again. And that Spirit Award you earned? It was absolutely well deserved.
As the others have said, I’m so so so happy to have had the opportunity to meet you and @DustinBerg (I got my copy of the book the other night!). Thank you so much for coming to hang out. This post and your enthusiasm for Maps lend validity to the event and to what the USA Meet Up was supposed to stand for. We were open to everyone who wanted to share in our excitement for being Local Guides. Welcome to the club, @JessicaBerg!
You make me want to come on here lol I rarely have time for social media I will admit that i’m pretty horrible about it and I will say that I am so happy that I met you and all of the others!!! Can’t wait to see you again soon at the next meet up 2027 where ever that may be.
@rednewt74 , I’m sorry for the delayed response. It was such a great time, and it could not have happened without you and your hard work! Thank you so much for dedicating your time and talent to this event.
Jessica
@Twyla Awww… You did FANTASTIC inspiring us all to try and keep up with your scavenger hunting and videography! You are a treasure, so kind, I wish I had had more time to talk to you. Thank you for your hard work and encouragement.
Enjoy the journey,
Jessica
@SoniaK Thank you for saying this, and nobody every treated me like a +1, that’s for sure! TBH, aside from @Denise_Barlock who was the clear winner of the spirit award, I would have given it to you. You quietly made sure everyone, everywhere, was always engaged, working in the background to make the whole event a success. Thank you for everything you did. I know you worked harder than you let on.
Can’t wait to see you again!
@JustJake thank you and thank you for ordering his book! I hope you enjoy it! You should write your own book. I am certain you have more than just that hotel story, but that hotel story alone is worth at least a post of its own! Thank you for all of your work on this event. You guys got the perfect team together!
Jessica
@BrittanyShae YAY! I am soooooo sorry it took me so long to reply to you. I don’t want to be horrible about it either. The obvious solution is that we need to encourage one another to both do better! tag me & I’ll tag you, I got your back! You are a delight! I can’t believe how great you did keeping up with two kids in tow. I can’t wait to see you whenever that might be, too. Hopefully no longer than 2027 meet up, though!
Keep bringing that beautiful smile with you!
Jessica
@jayasimha78 Thank you! And thank you for bringing your beautiful wife, Anju! She is fabulous, I love her so much! Thank you for all of your hard work and participation in the event. I look forward to reading more of your posts on here and meeting up with you two again in the future!
Jessica
@Denise_Barlock I love love love you, too! You’re a superstar! Seriously, while it took the whole team and every one of you deserves oodles of thanks, you stood out for your bright, shiny, happy, uplifting, leadership! I can’t imagine what it was like for you to shepherd all of us all over Key West , but you did it with a smile (and pizzazz ) and never lost any of us! You’re a blessing and I am thankful for everything you did and do for the group! I sincerely hope you decide to help with 2027.
Love you!
Jessica
). I WAS SO WRONG! Not only was it the most fun, EVER, but I’m finding that I finally have a purpose for my cell phone photos and thoughts. I am enjoying reviewing, suggesting edits, uploading photos, etc on maps. I am just learning this forum and starting to explore the topics and posts, but I already know that if the rest of you are even a fraction as awesome as the LG’s I met at the #USAmeetup 2026, this forum is going to be AMAZING! I can’t wait to connect, learn from you all, and share our adventures!
I will admit that i’m pretty horrible about it and I will say that I am so happy that I met you and all of the others!!! 
You did FANTASTIC inspiring us all to try and keep up with your scavenger hunting and videography! You are a treasure, so kind, I wish I had had more time to talk to you. Thank you for your hard work and encouragement.
Thank you for everything you did. I know you worked harder than you let on.
Thank you for all of your work on this event. You guys got the perfect team together! 
I don’t want to be horrible about it either. The obvious solution is that we need to encourage one another to both do better! tag me & I’ll tag you, I got your back! 
You are a delight! I can’t believe how great you did keeping up with two kids in tow. I can’t wait to see you whenever that might be, too. Hopefully no longer than 2027 meet up, though! 
Seriously, while it took the whole team and every one of you deserves oodles of thanks, you stood out for your bright, shiny, happy, uplifting, leadership! I can’t imagine what it was like for you to shepherd all of us all over Key West 
) and never lost any of us! 