Thank You to Pat Coyle and those Behind the Scene who Help

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

As the Franchise Owner for BNI Central and Southern Indiana I often listen to people who take a great deal of time telling me about everything they think I am doing wrong and most often they do not offer a solution. So I really appreciate it when I get a note or a call from someone thanking me or giving me a pat on the back.

Pat Coyle has a community here that is more that 3 times the size of my Franchise and I know he gets a lot of complaints from people who want to tell him everything that is wrong.

But today it might be nice if we just say THANK YOU to Pat and those in the background who help Pat with this community. It takes money and time to run this community and these are people who make a commitment to its success. People like, Doug Karr, Eric Deckers, Kyle Lacy, Lorraine Ball and her team and I am sure there are more I know nothing about!

So today, leave a comment, a POSITIVE note thanking those who make SI possible!

[Erik Deckers]

I'm pleased and honored that my name was mentioned with people like Doug, Kyle, Lorraine, and of course, Pat (who created this whole thing, and Doug Karr for making it run). But there are sooooo many people whose names should be mentioned too. I know it sounds really hokey, but this is one of those cases where "we're ALL winners." Like Robby said, everyone who is on here helped make Smaller Indiana what it is today.

If it wasn't for everyone, Pat would just be one guy tilting at windmills. Instead, all of us have created a group that the windmills tilt at.

[Robby Slaughter]

Everybody who is active on Smaller Indiana deserves tremendous credit for helping this organization to grow and enabling members to help eachother. A round of applause to all!

[Lorraine Ball]

Joe, I absolutely agree, Pat does ask the best questions,making us think, and sometimes laugh. But he has done more than that with this community. He has introduced literally thousands of people, supported the arts, and local non-profits, fueled multiple business connections as well as casting a huge spotlight on Indiana.

SI reflects the things I love best about Indy - Thanks Pat for putting the framework together, and to the thousands of members whose posts, comments, pictures, videos, questions and more are all part of the amazing fabric which is now Smaller Indiana.

And Hazel, kudos for reminding us to stop and say thanks.

[Shawn Quick-Raflik]

Well said, Hazel! Pat, thank you for your vision of Smaller Indiana. It is a great community that I enjoy being part of every day.

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

Thanks you guys, I know how important it is sometimes to just hear positive comments from others. Let's see if we can get 100 comments here.

[Cindy Hartman]

Amen! We all know that the culture of an organization is created by the leadership. Yes, a few ground rules are in place, but they aren't policed by Pat, Doug, Eric, Kyle and Lorraine, they are policed by the membership. This is extremely critical in its success. It's a self-governed community of givers, helpers, thinkers who care about each other. I don't know of another online community that has achieved this to the extent of Smaller Indiana. I am proud to be a member, and appreciate all the time and effort the leaders give to the rest of us.

Hazel, thanks for the nudge - this THANK YOU PAT, ET AL is long overdue!

[Joe Dager]

I agree Hazel and the people you mention have done a wonderful job. I have always been amazed how communities grow. One of things that I have found is great ideas by themselves, typically fail. But with a small group, Doug, Eric, Kyle, Lorraine and Pat, you can change the world. Been that way for a long time, examples: Our founding fathers, 12 apostles, etc. But just as importantly, it does take is a leader that recognizes the power is in the community and not what he says so much. So, a great thank you to Pat, his forethought and leadership.

P.S. I still think Pat asks the best questions.