Leanne Smith and Endre Barath, Jr are hosting this months ActiveRain Challenge. They are challenging us to share two of our candy tidbits (knowledge) we have been treated to from other members and add their "knowledge tidbit Trick or Treat to our goodie bag". For me the two knowledge tidbits that I have gleamed as a member of ActiveRain is 
the Boston RainCamp , and from the Queen of ActiveRain, my good friend Lenn Harley.
I attended my first and only RainCamp in 2010, in Boston, MA. I drove up there with Ed Silva and Valerie Osterhoudt, which is an adventure all its own. This RainCamp was taught by Ben Kinney, and I think Ed would back me up in saying RainCamp was full of valuable information on how to get the most mileage out of our blogging.
Ben kept things going quickly, and presented the material in a 
way that was easy to follow and retain. I am not much of a note taker, but that day I took so many notes, I thought I was going to need carpel tunnel surgery by the end of the day. As an extra bonus I also got to meet the First Lady of ActiveRain Kerrie La Guardia who was a major part of making ActiveRain what it was. I hope someday she finds her way back to ActiveRain. Kerrie would be a major boost to this website if she was to return.
Lenn Harley was another major influence, both in my blogging, and as a major 
role player in my sticking around as a member. Lenn and I knocked heads a number of times in the beginning about mortgage lending, but it was through those disagreements that Lenn and I learned to respect each other.
Lenn would call me on the phone and point out how I messed up on my blog, and then proceed to tell me how I could make it better. I valued Lenn's opinion and we spent many hours on the phone, because I messed up a lot. A conversation with Lenn was like attending a mini RainCamp. Lenn, was and always will be one of ActiveRain's MAJOR Superstars. The current members who have not had the pleasure of knowing Lenn, really missed out.
There have been many other members in ActiveRain that have had an impact on my time on this site, and whom I consider friends for life. It is these members and friends that keep me signing in to ActiveRain everyday for the last 17 years. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them in person, and hopefully I will have the opportunity of meeting the rest someday as well.
Comments(17)