| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Positive ideas for Lake Martin's businesses
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Date:
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4/5/2011 6:56:07 PM
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This would be a great step for A-town. It has configuration problems with the railroad but it would still give the city a way to control the quality of growth and attract more quality growth as a result.
Dadeville has a much better configuration for this but unfortunately no one seems to be interested. "They don't want things to change". Unfortunately for the No-Changers change has happened anyway and it doesn't involve growth, jobs or customers.
The question is not whether change will come but what type of change do you want? Nothing ever stays the same....
URL: Historic District
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| Name: |
Feb
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| Subject: |
Positive ideas for Lake Martin's businesses
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Date:
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4/5/2011 7:14:33 PM
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I have seen Historical Districts do well where there is an outlying area of industry and employment; therefore income to spend in speciality stores. This appears sadly lacking in the Alex City community. I also suspect Alex City is suffering from an aging population. The loss of the younger generation due to the decline of its only major employer is similar to many declining "Company Towns".
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Positive ideas for Lake Martin's businesses
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Date:
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4/5/2011 7:31:24 PM
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True but IMHO there is no leadership in the community to leverage and define its purpose and relationship with the lake...its most valuable asset. There are old mill communities without a beautiful lake that have figured it out and this is not one of them...yet. There are lots of positives about central AL that are going elsewhere.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Positive ideas for Lake Martin's businesses
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Date:
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4/5/2011 8:06:51 PM
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I think it is great for them to preserve the historic feel and look of AC, but if they can't figure out a way to get spenders down there, it won't amount to much. I don't think people are going to want to go the extra mile to preserve history if there are no customers. The gentleman from Queen's Attic needs to support the proposal. He's got a lovely building and almost no viable businesses in there except the new tiny restaurant.
It's a beautiful building and he has done an awesome job.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/5/2011 10:07:13 PM
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things will get on track. I'm optimistic about the community getting it's act together. There is too much to lose for the stakeholders here. Lake Martin has way too much to offer to become a private lake for the wealthy.
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| Name: |
houseboat
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 10:35:52 AM
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Excuse my negativity but I thought it already was a private lake for the wealthy since they banned houseboats.
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| Name: |
HP HQ
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 10:56:10 AM
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Almost my thoughts exactly, but in a differant direction.
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| Name: |
Kizma Anuice
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 11:24:42 AM
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I saw Warren Buffet camped out at Wind Creek and Billy Gates was cooking hotdogs at DARE.
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| Name: |
HP HQ
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 12:23:30 PM
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We all know Bill Gates would never eat a hot dog..... he eats corn dogs!
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 2:02:15 PM
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Would you have to hit the "start" button to turn off aa Windows grill?
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| Name: |
mckaygmc
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| Subject: |
Sooner or later...
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Date:
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4/6/2011 9:07:54 PM
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Nope...Just Log Off...
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
An update to this Issue
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Date:
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4/6/2011 11:31:48 PM
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I think the whole reason they are going for the historical designation is to help spur local business growth, and is per se evidence of leadership on the issue of creating new growth for AC and linking it to the lake.
More evidence is notable in folks like Dr. Tuggle, who has put his own money into restoring a beautiful building to create a sort of small business incubator for local retailers and artists.
More evidence is notable in shops like Henry Foy's Emporium Wine that recently expanded to showcase and art gallery and serve tapas. Not warmed over frozen food, but honest to goodness tapas. I think that's pretty cool for a town of that size.
Lastly, but certainly not least, in the evidence trail are the 2 classes we have had in social media / marketing for small businesses that we have had in the offices of and sponsored by MainStreet Alexander City. So far we have had 10 or so business owners to meet and discuss practical ways (using tools like Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, 4Square, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp, and this site) to talk about what's going on downtown. The #1 goal is to reach lake lovers. I have been very honored to have taught these classes thus far. I donate my time to this not because I think I am some marketing wizard, but I truly believe that AC has a unique culture and atmosphere that most lakers would enjoy.
