Katerina first brought this up to me way back in January. She (and many others, but she was first) offered to help coordinate things so that it was certain we would have the opportunity to have an ActiveRain party gathering. In typical fashion, Jon and I dragged our feet on getting everything set up. Katerina was relentless (bless her heart) in making sure we got everything in order. She succeeded!!
Katerina first let the cat out of the bag in her blog on Oct. 23rd. Only she didn't let the whole cat out.......
We will be hosting an ActiveRain gathering. The gathering will be this Saturday, November 8th from 8pm-12am. Where you ask? We'll that's the tail of the cat still stuck in the bag.
In true social media fashion, you are going to have to tune in and catch the word the day of the party. On Saturday morning we will start spreading word of the location across the internet. We'll certainly use ActiveRain (most likely in the form of a comment here and on Katerina's post). We will also be using Twitter and Facebook.
(Brad Andersohn is our resident expert on Social Media. He belongs to more sites then just about anyone I know. The list of places Brad will be dropping the word will probably be longer than I would EVER care to type)
So if you will be in Orlando attending the NAR convention and you would like to come join us for the ActiveRain party gathering, make sure you get yourself hooked in somehow (at the very least, find a friend who knows how to hook in and get the word from them). I have attended a number of these parties gatherings and they are a BLAST! The thing that always amazes me about them is how it feels like a party gathering with a bunch of old friends. I never cease to be amazed when it's hugs not handshakes that are being exchanged by our members. It's a true testament to the power of ActiveRain in creating real-life, meaningful friendships.
- Plane Ticket to Orlando: $500
- Hotel Room for three nights: $276
- Bar tab: (sorry, I can't disclose this number)
- Getting to meet the people inside your computer: Priceless!!
You can find us on Twitter:
- Bob Stewart is @activebob
- Rich Jacobson is @activerich,
- Brad Andersohn is @bradandersohn,
- Jon Washburn is @jonwashburn
- Jeff Corbett is @jeffx.
- Katerina's is @CoachKaterina.
I don't know how you find us on Facebook but people are finding me every day and I'll bet you are just as capable as they are. Search our name and ActiveRain would be my best guess.
We have room for about 400 people and if we exceed that number.......well then it's going to be one rocking party gathering. We are really looking forward to meeting so many of you and getting the chance to reconnect with others. oh yeah.......one last thing. We are going to be there on Thursday night. On Friday and Saturday our team is going to be out and about in the convention center.......and we'll be packing ActiveRain T-shirts to give away. Make sure you figure out how to find us so you can get that free shirt, it'll serve (hint hint) you well at the Party!
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Make sure you check out some of our Facebook Fan Pages Too!
I can't wait to meet everyone! Thanks for the update.
I'm there! Can't wait! C U Soon! :)
Bob,
This will be my third AR gathering in Orlando...I'm sure this will be awesome, Can't wait for the big PAR-TE and looking forward to meeting you guys.
In my dreams $500 would get me to Orlando. So I guess I'll just have to imagine all the fun I'll be missing.
Bob,
That sounds like so much fun!
Bob- Wish I could be there! Sounds like your party gathering will be a blast. I love the element of suspense in not knowing where it's gonna be.
See you in 46 hours, but who's counting???????????? lol
Looking forward to meeting everyone here in O'town! We are counting the minutes.
Bob, unfortunately I'll have to miss this one. I'm Conventioned Out!
Sounds like it will be a great time. Active Rain always throws a good bash.
Anyways, turns out that my sister is coming to stay with me this weekend since her company will be participating in another tradeshow -- GreenFest in D.C. So I may be attending a convention of sorts after all.
Bob wish I could be there. Maybe next time. Too much going on this year with new business. But, just a shout out to the fact that I love the RAIN!
I'm looking foward to being in a room with all the AR greats! See you on Saturday night.
You better save a t-shirt for me! LOL I can't wait for the party gathering :)
Susie,
we are looking forward to it too!
Midori,
YAY!! Do I get a hug?
Neal,
This one will be better than the other two, I promise! (I'll be there, hahahha)
Georgina,
I'm sure there'll be plenty of pictures, video and posts about it afterwards.....you won't have to imagine long.
Michael,
It will be! :-)
Jennifer,
Come on, I showed you where it's going to be.....you can say it......"The venue is SWEEEEET!!"
