I joined the official Active Rain Bronze Star Hall of Fame and then removed my name when I read the directions. When all else fails read the directions. I had to be invited to join the Active Rain Bronze Star Hall of Fame. I felt like the disciples when Jesus warned them not to take a seat of honor at the head of the table unless you've been invited. Imagine how embarrassing it would be to be asked to move to a lower position! No one asked me to leave, but I figured I'd high-tail it out of the group before someone did! It wasn't to much to wait until someone did invite me to join. Obviously, they hadn't noticed my milestone some 49,000 points ago. My faux pas was disclosed to Neal the Real Deal Bloom and I was reassured that he was just too busy to make invitations anymore! So, I'll join once again with a clear conscience.
Much to my surprise the same evening one of my invitees added some points to my total and over the 100,000 point mark I jumped. Neal assured me I was invited to the silver club as well. Exclusive though it may be, I've joined others in their quest for notoriety. Is T there? Are Jay and Boomer? Both Minnesota bloggers have exceeded 100,000 points well before me. Are they, too, unaware of the Halls of Fame? I think I'll send them a message just to make sure.
The trek here has been a strange one at best. Real Talk had been my network until Maureen McCabe invited me to Active Rain. I resisted the invitation at first, but found so many familiar faces and some of the greats from RT. It was an easy slide sideways to network in a new forum. Plus, here we could see what our internet friends looked like. Not to mention the points, and the addiction, and the playground, and the professional challenge. So much information was being shared. It was better than the water cooler any day.
So, my addiction set in and I played and played. As commonly happens in groups, bullies appeared with their own agendas. The Rain was showing some fiery breath among members. Some became disenchanted. Some left to suffer withdrawal pangs in other climes. Most stayed on and continued to thrive. Like all families there were rough roads and easy paths. Active Rain was growing up and becoming a force of its own.
Today I celebrate two milestones in points. Points that really are useless to me except as they symbolize the good times shared with a network of fine professionals. I don't win a prize. I don't get any money. The stars are virtual, but the information shared is priceless.
Congrats Bonnie! I've qualified for the bronze club too (about 10,000+ points ago) but haven't been invited to join...actually I'm not sure I even realized there was a club for those over 40K
Edited: I meant to say 'for those over 50K!"
Another congratulations, Bonnie! I'm very glad you are here, adn I especiall ypleased that you invited me and I did not resist. Amazing journey since then. Seems like eons ago in some ways.
Jeff
Hi Bonnie,
Maureen wrote a blog this morning about Realtown vs. Activerain which she featured you as someone who uses both-me too!! It's a struggle to do both. I find the networking aspect here helps me become a better blogger. I learn so many things from so many of the other Rainers. Anyway, Congratulations on your achievement!!
Tracy, Maureen is always "talking about me behind my back"! She's my fairy blog-mother so she has the right. RT is where it all began for me. Even though some very tech savvy people are snobbish about them, I will forever be grateful. One has to start somewhere and the professionalism and helpfulness of the RT community were the perfect place for me to start.
Mary, You've been invited. Come on and join!
Jeff, It has indeed been an amazing journey!
Thanks, Teri. Now, Anoka County . . . Hmmmm, where did you say that was? ;-)
Gita, Friends is what it's all about for me.
Maureen, Tracy tells me you're telling secrets again!
Congratulations Bonnie, I did the same thing when I hit 50K, but Neal was nice about it and sent me an invite:)
It really does seem like eons ago! My friends (who are not Realtors) just roll their eyes if I mention AR:)
Lola, The 100,000 was not really hard work. If you go back into my archives from a year ago, Teresa Boardman and I were having great fun playing in the Rain. The points just wracked up without any effort at that time. When T slacked off and decided to focus elsewhere it took the fun out of it for me. Blogging is hard, but it isn't when you're among friends.
Karen, My friends who are not bloggers think I've left the planet entirely!
Kudos Bonnie. I remember real talk. It was so bothersome I canceled it pronto. And had forgotten about it completely until I read your post.
We did get the bronze invite from Neal, and won't get the next one for another couple of months or AR fun.
Best
T, you know I'd be honored to join the T hall of fame. I'm sure the group will be most "exclusive"! ;-)
Gary, I actually thoroughly enjoyed Real Talk when I first joined in 2005. That seems an eternity ago. I learned so much and grew professionally as a result of some of the challenges. Lenn Harley was top poster to RT at the time. I was somewhere in the 20's I think, because I'm opinionated and have a big mouth. As RT expanded some of the old timers stopped posting and either lurked or went elsewhere. The quantity of members watered down the quality of content for me. I rarely read the content now that they have changed to a bulletin board platform. It was easier for me to scan the individual e-mails but others like the other format. I chose to move on.
Congratulations to you Bonnie! I'm sure it will be years before I get to 100,000 points but the fun is in the journey :) Congratulations on such a fine achievement...and hope all is well with you!
All the best,
Beth
Bonnie...We've heard about paper moons. Are there any Paper Stars for those of us slugging along?
Cheers,
Kathleen
I just got invited to the Silver group but never did for the Bronze - it must be Neal's fault.
Now I have to get busy writing my acceptance speech, I mean blog.
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