Kathy Streib, ASP,IAHSP,RESA, DelrayBch -South Florida - 561-914-6224

If you're an orchid lover or just looking for somewhere to view some absolutely beautiful orchids then head to the Annual Delray Beach Orchid Society Orchid Show and Sale.

Located just a few blocks from my favorite Delray Beach Street- Atlantic Avenue- the show is held annually in the Old School Square Vintage Gymnasium in Delray Beach Florida. With a host of vendors from around the state, you can see, learn about AND purchase the familiar Phalenopsis, or Moth Orchid, Dendrobiums, the popular Vandas and Cattleya's. But, there are also many Species orchids and, what seems to be a trend, miniature orchids.

My friend, JoAnne, and I try to go every year. Just the two of us. We have our routine down and have fun navigating our way through each vendor's booth. We start upstairs where the Judged orchids are on display: AOS Show Trophy, Best Species Flower, Individual Plant Ribbons, etc. This is a very humbling area if you are an orchid grower. Each gorgeous bloom makes you wonder why your own orchids that you nurture, baby and in some cases, speak to (yes, I do speak to them) look in no way like those on display here. We then head for the really serious part of the show; the hunt for the orchids that we will purchase and add to our collection.

It's a 2 hours process! You have to go around each booth at least once to determine which orchids will make the final cut. We keep each other in check when we see an orchid that is far more than we want to spend. Today we both saw a beautifully scented Vanda and JoAnne said "Michael would kill me if I spent that much". I replied: 'I"LL kill you if you spend that much!!"

In the end, we make a final swing through the room, make our purchases, and walk out like 2 kids leaving the world's best candy store with our bags full of goodies.

There's still time to head to the show!:

October 30, 31 & November 1

10am-5pm

Old School Square Delray Beach, Florida

I've only been seriously blogging on ActiveRain since December of 2008. (I wrote my first post on ActiveRain in June but it took me 6 months before I wrote another one.) Before that I sent out periodic e-Newsletters via Constant Contact.( and still do) I've never wanted to just send out facts and figures about my "wonderful" Staging efforts. I thought that if I wanted to attract and keep readers or subscribers, I needed to give them something other than figures on how quickly my Staged homes sold.

It's not brain surgery. I receive e-Newsletters daily and the ones that I read and don't auto-delete are the ones that I know will provide me with new information; educate me about my interests; and keep me abreast of anything new.

But after a few years of writing for my e-Letters, I was searching for new topics. Something to offer my readers, whether they were Realtors , Sellers, Buyers , or anyone else for that matter. I wrote about "Why a Realtor Should Use a Stager"(a topic covered ad nauseum in all blogs) as well as "Is Your Listing Representing You in the Right Way?". I shared helpful hintsabout products such as Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or Mirror Mate. The last part of my e-Letter included an Answer to a FAQ, such as why we recommend packing and removing personal photos. But, each month, I searched for some new approach or topic.

Then, back in August, Bob Stewart announced his 1000 Point Series Challenge. Next thing you know I had a 7 part Series on "Preparing Your Home for Sale in Palm Beach County". Well, actually it wasn't as easy as I make it sound. It didn't just appear on my laptop. I worked hard to come up with the theme, then, since I am horrible at writing, I stared endlessly at my screen, trying not to sound too disjointed. I inserted pictures; hunted for copyright-free photos and spell-checked my way through all seven posts. And, then I was done. My Series was there to sit in Cyberspace.

It felt a little like taking several days to prepare a multi-course meal for 12, only to have 6 guests show up. What to do with the leftovers?

Another concern I had was that even with the great exposure I had on ActiveRain, many of those subscribing to my e-Letter never saw any of my ActiveRain posts. These subscribers did not come from a list I'd purchased. They were like my little garden, in which I'd planted seeds gathered from every Chamber and Board of Realtors function I'd ever attended. That garden was growing each month but it needed tending. In fact, I'm sure that many of my subscribers were either non-Rainers or had never heard of it. (Sorry Bob, I do tell every Realtor I meet that they should be on ActiveRain). Since most of my subscribers are Realtors, I thought there must be some way to connect them with my ActiveRain Blog without forcibly dragging them to the site and making them sign up. (just kidding).

So, I decided to recreate my 7 part series in my e-Letter. Part One of the Series was introduced in my Fall 2009 issue. My next issue will feature the Second in my series, and so on. Is this being lazy? No, I think not. It's not being wasteful. It's being efficient. It's trying to reach as many prospects as I can through as many channels as I have available to me.

I know I haven't been making the best use of my posts here and connecting them with my e-letter or my website for that matter. But I'm going to be reading all of the responders to the latest challenge from Bob to get more ideas .

.

Yesterday at the Realtor's Association of the Palm Beaches' monthly Lunch on the House I had the opportunity to meet not just one but TWO fellow ActiveRainers, Steve Hoffacker of Hoffacker Associates and Lou Ludwig of Ludwig & Associates, our featured speaker.

I was standing by my table speaking with any and all that would stop by, when I thought I saw a familiar face. Perhaps I met him at one of the other RAPB functions?? After all, this was my fifth Lunch on the House. Or, maybe I'd met him at one of the networking functions given by the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce?

Our Presentation was given by Lou Ludwig whose topic was ALL THE RULES HAVE CHANGED-THE SECRET TO THRIVING IN ANY TYPE OF MARKET. Hm-m-m , his name sure sounded familiar. How did I know him?? Lou is a consultant to the Real Estate and Home Building Market. Could he have worked with my husband's company??

If you ever have the opportunity to hear Lou speak, I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to attend.

My rambling point in all of this is that after the event I wanted to thank Lou for a great presentation and to ask him if it would be all right for me to write about him and paraphrase what he said on my blog in ActiveRain. Steve was standing near by and said:

I'm on ActiveRain too!

I've had my head buried so much in my laptop, reading the blogs of others and trying to keep up with my own that I'd forgotten that ActiveRain does exist in the real world!! 3 Dimensional!!! I remember now that Steve and I have commented on each other's blogs, and I also know that I've read Lou's motivational ones.

As of last night, I had 2 more Associates added to my list, and I'd added 2 to mine.

So, get out there, network and who knows. . . the next person you meet just might be a Rainer!