Missy,
You are not the only one.....I'm right there with you!
Debbie,
How many minutes are left? :-)
Brian,
I read everything you write so I saw that :-( We'll catch you next time!
Larry,
We'll keep an eye out for you next time. You can hardly complain about new business as the reason you can't attend! :-)
Cindy,
Don't sell yourself short, you're a tremendous slouch.......oops, movie reference, anyone?
You're an AR great in my book and I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
Monika,
I'll have one in a special pouch in my backpack!
Hey Bob should have gone just for the instructions on how to get a featured post. I see that almost all of yours are featured. I think your advice may have been to move to the West Coast and join the AR staff...not ready for that yet - LOL Hope you all have an awesome time!
Bill,
I just can't keep my finger off the button! :-)
Bob- You don't REALLY want me telling these guys where it's gonna be. It'll ruin the surprise! But yes, the venue is awesome. Your guests will be stoked!
WWWWHHHHEEE - Really looking forward to it - I am ready for some real estate fun!
Hi Bob,
I've never been to an AR potty (i'm from Massachusetts)...will try and make it after the NH margaritaville bash. Look for me; i'll be wearing the AR tee-shirt.
Bob - I'm a little concerned that I always seem to get your movie references. Won't be making the trip to Orlando. Sounds like a great gathering. I'll have to follow it through Twitter, and maybe the occasional live video broadcast.
I am scheduled to hit the road tomorrow morning, Orlando bound. Tonight the car didn't start. What are the odds?
Oh boy, this is gonna be something else!!
One for the History and memory books for sure. A couple places I'll be dropping hints on Saturday might include one or all of the following.....
Bob - I'm so mad at myself right now because I'm unable to attend and miss the whole party thingie and meet all the bloggers. I'll be leaving to Germany for a week to visit family, which I'm looking forward to; if only I would have booked my flight at a different date. Enjoy!
Sorry to miss it looks to be fun and educational.
Finally. Thank you! I knew there was a gathering on the 8th, but I didn't have any details. Now I do. Yay!
Bob... Sounds like a great party gathering to attend in Orlando ..... I'm sure it is going to be a blast
Brad you are killing me! :)
Hugs for Bob...and Lisa Hill you better go!
Sounds like fun. Maybe I'll catch the next party bash gathering. Make sure you takes pictures and post them here. I'll be looking for them next week sometime.
Midori - I know, and I'm still laughing!! You didn't think I was serious did you? I almost listed ALL the sites I'm on! You didn't want me to put all 6,000+ did you? ROFL!! :-O
I can't make it all the way to Orlando, but I'm sure you guys will do a superb job of social networking. You always do. Aloha from Kauai
I am looking to be there................ I have TRIED to BEG for the location of the party (Gathering) to no avail......
I will wait and be a good sport!!
Hehehehehe
(I WILL be bringing my camara)
Woohoo!!!!!
=-)
Can't go I am saving to go to family reunion for Keller Williams : (
Bob.... hope you all have a great time. I was going to take some time to go down, just to socialize and possibly play some golf. But things have gotten very tight in the last month and don't look any better for a few months. Some of this, thanks to the media... Anyhoo.... have a great time...
I will find you I will hunt you down and find the secret location.
I am traveling and will be in Orlando. I hope I can figure out where it will be.
This sure sounds like it's going to be quite the gathering!!! Unfortunately, TLW and I...............................WILL BE THERE!!!! YIPPEE!!!! We won't be able to stay long due to Billie's med condition but she's determined to go. I figure we'll just load her up on oxycontin and have it :)
Ach, I'm so jealous! wish I could be there but someone has to mind the shop. Maybe next year-have fun!
I may be joining you since Orlando is within close driving distance.....sounds like a great idea.
Hey guys,. If I knew you were going to be throwing a party hosting a gathering, I would have really made an effort to be there. Too much money this year, but meeting you guys- PRICELESS!
Have a great time
Sounds like a great time ! Wish we could be there... will look for blog/posts updates on how the NAR convention is and more importantly, the AR gathering !!!
Bob, Definitely going to be there! The hotel was mentioned in a previous post. Looking forward to seeing you all again & meeting everyone else.
I am planning to go for the Expo on Saturday and thought it would be interesting to get to the party. However, If I go on Saturday, the last time I can check AR is Friday evening.
