This is a guest post written by Anitra Pavka, an MBA graduate and IT generalist. Her background includes web usability, accessibility, information architecture, product development, IT project management, and generally making technology work “as well as possible.”

Hi, Omaha. My name’s Anitra. I’m new to town. I moved here from Portland, Oregon. Portland is where Beer and Blog started. What? You haven’t met Beer and Blog, yet? Well, let me introduce you two.

I started attending Portland Beer and Blog about a year and a half ago. It was the happenin’ place to be Friday after work. All you needed to attend was an interest in hanging out with other smart people who love technology. You didn’t need to have a blog or a traditionally geeky job (though it helped).

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Beer and Blog gave me the opportunity to chat with a wide variety of people, including: open source developers, web designers, information architects, photographers, social media butterflies, entrepreneurs, advertising execs, college students, project managers, engineers, stay-at-home moms, real estate agents, etc. Sometimes, folks would chat about blogging platforms or what we posted or read on blogs. Other times, folks would show off new gadgets or talk about work projects, pet projects, new ideas, or the latest internet memes. It was all about kicking back and sharing the tech information you’re passionate about. The beer was optional.

I think every town deserves a Beer and Blog. The model spread from Portland to 16 cities and two other countries. Omaha, you’re next! Omaha Beer and Blog will meet the first and third Thursdays of each month, starting May 20. Plan to meet at the Brazen Head Irish Pub (319 North 78th Street) from 4 to 6 p.m. (ish).

I’ll be there at the first Omaha Beer and Blog in a couple weeks. Come join us, would you?

RSVP and sign up for reminders on our Meetup group, formerly Omaha Blog Co.: meetup.com/omaha-beer-and-blog.

Anitra can be reached via her woefully long-lived Web accessibility blog: anitrapavka.com or Twitter: @apavka (if you ask nicely).