So...What's Next?!?

Has Social Media Ruined HS Reunions?

Next year is my 20 year HS reunion. There is a Facebook group and the planning has begun.

There were 565 students in my graduating class, I know this because my GF was #57, missing top 10% by 1. That is a lot of students. Yet only 60 or so came to the 10 year reunion, and of those 60 maybe 10-15 of them were people I actually knew well enough to remember 10 years later.

When I graduated HS I immediately began to lose touch with my friends. Within 2 years there was only one friend I stayed in touch with. Life moved on, new people entered and exited, new jobs, new adventures, new cities, new schools, and a new family with new responsibilities. By my 10 year reunion I could only name a few dozen people I was friends with in HS.

As social media began to bloom I began to find those few dozen people online. Char and I have always stayed in touch with, but then I found Michelle, Claudia, and Neil. When Facebook burst into our lives I found Matt Kennedy and Chris Irrizarry and that whole gang.

This past year I have traveled to SC to re-connect with Mhari and to AL to re-connect with Lisa and to DC to re-connect with Chris. I keep tabs on how Nikki and that group of people are doing through FB newsfeeds and I know that when I make it back down to S FL I will visit with them.

So, when Char asked me about going to our 20 year reunion I asked, "what is the point?" To pay money to go to some dinner where I may or may not know the people who will show up? I guess it depends on if they use social media to showcase who is coming so that I know who I will get to see. There are still a handful of people who are not on FB yet that I would love to connect with, but do I need to pay for a plane ticket and dinner ticket just to see if they show up, or do I wait for them to join Facebook?

I am sure there are many different stories and perspectives about how Facebook and other social media channels have impacted reunions, but for me, it has made them less valuable. 

Besides, if I do not go, I can stay in denial that it has been 20 years since I graduated.

Week in Review

Happy Friday! Hope everyone had a great week and is looking forward to the weekend.

Here is a recap of my week.

My Family

My oldest son started High School on Monday. So far so good. Getting home has been his biggest challenge. The first day he forgot where his locker was and ended up carrying 30lbs + of books home. When he finally figured out which bus to take on day 3, he was surprised to find that the buses were overcrowded. For right now I am picking him up. He is taking acting as one of his electives, which I am very happy about. He used to act in different plays when he was young and has been called a natural by many people, but has not pursued it the past couple of years.  

My younger one started 3rd grade this year. Everything is right on track with him. He likes his teacher. He wants me to sign him up for an acting class, so we are on the hunt for a good program.

Concept Hub, Inc

We are in business development mode right now. We have a number of good proposals out and have met with some great organizations the past week. We are also working on developing our case studies from past projects. Here is one I am very proud of, Atlanta Children's Shelter, Tell a Friend Campaign,
They more than doubled the goals that were established!

We are also working with the Public Broadcasting Atlanta still as they are getting closer to the full launch of the Lens on Atlanta social network. Last night we held our first  community Mixer.

The excitement around this project is definitely building!!!

Community Outreach

The social media campaign for Digitainment continues. The focus right now is on building our wiki which is being built as the ultimate resource for talent in Georgia.

I have also agreed to work with the various arts foundations in Atlanta to promote the upcoming Arts & Humanities Month.

I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend of working on taxes (!?!),  catching up on some reading, hanging out with the family, and preparing for another action packed week next week.