I do not use any of the list that Brad has here. Only AR. I thought that there are other devoted AR members, who do not do Twitter and Facebook, and I really do not understand why I have to. I did not sign for them, I signed for AR, and why AR needs me to do that to meet people on AR, is beyond my understanding.
We all are different, and if there is a bunch of stubborn guys like me, who are only part of AR and not other media, why not do announce it through AR channels?
So, after all the initial hype, I might simply go for the Expo.
I just set up my Twitter on my phone I have been delaying doing this but to find out where the party is it will be worth it.
Maybe I need to make a secret mission to Orlando just for the AR party!
Brad is a showoff. :)
I wish I could make it to the AR gathering in Orlando. Sounds like an absolute blast!
Bob, thanks for the notice on this. I hope it is a great gathering for all who can make it.
Wish I could be there, Bob, but will be in spirit. And I expect to see lots of updates on Twitter.
Jeff
After attending the Las Vegas installment last year, I can assure all of you who haven't yet been to an AR "gathering" that you are in for a rollicking good time of fun and friendship. I am sorry I won't be there this year.
This sounds like a lot of fun. I will be at the convention but already RSVPed for the Young Professional gathering so hopefully they are not at the same time because I would love to meet some people face to face.
Sounds good! I will try to make it once I know where it is!
My alterego, Active Brad is going for me but part of the deal states that he has to wear our shield on his tie dyed shirt.
HAVE FUN EVERYONE! but don't have too much fun.
For those of us that cannot be there, please post a lot of pics. I enjoy seeing my net buds in action and I know I am not the only one. Have a blast!
Okay so I will be in Orlando that day for the convention, but I may not have cell service. How about announcing it on Friday?
Looking forward to it, and to meeting you all.
Count me in!!! Cell service is NOT wonderful -- how do we find out ahead of time where you guys are???
I am going to miss you guys this year!
Drying the tears from my eyes, and trying to get my pink skin back, from turning green with envy. (or was that my dinner that turned me green?) Regardless, wish I could be there to meet everyone. I know it will be a total blast!
WidowMaker....
Did someone say Cat?
Okay then...I shall park my lovely smile here, sharpen my Claws and take a few Cat Naps before I start Prowling.
P.S. You owe me a hug. You know that right?
:)
TLW...ROAR!
Hi Bob...Sound Like you'll Top Last Years Party in Vegas and the Secret handshake we did to get in past the Big Bouncers at the elevator, I'm stuck in the Pacific North West unless you have room on your Lear Jet, thenof course I'll make a point off being at the Victoria International Airport for the Ride. Failing that, Have a Blast and a Drink on Me!
Cheers, Give Katerina a Hug for Me!
I hope you all have fun! I am looking forward to meeting people at the next closer gathering.
It is so cool how you continue to get great groups of people together who would have otherwise never meet if it hadn't been for AR!
See you there! I hope I can score a t-shirt! Stop by our booth and I'll trade you for a hat! swag-swapping! :)
Sounds like fun. I look forward to meeting some of the people who post on AR.
I live here in Orlando and will be in and out of the expo all week. I can't to meet everyone!
Erica Muller
Wish I could go this year. Parents coming to town :cringe:
As if my scheduling wasn't complicated enough :) !!!!
If everyone promises not to laugh at my tux, I'll try to sneak out of the International Awards ceremony the same night to be there - sounds like a heckuva lot more fun!
Hi Bob - please please PLEASE save me a t-shirt in that same pouch with Monika's!!! I'll be there and so looking forward to seeing again and meeting others who've been friends for so long that have lived in my computer - until now!!! Yay - can't wait!!
Ann
Well, so much for prior planning! i hope that one of the AR gods will stop by the Realtores Land Inst. booth on saturday so that I can get a t-shirt!
I can't wait to meet everyone, finally. In fact, I am going to blow off the latter part of my board dinner, but please don't tell anyone.
I will be there - afterall it's going to be about ten minutes from my house (this is based on the fact that my house is ten minutes from everything good and not based on any leaked information which I may or may not have, but would never reveal either way!).
I can't wait to meet everyone! You are so right, Bob, I do feel like I know many of you...I'll be looking around for a t-shirt :)))))))) Will Kelan be with you?
