Join the Tampa Bay area Twitter users Thursday January 12, 2012 at O’Briens Irish Pub (701 West Lumsden Road
Brandon, FL 33511) from 6-9pm for the #obstweetup.

It’s no secret by now that I have had the honor to work alongside some truly talented people on the Dick Greco for Tampa Mayor Campaign. The one thing that I absolutely loved about the Former (and soon to be again) Mayor was how committed he is to encourage job growth, resources and to bring the technology and Social Media community together. It’s amazing how many bright and talented people live and work all around Tampa Bay. It’s also reassuring to know that there is someone that sees it, gets it and wants to fix it. This is something that is very important to me and that my friends is just one of the reasons why I love Mayor Dick Greco!

At tonight’s very private tech Town Hall meeting we announced that there will be a Five for Five Bash on Saturday  (Feb. 12, 2011) from 3:00pm – 4:00pm at the Dick Greco for Tampa Mayor Campaign HQ. This is a fundraiser and  we are asking everyone to bring a donation in increments of $5 in support of the campaign and Mayor Dick Greco. It could be $5 or $500, but most of all it’s about everyone getting together in support of Dick Greco’s vision.

I am excited to meet new people, see some old faces and to have a great time and I hope to see each and every one of you there!

For more information on the campaign please visit his Official Campaign website.

RSVP on Facebook

The Twitter Hashtag for this event is #GimmieFive and the Hashtag for the campaign in #Greco2011

Dick Greco HQ Address

4001 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa, FL

Connect with the Campaign

Twitter (@FriendsOfGreco)

Facebook

LinkedIn

YouTube

Where: Dick Greco‘s Official Campaign Headquarters (4001 W. Kennedy Blvd.Tampa, FL 33609)

When: Thursday, January 6, 2011  5:30-7:00pm

Who: YOU

Why: Mr. Greco wants to meet YOU

Details: Dick Greco is inviting everyone in the Twitter community to partake in a TweetUp/launch party. You can RSVP on Facebook!

*There will be open Wi-Fi access*

It’s not a secret that I have been working on the  Social Media side of the Dick Greco for Tampa Mayor Campaign. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know the many people that are a part of the team, not to mention Mr. Greco himself.

Hope to see you there!

Epic Thanks Tampa Bay is an amazing event that is taking place tonight in St. Pete, FL. For those of you that are not able to make this fundraising/charitable event you can tune in on Epic Thanks Tampa Bay’s website.

About Our Changemaker

Halley’s K-9s for Veterans provides trained service and companion dogs for disabled Veterans.   Working with dogs that are donated to the program or rescued from a shelter, Halley’s K-9s trains veterans to care for their pets over a period of several weeks so the new teams can learn to work together as one.

About Epic Thanks Tampa Bay

Epic Thanks Tampa Bay 2010 is a grass-roots effort being organized by a diverse group of local entrepreneurs and activists who all believe in working together to bring about an “Epic Change” in Tampa Bay. All funds collected as a result of the Epic Thanks Tampa Bay event will be directed to Epic Change. Epic Change will then allocate half of the monies collected, in the form of a grant, to the designated Tampa Bay area Changemaker, with the remaining funds appropriated to support Epic Change’s global efforts. As the planning process for Epic Thanks Tampa Bay continues to develop and ideas become reality, there still remain endless opportunities for both individuals and organizations to lend their support and resources and make an investment in this epic event.

About Epic Change

Epic Change, the parent organization of Epic Thanks Tampa Bay, believes that people’s stories are assets that can be used as resources to improve their lives. The Epic Change Organization helps people in need share their “epic” true stories in innovative, creative and profitable ways to help them acquire the financial resources they need to create positive “change” in their communities.

Next week (Monday November 15, 2010) I will be educating kids on Social Media. My main topics and

focuses will be on the obvious, staying safe while having fun. I also want to talk about how kids have a one up on adults as they can easily begin to build their personal brands in their teens. They can research and learn so much more. They don’t have to only rely on the

local library, newspaper and news to learn new things. The sky is totally the limit for these kids. With all of this said there is so much more room for mistakes. Things that we do and say Online can stay with us for a very long time and that’s scary. Post the wrong picture and your future employer might see it.

I want to know what parents are concerned about with their children being Online. I am not a parent, I only taught Preschool for 9 1/2 years and am now seeing the kids I first started out teaching joining these sites. I cringe when they request to be friends on Facebook. Not because of what I post, but because of the other people I see them connecting with and the things that they post, how they post it and how others comment. They know no better though. Let’s face it, we are their role models and I know one too many adults that post horrible updates, pictures and do things that could in turn harm them.

So parents, please share with me some of your concerns about your children being Online. I would love to hear them!

