Gleaning For The World Says Thank You RE BarCamp Lynchburg

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Due to the unique structure of our organization, every dollar we receive enables us to ship approximately $72 in life-saving supplies; such as medicine, food, clothing and disaster relief materials to those in need locally and across the globe.

Gleaning For The World is extremely grateful for the support that the Lynchburg RE BarCamp offered last week. We received $83 in donations, which may not seem like a lot to some, but it will enable us to ship over $5000 worth of supplies.

If you would like to keep up-to-date with our humanitarian aid projects and help us spread the word about our efforts, you can find us at the following places:

www.gftw.org

www.dissasternetwork.org

www.facebook.com/gleaningfortheworld

www.twitter.com/gftw

Thank you again and we would greatly appreciate your continued support through financial donations, volunteering and re-tweets!

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RE BarCamp Lynchburg Survey

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The organizers of RE BarCamp Lynchburg appreciate everyone coming together and being so willing to share and give their support.  In an effort to evaluate our results we would really appreciate you taking the time to take this short survey.  It won’t take but a few minutes.

Click here to take our Online Survey

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What I learned as a RE BarCamp Organizer

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RE BarCamp Lynchburg is over.  It was so much fun being with so many fantastic minds in one room.  I wanted to make a note of the things I have learned as a RE BarCamp Organizer.

1. Don’t plan any major appointments the day after sleep in.
   

   Why talk when we can tweet?

2. Create an environment where EVERYONE engages.
3. In the beginning planning stages you may have many volunteers and in the end it may come down to just a few but that is ok.
4. Negotiate EVERYTHING.
5. Consider insurance for the event
6. As an organizer consider you personal liability, (I discussed this with my attorney)
7. Make sure attendees have snacks
8. What happens at the event is more important than if everyone can get on line.
9. Get as many local sponsors as possible.
10. The event is for the local people, keep the focus local
11. Get feed back what people want to talk about in the morning and adjust after lunch if needed.
12. Don’t micro-manage.
13. It is a lot more stressful than you would think.
14. Allow others of RE.net to be involved in the planning.
15. Try to do something different just for your RE BarCamp that others have not done yet.  ie… Lynchburg Squares & pickle pens
16. Have fun
17. Organizing a RE BarCamp is harder than you think it is going to be.
18. Organizing a RE BarCamp is not as hard as you think it is going to be.
19. You can’t please everyone
20. The virtual assistant that helped with RE BarCamp Lynchburg was a huge advantage
21. Don’t be shy use the media, TV, Newspaper & Radio to promote.
22. Follow up, Follow up, Follow up.  Check everything twice, three times.
23. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!
24. Thank your sponsors over and over.
25. Get everything is writing.
26. Use of a screen or projector is okay but discourage power point “presentations”.  Encourage “Demonstrations”

Some of you have been organizers you may add to the list. Some of you have thoughts of what you would like to do if you were an organizer.  Please share your ideas as I have just begun I am sure.

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Help RE Bar Camp Stand Out

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The organizers are in the process of creating a motto/tagline for the event. Help us out by commenting with your thoughts.

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Happy Hour Thursday Night October 8, 2009

Lunchbag on Main will be hosting our happy hour on October 8, 2009 located in the Holiday Inn Select.  They have recently updated and have a new chef.  The atmosphere is super comfortable and perfect for some great networking!  Join us from 5pm until 7 pm.

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RE BarCamp Lynchburg Distance to Selected Cities

RE BarCamp is conveniently located close enough to larger metropolitan areas such as Richmond Va and Washington DC.  It is so close to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and warm sandy beaches that if you left these places and headed toward RE BarCamp Lynchburg area a little before breakfast, you can be a part of these fantastic event!

From:

Bedford Va (Home of the Peaks of Otter)…………………………………………….. 30 minutes

Wintergreen Va (Ski and Golf Resort …………………………………………………. 45 minutes to 1 hour

Richmond Va (Virginia’s Capital) ……………………………………………………… 2 hours

Washington DC ……………………………………………………………………………….3 hours

Charlotte NC ………………………………………………………………………………….3.5 hours

Virginia Beach Va ………………………………………………………………………….. 3.5 to 4 hours

Nags Head NC ………………………………………………………………………………..5 hours

Greensboro NC ……………………………………………………………………………….2 hours

You can find more directions from your specific area here.

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The Roomie Board

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So its about a month until the big event and this is about the time that most of us start thinking about lodging arrangements.

Even though the group rate secured for the hotel in Lynchburg is very reasonable, sharing a room with one of your professional bretheren is not only cost saving but IMO an integral part of the RE Bar Camp experience.

So this post was created as a way to start the conversation to help everyone coming in from out of town have the oppurtunity to locate a roommate if they so desire.

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You’re likely to get an extra pickle at RE BarCamp Lynchburg!

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Don’t you just love pickles?  Okay, maybe you don’t love pickles like I love pickles, as I admit I may have an abnormal obsession with pickles.  ( I eat them every day)

However even as a little kid, whenever ordering at a restaurant, I would order an extra pickle with my meal. My parents were never charged for an extra pickle.  No one would ever think of charging you for an extra pickle.  They would just slap a pickle on your plate and say “Ah..Give ‘em a pickle!”

That is the pickle principle.

I grew to expect an extra pickle very time.   I didn’t always get an extra pickle even though I expected one or asked for one.  However if I usually got an extra pickle and for some reason was denied an extra pickle or maybe someone even wanted to charge me for an extra pickle I would think, “WOW! Something is different here, I don’t get an extra pickle.” Obviously these folks don’t realize how happy pickles make me.   And every time I thought of that particular restaurant I’d remember the last time I went there they didn’t give me an extra pickle.

