What I learned as a RE BarCamp Organizer

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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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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The Roomie Board

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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The Sitzler Company, LLC

Serving central Virginia, The Sitzler Company, LLC is the newest addition to The Rockingham Insurance Group. Many insurance companies we represent pride themselves in starting 100 to 150 years ago; we help bring a modern touch to these great companies. We work with real estate agents and mortgage companies with 3 goals in mind:

1)      To protect your client. We don’t cut corners to save dollars; if your client ever has a claim we are here to make sure it is covered as well as possible. Coverages like Rockingham’s exclusive Equipment Breakdown extends the insurance policy to protect the homeowner as well as, and sometimes better than, a home warranty program, for a fraction of the cost!

2)      To make your client happy. Providing ample coverage at competitive rates while providing unmatched personal service is just what we do. Our service continues long after the sale is final; in fact we are currently updating our Facebook and website presence to keep in better contact with clients. We want to make your clients happy with your suggestion of an insurance agent so you can be their hero!

3)      To make you happy. We utilize email, IM, mobile email, Facebook, and other applications to help you do your job best; in or out of the office. These advances in communication help us to provide quotes within minutes and even binders in under 20 minutes.  You have plenty on your plate, we can provide you the piece of mind that your clients are well taken care of.

Look for Eddie Sitzler, founder and agent of The Sitzler Company, at Lynchburg’s RE BarCamp see how he can help your business!

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Structures Unlimited of Forest Inc.

Structures Unlimited of Forest, Inc., are custom builders in the Lynchburg, Forest, Va. area.  Specializing in custom homes and light commercial buildings, Structures Unlimited has over 30 years of building projects, delivered on time and within budget.  Experienced to offer you the finest product, built with choice materials by their own employees.  On site personnel supervise all aspects of the building process, enabling the completion of a product with the highest of standards.  We can assist you from the initial design, locating a preferred lot, the positioning of your home or building project to handing you the keys!  Let Structures Unlimited be your choice when you are ready to make the move to a NEW CUSTOM HOME or commercial office!

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Allstate Insurance

Contact Carrie Mattox, Forest Hills Insurance Agency, your Allstate agent in Lynchburg (434) 384-6700 for all of your insurance needs!

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Castle Title

Our clients know that the moment they send us a transaction, no matter how complicated or difficult it may be, it is as good as closed. Although you cannot put a price tag on confidence, you can easily calculate your loss when a deal fails to close. Our team of dedicated title professionals treats every transaction like it is our most important transaction for one reason: because it is.

Selling peace of mind is not just the foundation of our business, it’s what Castle Title is all about. Come experience the Castle Title difference for yourself and let our team see you through to closing… and well beyond.

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Real Estate Client Referrals

Real Estate Client Referrals is an internet-based referral service for real estate agents.  New to the REBC scene, Real Estate Client Referrals will have a representative at #REBCLBG for the first time! (RECR has sponsored a few REBC’s in the past, but never had a personal representative at any of them in the past.)

RECR owns and operates roughly 200 websites that we use to attract clients that are looking to buy or sell property.  We then match those clients with representative agents on our exclusive network.  Unlike the majority of “lead-generation” companies, we physically speak with each referral to make sure we are dealing with a real honest-to-goodness client that actually wants to speak with an agent.  No more people claiming to be Mickey Mouse or Capt. Jack Sparrow…and no more phone numbers that only right through to the local time service.  Just real, ready-to-go buyers and sellers with actual contact information.  And, if it turns out that the client is not what we say it is, we will replace it for you at no charge!  RECR even guarantees closings!

Prize information for some lucky winner — RECR will give away a Silver Package of referrals!!  That is a $1,600 value and allows that agent exclusive rights to the next 16 clients that come through for their area (depending on area availability!)

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Curb Appeal

Bring your yard to life with an attractive, permanent landscape accent, Curb Appeal Decorative Concrete. We create extruded concrete borders with the look of brick and stone, in a variety of colors and stamps with design flexibility not available in traditional landscape edging. Choose from stone or brick patterns in flowing curves, straight lines or a custom design. Our mower edge is a perfect choice around pools. Lighting is available and the system can also be used for drip irrigation, sound or other communication wiring.  Most jobs completed in one day.  Call Steve Malone at (434) 258-4567 for a free estimate.

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

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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