A couple of months ago I set out to browse all 5,737 Groups on ActiveRain.
My purpose was to create a list of 100 Groups that would be good for anyone and everyone to join, specifically new ActiveRain members to help them get started Playing in the Rain.
I wanted to get this list done soon enough so that I could make it my one thousandth blog post here at ActiveRain.
Well, actually I finished going through 5,737 groups a week ago, but while I was going through those groups, the number had grown from 5,737 to 6,035 -- ☺☺☺
Late last night I finished, and as I was putting this blog together, I thought how much ActiveRain Groups are like television stations. Each station has its special programming, and if you don't like the programming, switch stations!
Following are my Top 101 stations for anyone's ActiveRain TV.
Russel, wow, now that is a lot of work for sure. How on earth did you find the time to do this? I think you don't sleep. I see some of my "regulars" here, but a lot of new ones too. Thank you!
And, did I understand this is your 1000 post? Well, way to go on that one.
A monumental task for a monumental occasion. You rock!
Great compilation of the best groups. So, tell me, Russel, what did you do when you had finished your exhaustive list and you found that it had grown by 298 groups? Charlie Gantz, Greenwood, IN; J.D., M.B.A.; owner/principal broker, Atlas Commercial Real Estate, LLC
Russell, That's really fantastic and informative. For instance... I found some blogs called "Wordless Wednesday" when I first started... I thought that was so cool, that I actually wrote one or two of those. And here I find that there is actually a group with that name! So COOL! Thanks.
Russell what a great job and a time consuming task. It is overwhelming when you see how many groups we have on Active Rain. Thanks for including my Hill Country Inspector group. I see some groups that I need to add to my list.
Hey, Paul - Hope it can help you Play in the Rain more often.
Hey, Chris Ann - I was surprised at the duplicity of groups, but I guess it's like anything else, if you don't like a group, start your own.
Hey, Andrea - Doing a big task is very easy if you simply break it down into smaller tasks. Hmmm. I feel a blog post coming on.
Hey, Joseph - As my wise old grandmother said, "You always have time to do those things you do first." I just do ActiveRain first each day, and I'm lucky because the ActiveRain day in the Pacific Time Zone actually begins at 10:00 p.m. each night, so I often have all my ActiveRain tasks done before I take my end-of-day catnap.
Hey, Anthony -See my comment above to Joseph.
Hey, Terrie - As my wise old grandmother said, "It's only work if you don't enjoy doing it."
Hey, Linda - I also didn't find the Wordless Wednesday group until I had done a few Wordless Wednesday posts.
Hey, Larry - Yes, it did take time, cumulatively. On a daily basis, less than 30 minutes for a few weeks.
Hey, Carl and Ceil - Part of perusing each group was to find groups that were not controversial. Many of the home inspector groups I looked at had posts that were disparaging of Realtors for the sake of being disparaging of Realtors, and that I don't like. Too negative for me. Your Hill Inspector Group appeared to be 100% positive, and that I will always like.
Great list! Thanks so much for taking the time to put it together. It's very time consuming and rather difficult to find the best ones. I will be exploring them all this week!
Hi Russel - There are always so many new groups that it almost seems impossible to check them all out because before you can finish there will be ore added. This is a great ist you have made, as it appears to offer something for everyone. I am already signed up with many of them, and I just added 2 more on your recommendation.
You added my group! =DDDD I feel special now. lol. Actually, I do think it's a great group (or I wouldn't have created it) and it's hard to find amidst the many thousands of groups around here. Now if only my Silly Saturdays group would catch on like my Things to Do/Places to Visit group. he he. I guess most people aren't as silly as me =P
Now I need to check out some of these other ones. I can't believe you actually visited EVERY group here! That's unbelievable! So thanks for the short list! =)
Wow, there are soooooooo many great groups! Question, isn't it true that you can only check off five for one post, so how do you get around that when it fits more than five? Thanks for putting this all together!
When it comes to putting posts in groups, I try to spread them around hoping to get a good mixture. I had noticed that when you post to the same group all the time, people will simply skip over your post ("Oh, another post by Russel."). Just like many do with Featured Posts ("Oh, another Featured Post by Lenn Harley/Jason Crouch/Katerina Gassett.") I like my friends, but I also like diversity in my life.... LOL
I do think some people create groups so that they always have a place to put their posts. I create groups when I can't find one, which was my main goal in recently going through all 6,037 groups. I was looking for a history group, and all I found was Local History, so I created the ActiveRain History Station group where one can put local history, state history, national history, world history, universe history, religious history, people history, and natural history.
Wow, this is an amazing post. I just found two new groups to join thanks to this great post. This post must of took a great amount of time. I am going to check out your favorite groups too. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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Late last night I finished, and as I was putting this blog together, I thought how much ActiveRain Groups are like television stations. Each station has its special programming, and if you don't like the programming, switch stations!
ActiveRain Fit Club
AR Blog Party
Clouds at ActiveRain (clouds attached)
Fraiche Aire
Inspired By Song!
Out Of The Box! 
Recipes
Things to Do/Places to Visit
;)
;)
Russel, what an incredible amount of work!
Thanks!