See You All Tomorrow and all weekend! The Active Rain gathering is going to be the highlight of the convention! Looking forward to meeting all of you!
I'll be there from Oklahomaland! Looking forward to meeting you all!
sounds like a party..........
wish I could be there but someone has to hold the fort down! (can't believe I am missing another shot at a free t, sheesh) you know Bob - it might be just what I need to cheer me up since both of my teams are in the toidy this year, lol.
I'm already here in Orlando, doing the Disney thing with family. I'll be over at the convention center later- hope to make the pa..gathering.
Where? come on we are here in Disney and waiting. Please the suspense is killing us.
I'll be at the International Night Out Saturday but maybe we can sneak away if we knew where we were sneaking to. We are working in a booth in the International section for Central West Florida. This is my first NAR convention and we are hooking up with some friends we met when we took some classes in Miami. Looking forward to that and meeting some new friends and letting everyone know about our part of the state.
If you are in the area on Sunday between 1 and 2, my business partner and myself will be doing a 3 minute powerpoint presentation on Hernando County. Come out and learn about our little section of the state and why its becoming a hot spot.
Hoping to meet some of you guys!
Bonnie Barbieri
Remax Advantage Realty
Spring Hill, FL
Bob is the only member of AR that I have officially "gathered" with, but if everybody else is half as entertaining as him, this event should be awesome.
Mr. Stewart - I would love to be there. But it is thursday and buying a airplane ticket now would be pretty pricey. i don't fly often so i don't have those free mile things. i think simon would put me up on a couch if i got there. so it goes.........
play nice.
lot's of the folks you meet will be the invisible agents that make our industry strong and vibrant.
jmac
J-Mac - I can do better than a couch - I have a spare room with a King Bed and Cable! COME ON DOWN!!!
We cant wait to meet all of you in person, Its finally great to meet the people in our computer! :-) See you there wherever it is. Please dont forget to tell us what the dress code is (if you cant get one of those T shirts!) LOL.......Looking forward to it!
Isela and David
Bonnie, I have to sneak out of International Night Out too (unless I skip it altoghther...). Anyone want to share a cab to where ever this fun party is? Can we come in our ballgowns? @GFDenver
Take lots of pictures and post the ones that aren't x rated.
Wish I could be there.
Looking forward to it and I am already enjoying the great Florida sunshine! Somewhere with a Patio??
Bob- I'm Hiding out at the Grand Vista in between NAR, WCR and CRS stuff, but would love an excuse to meet my new AR friends. No Tweet's for me so I'll check back here!
Well, it's too bad for me, I cannot assist to the NAR convention since I work in Canada, but I would of like to come down for the Active Rain Party gathering, too late now. Are there other events like this coming up? I would be interested to here about them just a little in advance.
I will be at NAR/Orlando '08 volunteering at the EXIT REALTY booth.....Let me know where or stop by the booth and let me know please.....
Looking forward to this! NAR 08 will be my first conference I will stay posted to learn where the final meeting place will be...so much suspense.
I really wish I could make it to this~
I'll be there on Saturday.......I sure hope I can find you there! I won't be staying for the 8pm party, but would like to meet all the Active Rainers !
It's OFFICIAL... the gathering will be at the Hard Rock Cafe...in the John Lennon Room... there will be a red carpet for us...
woohoo!!!
All you need to do is let them at the Hard Rock know you are with AR!!!
I gots my camera...and LOTS of memory for almost 90 pictures.....
=-D
I still can't find the location! Has anyone blogged about the location yet? =( I wanna play!
Hint Hint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-bPML3k2Kg
it is located at the HARD ROCK CAFE at Universal City Walk!
Hope there is only one Hard Rock on Orlando. never been here before and I don't have any transportation
ok see you all there..........
Isa Alwazzan
EXiT REALTY GROUP
The Woodlands, Texas
Dude, it always seems that when you guys are close to me, I have something that I am always in the middle of.
Well, I JUST got back from the gathering and it WAS AWESOME!!!
Unfortunately I only had my stinky Palm Treo camara with me......
I am posting a blog right now about it ~~~ WITH the stinky camara pics in it LOLOLOL!!
=-D
Bummer. I missed the party, and I even had a ball gown on and everything. International Night Out just went too long. I'm sure you all had a blast, and I still hope to meet some of you today and tomorrow.