AW Reunion 2001

"If you plan it, they will come!" Oh wait, wrong quote. Nonetheless, quite true when referring to the AWReunion 2001 held in Las Vegas, Nevada June 28 - July 1. Activeworlds users from around the world traveled to Las Vegas for a weekend extravaganza like no other.

From beginning to end, the weekend was filled with the excitement of meeting fellow Activeworlds users in real life, group activities hitting various Vegas tourist hot spots (can you imagine that many AW users turned loose on Las Vegas at once?), incredibly informative seminars, and enough food to feed a small country or P-70 world!

Although many anxious Reunion attendees arrived early, the event was officially kicked off Thursday night in the luxurious hospitality suite in the Luxor hotel with the Pizza Party Reception. Once people realized they could actually talk to each other without a keyboard in hand, the weekend was off and running! There's nothing quite like meeting that person who you have only exchanged telegrams or chat with, in real life for the very first time. Seeing them walk through the door and being able to ((((((HUG))))) their neck for real is indescribable.

After spending Thursday evening getting to know each other and hitting some of the hot spots along the Vegas strip, Friday morning was kicked off with the first ever LIVE Tech Talk with Roland. In addition to the many topics discussed, he also gave Reunion attendees a sneak preview of the highly anticipated 3.2 version of the browser. Following Roland's seminar was a very valuable session on how to turn your AW talents into revenue, given by long time AW veteran Moria. Many of the seminar attendees left inspired and seeing $$.

After an afternoon of being chauffeured in a limousine to the Star Trek Experience and the Indoor Skydiving, many of the attendees settled back in the hospitality suite to visit with each other, and other AW users via the webcam.

Renowned AW artist Gand launched Saturday's seminars with his Truespace3 session, giving attendees an overview of the programs' features, and walking them through the basics of object and avatar making. Although quite a difficult act to follow, Activeworlds CEO Rick Noll (ENZO) finished up the Reunion seminars with his Community Town Hall. In addition to being polled for their opinion on a host of subjects, attendees were also given sneak previews to a number of projects soon to be released.

Saturday's events were wrapped up with the Gala Catered Banquet held at the Luxor. With the menu ranging from multiple salads to imported cheese and fruit trays to carved prime rib and filet of salmon to garlic roasted potato mousse to Apple Strudel with Caramel Calvados Sauce (just to mention a portion of what was served), there was enough food to feed most of you as well as the Reunion attendees! We wish you could have been there. After milling about, taking group photos and grazing on the abundance of food, a number of the attendees exhibited their singing talents with karaoke.

Although there was a twinge of sadness as the good-byes were said, there was comfort in knowing that in a few hours, we would again be reunited within the AW program that had brought us all together in the first place. This time perhaps a little closer, a little more tolerant of our differences, and with a greater sense of appreciation for the person behind the avatar.

Special thanks to all of the Activeworlds staff and Reunion attendees who made this event possible and so successful!

As the AWReunion pictures are developed, we will post them in the world Reunion and on the org.activeworlds.com/reunion website.

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