I also earnestly believe that we (as a lake community) must do a better job of marketing ourselves or we will get passed by by other southern 2nd home destinations. This isn't an Alex CIty issue, it's a Lake Martin issue. So if you're a lake area small biz owner - whether you're in Dadeville, Eclectic, Equality, Red Hill, Walnut Hill, whatever - pay attention to the MainStreet FB page and come at our next meeting if you want to learn about free ways to effectively market your small business.
I know lots of weekenders never visit downtown AC, and that's a shame. I think there will be fewer of those in 2011 because we will do a better job about reaching them.
Reader - if you haven't been downtown in 10 years, and think it's still the same - I challenge you to take a visit. I think it's getting past the mill town stigma. There are growing pains, sure. I am sure I am prejudiced, my family has lived here for almost 200 years, before the lake, before the mill. The mill is gone - but the Lord saw fit to give us a lake!!
URL: MainStreet Alexander CIty on Facebook
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
railroad
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Date:
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4/6/2011 11:45:05 PM
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Also I don't think railroad tracks harm growth. Blue Ridge GA flourishes because of theirs.
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| Name: |
Kizma Anuice
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| Subject: |
why don't you
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Date:
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4/7/2011 6:08:51 AM
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A. Talk Kenny Boone into distributing the Outlook and the Record for free on Weekends to Lake Residence.
B. Get a Groupon Lake Martin
C. Start a Lake Martin Bucket List.
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| Name: |
muddauber
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| Subject: |
An update to this Issue
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Date:
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4/7/2011 8:11:05 AM
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Sounds good John C. You are more than right in that our growth is severly hampered by that divide. But to those of us on this side of the bridge, we just don't see any serious interest in promoting the whole lake. If I were convinced the county commission/planner etc were really serious, I'd be all over that. But I won't trust their words. Going to have to prove it with actions.
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Main street
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Date:
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4/7/2011 8:16:35 AM
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Most people are not aware of how hard this organization works and how much leadership it provides. Lots of fun activities downtown if folks will just participate and look for them.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Main street
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Date:
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4/7/2011 9:36:01 AM
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I just visited the FB page and found out about the Strawberry event this weekend.
I take art classes in Alex City. I know there is a lot of interest in seeing a good sized art venue in Alex City. By chance, I wandered into the Wine Emporium one day and talked to the owner, who mentioned his desire to have an art gallery in the shop.
It's a really cool shop that offers wine by the glass and tapas.
If you haven't checked out the new coffee cafe in the back of the Queen's Attic, you should. It's a cool space and the food, while a limited menu, is very good. Have had lunch there several times.
And a plug to my art teacher -- Bonnie Luck -- she gives great classes and paint parties, as well as being a very, very talented artist.
But, cool businesses in Alex City will only survive if people support them and spend money there.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
LOL - NT
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Date:
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4/7/2011 10:11:40 AM
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| Name: |
momo
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| Subject: |
An update to this Issue
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Date:
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4/7/2011 1:14:02 PM
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John C, Didn't I see somewhere on another post that you live in Montgomery????????
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
Boone -?, Groupon done, list done
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Date:
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4/9/2011 11:03:01 AM
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Kizma-
A. Boone -good luck with that one. While we're at it maybe sinclairs will give out free beer to lakers!
B. Groupon for Lake Martin - done. I have already started one.
It isn't under the Groupon banner. I did a lot of research into that phenomenon and agree with experts that think it is unsustainable in the long run for 2 reasons: 1. Groupon's cut is too high for small businesses to justify. They aren't getting enough repeat business through it. 2. email based subscription services will continue to deteriorate because the consumer is getting used to more instant forms of coupons like twitter based, location based, or online. Consumers don't like to subscribe to something unless they have to do so. they won't for long, their biz is trending down, which is why I think they made a huge error turning down $5B from Google.
