You all know who I'm referring to for this month's challenge - Membership Appreciation Month! This month we are challenged, thanks to Patricia Feager and Lew Corcoran with writing about an ActiveRain member who has been inspirational, supportive, helpful, positive, generous, courteous, referral-giver, feedback giver, and/or done something extraordinary. The first member that came to mind (among others), is Anna "Banana" Kruchten!
Anna and I met so long ago that I had to look back at the numerous years of Meet ups, birthday celebrations and holiday celebrations to figure out how long we've known each other! Through research, I discovered our Meet ups go back 14 years!
In April, 2012, Julie Vosmik reached out to me about hosting a Phoenix Meetup. In the Summer of 2022, Anna reached out to suggest that we combine the Phoenix and Scottsdale Meetups. Those were the years when Meetups were promoted and hosted all over the country!
Joining Anna and her AR friends, joint sponsors, and inviting everyone I could find in Maricopa County that was a member, we hosted it in Scottsdale April 17, 2012. It was a big success, with 4 sponsors that were AR members at the time. I have one faint photo of Anna that was shared with me, very small to share, far left. These are some of the members, Anna, Gary Banana, Nancy Laswick & hubby Scott, Sharon Lord, sponsors, and guests in attendance. This started our Meetups, which became even more successful with later events.
Gary Banana is under the umbrella chatting with another guest.
Anna has always opened up her home hosting client and realtor parties! So in December, 2013, she hosted and we had such a good time! She and Gary always decorate their home so beautifully with great holiday cheer! Pictured next to me are members Nancy Laswick, Rob Clang, Katherine Witt, Anna and Barney!
Through the years, Anna has been an inspirational friend to so many of us. She's quick with positive wisdom whether in a blog post, text or phone call. She is a friend to so many here on AR and I know a lot of you have known her longer than I have. Her upbeat, whimsical blog posts have been read, promoted, and challenges offered to all with a positive upbeat theme.
She is a long time contributor and joining in on contests. One recent "Active Rain Points Store Challenge" that Anna hosted was a hit with so many members NUMEROUS comments of how members could spend their points, racked up after posting, commenting, questioning and re-blogging. That was fun!
In her Group "Banantude," blog posts are recognized and promoted. That's a level of Ambassadarship that should be recognized and celebrated. So Thank You Anna for contributing so much to others! If you aren't familiar or are new to ActiveRain, be sure to click on "Groups" and join Bananatude for lots of Banana Wisdom!
If I had another older sister, it would be Anna. She has a tough love type of commentary that I enjoy hearing when we commiserate! Again, I know that so many of you know and love Anna and that another post has been written, but I had to put in my 5 points - Anna Banana points reference! Some of the many Meetup photos below!
And from 2019, our regular winter foursome with Nancy Laswick and Carol Williams!
Thank you for your friendship Anna! If it weren't for you, I might not have met Carol Williams, Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! , Dick Greenberg and so many others in person and reconnected with Nancy Laswick! Here's to many more get togethers with my AR Brothers and Sisters!
See you on the next Zoom call!
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