The social-networking Web site Twitter is getting a lot of discussion among fund raisers gathered in New Orleans this week for the Association of Fundraising Professionals annual conference.

Many businesses in the exhibit area are inviting participants to join their Twitter groups — and the site has generated more than passing mention at several conference sessions.

Twitter is being discussed as a way to connect with younger donors, meet other fund raisers, and get ideas for improving their fund-raising efforts.

To help demystify the Twitter world, The Chronicle hosted its first “Tweetup” — a cocktail reception for fund raisers who follow its Twitter feed.

The event attracted local fund raisers as well as people from California, Indiana, Nebraska, New York, and elsewhere— and it brought together colleagues who had previously met only online.

To learn more about Twitter, read The Chronicle’s recent article with tips on how to use it for fund raising.