I created a twitter based feed called Lake Martin Buzz. http://lakemartinbuzz.com/ - right now it looks like this but pretty soon I am making it look more like a newspaper. The twitter feed is http://twitter.com/lakemartinbuzz - anyway you can go on there and follow individual lists like the one for restaurants http://twitter.com/LakeMartinBuzz/restaurants - pretty soon I am adding an element called "daily deals" so that you can follow it and see each and every deal for all participating businesses around the lake. This way you don't have to get spammed by emails, you just check the list on twitter or whatever means you like.
Businesses will be able to participate and create and set their own deals which make monetary sense to them. Much easier and much more effective than Groupon for the consumer.
So if you are a small business - you now have a vehicle to do daily deals. Contact me or come to the next MainStreet class and I will help you set up a site, twitter feed, and FB page for free. Get it going now so you will be ready.
Lake consumers - you can get beyond talk and suggestions - you can help by going to twitter and following Lake Martin Buzz or FB at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Martin-Buzz/130166810328375
so I can show the businesses that there is a huge audience out there waiting for them.
C. Bucket list - good idea. Why don't you do one? A lot of people use Yelp to post reviews and do lists like that. I have started a list of cool local farms / food suppliers in the LM area.
see: http://www.yelp.com/list/local-farms-farmers-markets-around-lake-martin-wetumpka
so far I have only geolocated one but there are a lot of cool spots like this around the lake - blueberry farms, farmers' markets, etc.
URL: Lake Martin Buzz
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
I live
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Date:
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4/9/2011 11:05:10 AM
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outside of Montgomery in Pike Road.
My office is in "downtown" Kowaliga. 8424 Kowaliga Rd. at Nail's. Come see me sometime.
My dad's office is still in downtown Alex City. I have a passion small business marketing so I am trying to help.
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
if you're waiting on a County commiss to help?
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Date:
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4/9/2011 11:13:07 AM
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no offense to politicians, but not one of them ever created a job.
If you're waiting for county planners or commissioners to help your business, you're in for a long wait. I don't know what your business is but they can't really do anything meaningful to help you if you don't help yourself.
That's what is so exciting about being in business these days. Small businesses have the same, free access to marketing tools that the big guys have. You can promote your business and help your customers for free with tools like a website, facebook page, and twitter feed. You don't have to have a high dollar media marketing budget. Those days are over.
What I am saying is that Oscar's, for example, is not competing with Niffer's. They both should realize that they are together competing with Blue Ridge GA. Or Folly Beach SC. Or Seaside FL. Or Lake Oconee. etc.
All of the local businesses need to do a better job of promoting themselves online and talking about our community so when people are researching where to vacation, they can see there are plenty of things to do and see at LM.
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
WSJ article re Groupon
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Date:
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4/9/2011 11:17:17 AM
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proved the same conclusion on Groupon and its unsustainability for SBs
URL: Burned By Deal Craze, Small Businesses Get Creative
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Great Post!
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Date:
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4/11/2011 12:04:18 PM
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And thanks for giving your time. That kind of forward thinking benefits us all in one way or another.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
You might....
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Date:
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4/11/2011 12:09:14 PM
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Give the folks in Norcross GA a call. They have a simiilar situation and the revitalazation of Norcross has been very successful. Great restaurants, shops, new park with a stage and performance area. I'll bet they would have lunch with you to tell how they did it.
URL: Sustainable Norcross
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
And...
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Date:
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4/11/2011 12:11:29 PM
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This is what happens when the everyone is on the same page....
URL: Gwinnett Village
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| Name: |
John C
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| Subject: |
thanks for the links, good stuff!!! /EOM
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Date:
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4/11/2011 10:13:07 PM
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
If you decide...
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Date:
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4/11/2011 10:30:56 PM
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to go up there give me a call. I'll be glad to go with you. I don't have many contacts but I might be able to make a connection or two.
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| Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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| Subject: |
Boone -?, Groupon done, list done
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Date:
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4/11/2011 11:05:00 PM
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I'm just catching up on my forum reading....this is a great idea, John. I just posted the link on FB and also on our lake group page. It looks like the membership has grown by 20% already! (from 19 to 24, lol). As people start to sign up and others see it, I think membership will snowball.
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