What does it have to do with RE BarCamp Lynchburg?

Here is your chance, tell us what you want.  Tell us what you want to talk about at RE Bar Camp Lynchburg.  This is YOUR event.  It will be a success because of YOU! Leave your ideas about what you want to discuss at RE BarCamp in the comment section.  It is quite alright to ask for an extra pickle and it is perfectly alright for you to expect to get it!

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Directions to REBar Camp Lynchburg

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You can download and print out a Lynchburg Street Map or a Downtown Lynchburg Map for your convenience.

Coming from the south:

29 North, from the North Carolina state line you are about 65 miles away. As you get into Lynchburg go onto US 29 -Business N/Wards Road.  Take the US 501 North Ramp/US 29 North & you will merge onto Lynchburg Expressway/Business Route 29 North.  Take the Main Street exit A1/Downtown.  Turn Right onto Main Street. The Holiday Inn is about a mile down on the left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

Coming from Charlottesville:

29 South take VA-210 into downtown Lynchburg.  (You’ll cross the James River Bridge from Madison Heights into Lynchburg can’t miss it.)  Turn left on Commerce Street.  (Main Street is oneway) Turn right on 7th Street.  Turn right on Main Street.  The Holiday Inn is on your immediate left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

Coming from Richmond:

Take 360 West to 307  to 460 West.   Merge onto 29 North toward Amherst/Charlottesville. Merge onto Va-210 toward Madison Heights.  Turn left onto Amherst Highway/VA-163.  (You’ll cross the James River Bridge from Madison Heights into Lynchburg can’t miss it.)  Turn left on Commerce Street.  (Main Street is one way) Turn right on 7th Street.  Turn right on Main Street.  The Holiday Inn is on your immediate left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

Coming from Va Beach:

Merge on to US-460 towards Petersburg.  Take the I-95 North ramp to I-85/US-460.  Keep left at the fork in the ramp.  Merge onto I-95 North.  Merge onto I-85 south/460 West exit 51 toward South Hill/Blackstone.  Merge onto 460 West via exit 61 toward Blackstone.  Merge onto 460 West toward Farmville/Lynchburg/Roanoke.  Merge onto US-29 toward Amherst/Charlottesville.  Merge onto Va-210 Toward Madison Heights. Turn left onto Amherst Highway/VA-163.  (You’ll cross the James River Bridge from Madison Heights into Lynchburg can’t miss it.)  Turn left on Commerce Street.  (Main Street is one way) Turn right on 7th Street.  Turn right on Main Street.  The Holiday Inn is on your immediate left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

Coming from Harrisonburg:

Take 81 South and merge on to 64 East exit 221 toward Richmond.  Merge onto US-250 East exit 99 toward Afton/Charlottesville.  Turn right on Va-151/Critzers Shop Road.  Turn left on Va-6/Pike Road.  Turn right on Thomas Nelson Highway/29 south.  Take 210 toward downtown Lynchburg. (You’ll cross the James River Bridge from Madison Heights into Lynchburg can’t miss it.)  Turn left on Commerce Street.  (Main Street is one way) Turn right on 7th Street.  Turn right on Main Street.  The Holiday Inn is on your immediate left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

Coming from Roanoke: Take 460 East toward Lynchburg.   Merge onto 501-North toward Candlers Mountain Road/Buena Vista.  Take the 29 North ramp towards Charlottesville and merge onto Lynchburg Expressway/29 Business.  Take the Main Street exit A1/Downtown.  Turn Right onto Main Street. The Holiday Inn is about a mile down on the left.  Free parking in the parking garage.

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What’s A BarCamp? barcamp? BARCamp?

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Let’s call it a BarCamp.  Now what IS it? 

It’s not held at a bar – well, that’s not true, BarCamp Virginia Beach was – but don’t worry, we’ll have lots of fun, I promise you!  And there are events planned for both Wednesday AND Thursday nights.

But what IS it?

A BarCamp is an opportunity to gather and share ideas with other professionals.  Sounds kind of like a conference, doesn’t it?  Well, that’s because it is, but a BarCamp goes far beyond that.

For one, a BarCamp is FREE.  That’s right – it costs you nothing, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and planners.

Two – and this is what I think is the coolest – the topics covered at a BarCamp aren’t predetermined.  Sure, we know we’ll be talking about ways of using social media in our various businesses, but what shape and form those discussions will take place is directed by the attendees, and not a master schedule.  That allows for lots of variety, and I like that.

Third, these are truly discussions.  Sure, someone has to lead the discussion, sure, but audience participation is not only encouraged but expected!  I’ve seen some of these sessions go in a completely different direction from what was first planned simply because of the participation of the audience – and that’s a cool thing.  See, what works for me in social media might not work for you, so why spend a bunch of time talking about what works for me when we’ve got an entire room of people willing to share their experiences.  Some of the best ideas come from the collective effort of the group – let’s take advantage of that!

Want to see more?  Check out Dakno.tv for more on what a BarCamp looks like.

Please take the time to consider attending RE BarCamp Lynchburg.  I promise you that whether you’re a social media veteran or a newbie, you’ll walk away energized about your business, and brimming with more ideas than you can implement!  Lynchburg is an easy drive from just about anywhere in NC, WV and MD, so RSVP (seats fill up quickly), and get ready to have an awesome time … we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Thanks to Gwen for the photo …

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