This year will be my first chance to experience the Orange Conference. I am absolutely thrilled! I’m excited about the opportunity to travel twelve hours each way talking to my pastor about the Orange strategy and we can better implement it in our church. I’m excited about hearing amazing keynote and workshop speakers. I’m excited about the welcome pack and the nametag. But what I’m most excited about is the people I’m going to meet while there.
I’ve been blogging and tweeting for a while now and I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people online. Now, I am going to get the opportunity to meet a bunch of them in person, as well as many new people. The following is a short list (in no particular order) of some of the people I’m excited to meet. If you are not on this list, there is a good chance it is because I don’t know you’re going, so leave a comment and let me know you’ll be there.
Dan Scott. Dan is one of the most authentic kidmin bloggers out there. He openly shares about his personal life and his ministry life. Plus, he makes awesome 252 Basics virtue and bottom line slides. I can’t wait to talk with him about life and kidmin.
Kenny Conley. Kenny was one of the first people to get behind me and support me as I ventured out into the online kidmin world. I’ve had a few email conversations with him, but I’m really looking forward to talking with him face to face.
Jim Wideman. Jim is an icon in kidmin and I realize his time will probably be highly coveted. If I can just shake his hand and say hi, I will be content. However, I have a list saved in my phone of questions to ask him if I get the chance.
Matt McKee. Matt is one of those guys that I would like to meet just because I’m sure if I got within proximity to him I’d be instantly cooler. Plus, I’m sure the guy is a human wi-fi spot and I can use him to upload some blog posts while I’m there.
Sam Luce. From what I can tell about Sam, he is a pretty smart guy, especially when it comes to kidmin. He also seems like a guy who knows how to have a good time. I love having a good time and I’m hoping to be in the same place as him for at least a little bit.
Barbara Graves. Barbara is the hardest working person in kidmin. Seriously. Also, Barbara and I have been working together on the kidmin1124 project, so we have that in common. It will be awesome to meet her in person, though I’m going to have to be quick. (On an only slightly related note, do you know the scene in Over the Hedge when the squirrel drinks the coffee and moves really fast. That’s how I imagine Barbara.)
Wendy Douglas. Wendy is another member of the kidmin1124 team and other than Wayne, I think I’ve gotten to know her the best through the project. Unfortunately, I still don’t know her all that well. I’m hoping to change some of that during Orange.
Amy Dolan. Amy is just a really great asset to the kidmin community and besides her blog, she has also helped bring us the What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry e-book and web conference, as well as the What’s in the Bible curriculum. She’s certainly a pivotal member of the kidmin community.
Once again, if you’re going to be at Orange this year, let me know in the comments. If you read this blog, I definitely want to meet you so I can find out what’s wrong with you!
Those are some great people! I’ll be there too.
I totally thought you were on this list, until I read your comment. I’m definitely looking forward to meeting you there too!
I’m so excited that I will finally get to meet you in person, Jared! It is a big part of what makes Orange such a great conference for me; getting to meet all these twitter friends and hang out some. I met everyone on your list last year at my first Orange conference. They were all so gracious, sharing their “superstar” time with a newbie to the #kidmin twitter world. It will be a great time. Just get lots of sleep before you come. Late night tweet-ups are awesome.
I think that is part of what makes kidmin so amazing, the acceptance of even the newest of us into the group. From the moment I started blogging and tweeting I have felt so accepted and supported. It’s really going to be a life-changing experience for me, I’m sure.
Planning on being there! Can’t wait to hang with all of the above and you! I had to laugh at your description of Barbara… I’m seeing the resemblance 😉 And like she said… be sure to sleep up or insert an IV pump of coffee!
You were still on the fence when I wrote this, but now that I know you’re going to be there, I’m pumped about hanging out! I’m planning on buying some stock in all the major coffee companies the week before Orange. I figure sales probably shoot up about that time.
Jared, the nice thing about traveling with your pastor is he will be a captive audience and you will have his full attention. However, if he starts saying uh huh too much make sure he is still listening. Throw out something really silly like “I think your hair is on fire.” You’ll know if he is listening then.
You should know me better than that. I don’t care if anyone is listening, as long as they don’t stop me from talking. 🙂
so great to meet you tonight, jared! looking forward to many more conversations!
It was nice to meet you too, Amy. I’m looking forward to future conversations as well.