Let’s Connect!

If you guys haven’t been following my Tweets, Facebook posts or blogs then you may not know that I am going to be speaking next week at the TEDx PalmaCeia here in Tampa Florida about Social Media and basically how it’s changing so many things.

Here is my invite, but seriously, you guys are invited too!

Let’s Connect!

365 Days of Blogging Challenge | Day 76
 

Tampa- (September 28,2010) On November 7, Conga Caliente, Tampa’s premiere Hispanic festival, will celebrate its 7th anniversary with a day of excitement, education and fun for all ages. This fall festival celebrates Hispanic arts, customs and traditions from around the world. At Conga Caliente, you are sure to find performers from Puerto Rican, Columbian, Cuban, Panamanian, Venezuelan, Spanish or Dominican and other backgrounds that are nationally and internationally recognized. This free admission event will be held at Tampa’s Al Lopez Park, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free parking is located directly across the street at Raymond James stadium. Conga Caliente ranks as one of Tampa’s top five community events and is recognized as one of the most celebrated Hispanic themed festivals in the Central and West parts of Florida. On festival day, Conga Caliente transforms Al Lopez Park into a small city surrounded by villages of diverse interest. The festival brings entertainment, excitement and information for all in one location. “There is entertainment for everyone. Many come for the performers but stay all day visiting the exhibits,” said Maritza Astorquiza, producer of Conga Caliente. The festival includes an art village made up of work from local artist; an extensive youth area which includes entertainment from Radio Disney; a health village, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida; a corporate village; educational displays; a domino area which will host tournaments throughout the day; a cigar area; prizes and giveaways; tasty, traditional ethic foods and a beer garden sponsored by Budweiser. State Farm, Conga Caliente’s presenting sponsor, will host the domino tournament in their pavilion. Registration from the tournament begins at 11 a.m. Conga Caliente players will be competing for a $500 prize! “Conga Caliente welcomes festival goers from all backgrounds, from all over Florida and the United States. The diverse and cultured attendees have truly made Conga Caliente a Tampa tradition,” said Alexis Morgado, Conga Caliente Project Manager. History Conga Caliente was created in 2004 by Coda Sound Inc. Originally, this event was intended to be a onetime festival; however, after 20,000 people attended the first Conga Caliente, this festival became an expected event by the public. Since 2004, daily attendance is approximately 35,000 people. Each year, this festival grows leaps and bounds. Now celebrating its 7th anniversary, this annual event, Conga Caliente is here to stay! Coda Sound is a Production Company with services which include audio visual, staging, sound and lighting needs for community events, sports events, press conferences and corporate events.  Coda Sound Live a division is CS, provides event production and marketing and specializing in Hispanic marketing. ###

Let’s Connect!

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
— Victor Hugo

Music is one thing 99% of the world has in common. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple tapping of your feet to a beat or the ability to play an instrument as if you were an expert. Music makes us feel better on a gloomy day, get’s you in the mood to be motivated, helps get the tears out on sad ones, but most of all…. It’s always there. You can make your own music or listen to someone else.

It’s what you do with the music in your life that matters the most. Do you take advantage of it daily? Do you dance when no one is watching? Do you hum in the elevator? Let’s face it, WE LOVE MUSIC!

If you don’t, I don’t think I will believe you

This coming Saturday (October 9, 2010) is the 4th Annual Universal Music Day. It’s a day of global music recognition meaning it’s a day to celebrate the fact that we have music in our lives to help us remember moments. Do you remember your first kiss? I bet if there was a song playing on the radio, you remember it well. It’s moments like that where we not only remember where we were and who we were with, we remember what was on the radio. Music helps us remember.

I encourage you, no matter where you are in the world, to celebrate Universal Music Day on October 9, 2010.

If you happen to be in the St. Petersburg/Tampa/Clearwater, FL area on October 9th from 1-4 you should stop on by The Pier.

More information on the event here!

365 Days of Blogging | Day 36

Epic Thanks Tampa Bay has officially announced the top five finalists and the public voting round has begun. What does this mean? This means that you….. you…… Yep, even you can vote for the changemaker that you would like to see become the chosen changemaker. The changemakers were brought to our attention via a public nomination round where we ended up with 49 amazing changemaker nominations.

Check out the 5 finalists and go vote!

http://epicthankstampabay.com/vote

365 Days of Blogging Challenge | Day 31

Epic Thanks Tampa Bay has been in the planning process for a few months now and we are just weeks away from the EPIC event. We are still in need for some things that you, the community could help with.

• We are in need of donations for schwag bags
• Sponsorship cash donations
• Entertainment
• Auction items for a silent auction

If you are  interested in helping out please visit http://epicthankstampabay.com