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Back in April I heard about a meeting in Roanoke,VA for Social Media, that was held on Thursday mornings at 9am at Best Western-Valley View Mall. I can’t remember now how I heard of it, but I decided that I wanted to attend. I wanted to be back in the swing of things and with my photography business I thought this might be a good way to learn how to advertise the business better and to meet new people. So I went to one of their meetings.

The first one that I went to was held at Panera Bread at Valley View, where I had the best Cinnamon Bagel that I have ever had in my life. I had never been there before and had no idea what to expect. I was so nervous, but that was something that I quickly overcame. They were a group of some of the nicest and coolest people that I had met in a long, long time. They came from all walks of life and all different ages but we all shared one thing in common, we wanted to learn more about how to make our businesses work better for us and how to get our name out there.

Here are some pictures from that first meeting. Yes, I stood up and took some pictures and now that I look back at that picture, I can pretty much name everyone that was there that day and, have hopefully, made some new friends. I can’t look at one of the pictures and see anyone that is stand-offish or snobby. They are sweet and kind and very helpful. I am so glad I went that day.

My first meeting with Roanoke Meetup at Panera Bread.

Another shot of Roanoke Meetup at Panera Bread in April

The last picture of that day in April that I went to Roanoke Meetup at Panera Bread at Valley View Mall

Oh I was a little embarrassed as they pulled out their iphones, and blackberries, and texted away on them. Here I was with my little Boost Mobile phone that, at the time, was the only phone I could get that picked up back in the “Boonies” where I lived. I will probably never have an iphone or a droid or a blackberry but my phone does almost as much as theirs does. NOT!! But, it does do good for emergencies and trying to get in touch with people and I use it for my business phone.

I started going to the meetings and found out what a small world it was when I walked into the Best Western one Thursday morning and there was my niece, Stephanie, at the meeting. Stephanie works for “94.9 Star Country” and she was doing the same thing I was doing, trying to learn more about winning clients over and how to get her name out there.

Then another morning we went to Mill Mountain Coffee for another meeting to meet Anne Giles Clelland, who is the founder of Handshake 2.0, a social media group out of the Blacksburg, VA area and very well known. That was an experience that I also captured with my camera. I got pictures of the people that were at the meeting and of Mill Mountain Coffee since I had never been there either. After that meeting Heather Jacobson (at the time) asked me about doing pictures for her wedding and of course I agreed to work something out with her. Here are some photos of that day.

This was at the upstairs part of Mill Mountain Coffee with the women that were there to meet Anne Giles Clelland (the one on the right)

Since then I have not seen Anne again but these people at that table have come to be my friends and I respect them very much. They are very smart and informative and have helped me a lot.

Raquel on the left, Heather on the back left, and Patsy in the middle right with Bonnie at the back right.

Since then I did do Heather StClairs wedding and some of those photos are on my website at http://photovirginia.com under the Jacobson/StClair wedding.

Of course, since I had never been to Mill Mountain Coffee, I did have to take one shot of the entrance and where you order and pick up your coffee.

A shot of the inside bottom of Mill Mountain Coffee. It was a lot smaller than I had pictured it to be.

The next thing I did was go to Roanoke Unwind at 202 Market in downtown Roanoke, VA. This is just a get together to meet and greet people and get a drink and unwind. That night I had my first mixed drink in over 16 years and it was AWESOME. It was called an Orange Mango Swirl or something like that. If you go to 202 Market, you have to ask for that. I couldn’t even taste the liquor in it. That’s the kind of drink I like, because I hate the taste of liquor. When I did drink, back in the day, I would drink a beer and tomato juice. Even further back in the day, I drank Vodka Collins. Those were the days at Elephant Walk, which was at Holiday Inn on Starkey Rd. in Roanoke, VA. It isn’t there anymore but I had some great times there. Anyway, back to Roanoke Unwind. I took a few pictures there since I had never been to 202 Market.

My "Orange Mango Swirl" at 202 Market. Isn't it a beautiful looking drink?

Here is a picture of Heather, John, and Josh talking at 202 Market for Roanoke Unwind.

This is a picture of the bar at 202 Market in downtown Roanoke, VA

Here is a picture of Heather, John, Josh, and Bruce talking at Roanoke Unwind held at 202 Market in downtown Roanoke, VA

I have learned a lot from the people of Roanoke Meetup and found out another weird connection between one of the members. Heather, who I did her wedding, grew up beside my parents and used to play with my oldest daughter when they were growing up. Heather’s parents and my parents were very good friends. It is such a small world out there.

Here are the last of the photos. This is one of the meetings at Best Western Valley View Mall. I tried to capture everyone that was there that day.

Patsy talking to another member of the Roanoke meetup group.

Several of the members talking after the meeting.

Suzanne, Judy, and the "Grammar Guy", Christian Moody, talking after the meeting.

Mickey Johnson of Fox 21/27 talking to another member of the group.

Cathy (on the left) and Teri (on the right) - 2 great members of Roanoke Meetup

These are all the photos I have taken so far of one of the best groups I have ever been a proud member of. The last Thursday of the month is always a lunch meeting at one of the local restaurants. I haven’t been to but one of those but the one I did go too was at Bellacino’s near Tanglewood. I had never been there either but their food was awesome. I got a sandwich or sub, whatever they call it, and it was so good. I have been wanting to take my daughter there and get her one and get another one for myself. I have heard their pizza’s are to die for. Maybe I will try one of those soon, as well.

Next week is another lunch meeting and I can’t wait to see where we go then.

Come out and join us at the Best Western – Valley View Mall on the 3rd floor the first through third Thursdays of the month at 9am. If you own a business and want to learn about social media, then you should be there with us!!