The first thing I'd like to say about REBar Camp is that Krystal Kraft, Larry McGee and Vali Wimberly as well as many others did a great job organizing this event. The sheer volume of people, t-shirts, name tags, presentations, parking, event site, food, sponsors, web sites and promotion and who knows what else had to be a crushing mind numbing process. Kudos to all of you! Have another Mojilto courtesy of Ines Hegedus Garcia.

Things I learned at REBar Camp

1) Don't go with any expectations! I always go to events with expectations and almost always disappointed that those expectations aren't met. However - I did come away with so much more and better than anticipated introductions, information and experiences.

2) This was a "social event" not a teaching session. Go with an open mind. And please introduce yourself, smile and wear a name tag. Like many events we were given large name tages and chords to wear around our necks. However, I rarely heard anyone use a name or introduce themselves. I wore my every day name tag, people noticed and used my name.

3) If you are presenting introduce yourself! Most of us are not mind readers. I sat next to a woman in a couple presentations who kept asking me the name of the person in front and the name of the session. Eventually she got frustrated and left the room.

4) The position of God has been taken, I checked! Please check your ego at the door. Specifically, if your are presenting, flew in for the event and have a "name" please act like a human being. You started out in life soiling your diapers just like the rest of us.

5) I know that I don't know it all! I went to sessions I thought I knew nothing about but as it turns out I did have a clue or two. ............But the conversations going on around me, the off handed comments and information circulating was fascinating. So eves drop or break out of the sessions to learn more.

6) "Social Objects" Ask Ines Hegedus Garcia about the hows and whys.

7) Pimp your Blog, Keep it Real, IRL

8) Offer a door prize  I think most of the people who stayed until the end enjoyed the door prizes being given away. If I had thought about it I would have brought more. Vali Wimberly had us in tears laughling while she drew names for door prizes. BTW: Thank you to Elaine Manes from www.awonderfulspace.com for my door prize.

9) Polishing Turds is a good thing :)

10) Mowing your own lawn can be as easy or difficult as you would like it to be. Ask Jeff Turner for details.

My most interesting observation? All the 20 some things schooling the 40+ folks in how it's done. It's a new and improved world, keep up or get out of the way.