THANK YOU!!! A special message from the VAF community to the VAs behind the Bash!

[VAF Admin]

It's no small thing, conceiving and organizing a virtual party for a community the size of Virtual Assistant Forums - and none of us can even pretend to know what goes into it. Well, that's not entirely true There are SIX very dedicated VAF members who know exactly what goes into creating and hosting the VAF Bash because they're the ones making it happen this year!!

Please join me in extending a BIG round of applause and an even bigger virtual hug as a show of sincere thanks for the amazing VAs who put the VAF Bash together this year, and make it look so easy.

Tahneesha Smith of A Virtual Blessing approached us last year to create the 2 Year Bash and then again, ever so bravely , this year to conceive and organize the VAF 3 Year Bash. She's quick on the uptake, generates incredible ideas with a swiftness, and has amazing follow through - all qualities of the most successful entrepreneurs out there. Without T, the Bash simply would not be. Thank you Tahneesha!!!!

Darlene Victoria Gonzales of D. Victoria VA not only runs her Multimedia Virtual Assistant practice but also produces the A Virtual Perception Podcast we all know and love. As busy as any small business owner she still finds the time to help make the Bash happen in a major way.

You might know Janine Gregor of Your Virtual Wizard as the VA behind the VAF Blogging Challenge Group - another VA who's 'doing it all' and making it look easy. Janine's dedication to VAF and her dedication to putting the Bash on exemplifies what it means to be a member of a community.

JoCarole Carpenter of Shore Office Services shares time in her busy schedule every month to organize and host fabulous and informative monthly VAF Chatroom events. She's also one of the nicest people you'll ever have the pleasure of networking with. With JoCarole on the Bash team you know the upcoming special chat events are going to be superb!

Lee Drozak of My Office Assistant is always ready to help - her fellow VAF members, the community-at-large and of course her clients. An absolute professional, Lee is also the hallmark of your friendly neighborhood VA [if there was such a thing ] Fortunately, Lee makes VAF her virtual neighborhood! We're very fortunate to have Lee on board to help make the Bash a success.

Tammi Metzler of Write Associate who gave birth to her practice AND her adorable toddler at about the same time could be the poster-mom for the *successful* WAHM movement here at VAF. With Tammi working on the Bash you know it's going to be a flawless and fun event.

On behalf of the VAF community, our gratitude to each and every one of you for the hard work, great ideas, and love you've put into this fabulous event

Members, feel free to add your own special notes of gratitude here!
The party's only just started and we have the actual Bash in mid-April so we really don't even know all that these incredible community members have in store for us - but I know we're all looking forward to it!

[Tess]

Thank you ladies!!! The work you've done on the Bash really shows and we all appreciate it so much I'm really excited to see it all come to fruition in April. In the meantime, I'm really enjoying reading through everyone's submissions and nominations for the various contests.

Great job! This event is already a smashing success because of each of you
XO

[vainparadise]

Great job everyone!! Thanks!

[leedrozak]

Thanks Tess but without Tahneesha this would not be happening. She is the consummate organized event planner. She did a great job last year and is certainly outdoing herself this year too.

[Your Virtual Wizard]

Tess,

Thank you for your lovely post written expressly for the Bash Committee Members. The recognition is appreciated. It has been my pleasure to be a continuing member of the Bash Committee.

Tahneesha really knows how to plan events! She opened up every meeting with a list of organized ideas, dates and suggestions; always asking members for their opinion. No idea was too big or too small. My committee planning colleagues are true professionals! I am honored each year to be in such great company.

Tess, I know that your post is about 'us' but truly, VAF would not be possible without you and Hamid. So I send a sincere thank you to both for building an outstanding community we all can enjoy.

I am reminded of an African proverb and the main topic of Hillary Clinton's book, "It takes a village to raise a child." With so much competition in the VA industry (both domestic and overseas) I continually need to return to 'the VAF village' to raise the child within me. There is not one day I do not leave the boards without having learned something I did not know before whether it be a link to a new resource, a marketing tip, a new way to view a task or a 'how-to-do-something' better. Sometimes I just need to recharge my VA-batteries when a day is not going as planned.

I am grateful and I thank you.

Janine

[agough]

Thank you ladies for dedication and hard work. I know I am personally looking forward to the events and appreciate all you have done and will continue to do.

Have a fabulous evening!

[JoCarole]

Thank you Tess for your kind words, I appreciate each one. I also feel the same as Lee and Janine about you and Hamid. We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for for both of you!

You couldn't ask for a better Bash leader than Tahneesha. She knows exactly what is needed and when. She is a hard act to follow for sure! This is my 2nd year of having the honor of being on the Bash committee and I love it and am looking forward to next year's which I am sure will be even better than this year's.....which will be a challenge.

Everyone on the committee is a joy to work with so that only adds to to it. Looking forward to the week of April 19th when Bash Week starts.

[Action Jackson VA]

Thank you to everyone for putting this together and making it such a fun event!! I too am enjoying reading all of the posts this is great!!

Andrea~

[D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance]

Aww, thank you! Virtual Assistant Forums is where I come to be amongst friends, share resources and sometimes even vent. Without the hard work and dedication Tess and Hamid put into the forum -- the forum wouldn't be what it is (or even around). That in and of itself is a reason to celebrate. Thank YOU for all you do. The community here really is like no other ... I VAF.

[dognose]

Tahneesha & others - what a wonderful birthday bash you've planned for us! It's been a long while since I've attended a party that was this much fun!

I have especially enjoyed nominating other VAs who have offered so much help & inspiration over the past year, as I worked toward launching my biz.

[Gifted Assistant Management]

Thank you! I know that this took a lot of hard work and hours. But I can also feel the excitement surrounding this bash, so one can assume you all had a blast putting it together!

[Essential Office Solutions]

Thank you to these wonderful ladies! This is the first virtual party I have attended and I can see it is going to be terrific due to your dedication and hard work.

to all of you!

[vballiances]

This is my first Bash and I'm so looking forward to all the events these talented ladies have planned for us. I love reading all the posts and hope to contribute soon--although not the elevator speech video one That's a little too scary for me--and besides, I don't have a web cam (yet)!

Thanks to ALL of you who have put this party together and to Tess for the forum itself. I have learned so much since I started following this group and look forward to participating and learning even more. You're the best!

[tsmith]

Wow, thank you all for your kind words. They are truly appreciated.

I really enjoy coordinating the Bash. The VAF Bash idea was conceived out of sincere gratitude for the forums and its masterminds- Tess and Hamid. I know if not for this wonderful free community I would not have started my own virtual assistance business. I am sure, that others feel the same way and this is why we celebrate the Virtual Assistant Forums! This is our small way of giving back.

The VAF Bash is a success because of the great team that virtually works beside me. They are awesome. So thank you, Darlene, Janine, JoCarole, Lee and Tammi for freely giving of your time. Also, thank you Tess for granting our many requests and entertaining our wild ideas so we could present this great event to our fellow VAF members.

I hope you all enjoy it!

[D'Stinction]

I am looking forward to the many events planned for this virtual party! Thank you so much for your thoughts, consideration, hard work and dedication. You are very much appreciated!