Who is Ed Bartlett? Marine. Football fan. Music lover and social media advocate. He carves pumpkins with a chainsaw and is a guy who described being laid off as “perfect timing.” If you live along the Connecticut shoreline you may know his name because in just over one year, Bartlett has made it his job to pull together the people, artists, bands, and businesses of Connecticut.

Laid off from Linquist Builders Supply in March 2009, Bartlett wasn’t upset about it. His career had been successful and made him a good living, but it wasn’t until he started a Facebook page called Shoreline Out and About that he found his mission.

The little social media group began with only 27 invites and a year later, Bartlett had a hundred times that many fans. His website, by the same name, went live in September 2009 and that was right about the time I hooked up with him in what was described to me as an attempt to recreate community along the shoreline. So popular has his tag line become, “Putting the social back in social networking”, that he has expanded his website and his reach under the new name of Connecticut Out and About.

It began because Bartlett knew where all the great bands and musicians played. Social media gave him the platform to share his knowledge and support the local music scene. “When I started I was absolutely computer illiterate,” says Bartlett with a big grin. “I was the guy who had a secretary and assistants to handle that kind of stuff. I had to ask my kids what ‘cut and paste’ was.”

Despite the learning curve, Bartlett learned it all. His focus however remained on rebuilding community. “Why rebuilding?” I asked. “Our neighborhoods are not connected the way they used to be. Community events are not as well attended as they used to be. It’s not like in the past when we all got together for neighborhood barbecues. When was the last time you did something like that? We are going in 37 different directions at any given time and I felt there was a need to encourage fun and socialize like back in the old days. No one knew how to do that anymore,” answered Bartlett.

True enough. As we continue to pursue a Mad Max world, many of us have forgotten that the Internet is merely a tool. We sit in front of our computers for work, school and for personal exploration but we rarely venture out to meet our three dimensional friends. Perhaps we are too stressed. Perhaps too scared, too broke, too tired. But Bartlett’s mission is to not only encourage real people to have real fun but also has the added intent of strengthening a sagging economy. As we go out to meet and greet and spend some dollars supporting local business, we add not only enjoyment to our lives but also monetarily assist business and organizations that are integral to community living.

“If everyone is living on the internet, I figured why not use the Internet to get people off their computers and out into the world. Get out and enjoy life.” Bartlett believes computerized living is becoming a lifestyle. “Having a change in environment is good for you. So let’s use the Internet to connect people in real life,” he says.

Most weekends, Bartlett’s website lists over 100 things to do in Connecticut. He tweets and posts to Facebook about these events and can be seen on WTNH Saturday mornings at 7:38 am. Along with other advocates such as WTNH News Anchor/Report, Ann Nyberg, Bartlett is working to establish Connecticut as a destination state. And why not? Artists, designers, creative thinkers, industry leaders are all plentiful here. The towns and villages are spectacular. As you take a drive through the state, Bartlett encourages you to get off the main highways and see some sights.

Supporting such organizations as The Katharine Hepburn Culture Arts Center, The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, The American Red Cross and The Cancer Society, Bartlett usually puts in 12-14 hours a day. The demographic for Connecticut Out and About is varied and diversified. He has followers who are young, old, rich, poor, employed, unemployed. “The website is set up for diversity. The Internet is an amazing thing because as long as you have an Internet connection you can do or find anything. We want to be the ultimate guide to all things CT.” And indeed he is well on his way.