(If I knew how to make the text flash brightly, I'd incorporate it here. Use your imagination though. Think fireworks!)

The meeting place for the upcoming Sept. 28 meeting has changed from the less-than-easy-to-deal-with Marriott to the scrumptious Piccolo Mondo Italian Restaurant in Arlington.(See directions below or click on the Web link. It's easier to get to than the hotel and the eatery has a charm all of its own.

The time and date remain the same: Thursday, Sept. 28 with a meet and greet (and fantastic nibbles, trust me) at 6 p.m. followed by our guest speakers at 7 p.m. We should be wrapped up by 8 p.m.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to meet other B2B pros in the DFW area. It's only $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Plus, if you are in DFW and you join ASBPE now, you can save a whopping $5 off the meeting price AND I will give you the rest of 2006 membership as a bonus! Yes, that's nearly 16 months for the price of 12. Be sure to tell them Jyme sent you.

Directions: Piccolo Mondo Italian Restaurant, 829 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76011. Piccolo Mondo is in Arlington. It is in the Whole Foods shopping Center 1 block north of I30 on the northwest corner of Lamar Boulevard and Collins Street (Highway 157). From I30, exit Collins Street, go the North loop. Make a left at the first light (Lamar) from the outer left turn lane. Turn right into the Whole Foods parking lot. The restaurant is to the right of Whole Foods.

I’ll admit it. I don’t regularly read anyone else’s blog for “fun.” If I’m online on my own, I’d rather be playing a game (I rock at cribbage, by the way) or downloading music from iTunes. For work (read: as online because I have to), I read several blogs, although not as often as I should. When I was approached about writing one, it was with trepidation that I gave in. After all, how hard can it be? I can write both simple html code and simple sentences.

Yeah... That’s why I am leaving the meeting topic on Blogging to the experts: Sarah Martinez and Tonie Auer. Here’s a sneak peek at our upcoming Sept. 28 meeting!

Here’s what Sarah Martinez has to say:
Blogs, also known as Web logs or journals, are the latest medium vying for attention in an already crowded market. Chances are many of your readers are at least familiar with blogs, and are probably blogging themselves. Let’s take a look at the rising popularity of blogs and what role they play in business publishing today.

Sarah is staff writer for Garden Center Magazine, where she just introduced a new type of blog to the company's Web site.

And, incoming DFW ASBPE president Tonie Auer is an award-winning freelance journalist who spends many hours writing about the latest business developments in industries ranging from commercial property to garden centers. Tired of the curious looks she received from people when they asked her 'what kind of writing' she does, she finally decided to take up writing for herself and took on the moniker of Army of Mom. She began writing about everything from politics to celebrities to motherhood. No topic is sacred on her blog.

Since Tonie started blogging in July 2004, she has garnered more than a half-million hits and finished in the top three for the 2004 Weblog Awards for Best of the Top 3500-5000 Blogs (a category above where she actually belonged) and won the 2005 Best of the Top 5001-6750 Blogs. About 1,000 people visit her blog at www.armyofmom.com daily.

Like I said, I’m leaving it to the experts!

And, in case you need it again... Please feel free to join us Sept. 28.

What: The "official" DFW ASBPE Chapter Relaunch Party and Meeting
Who: You!
When: Sept. 28, starting at 6 p.m. for a meet and greet and food. The program starts at 7 p.m. with not one, but TWO, experts on blogging.
Where: Piccolo Mondo Italian Restaurant, 829 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76011.
Directions: Piccolo Mondo is in Arlington. It is in the Whole Foods shopping Center 1 block north of I30 on the northwest corner of Lamar Boulevard and Collins Street (Highway 157).
Cost: $15 for nonmembers and $10 for members.

RSVP to me or Tonie.

Wow... It seems like our next meeting is right around the corner. At the same time, I am struggling to remember to write "September" on my checks and it's already the 12th! Yipes! Where did August go? Maybe the excessive, extended heat this year did something to my memory.

Anyway... I have some exciting news. The rest of the details are now here! (Hear the trumpets.)

What: The "official" DFW ASBPE Chapter Relaunch Party and Meeting
Who: You!
When: Sept. 28, starting at 6 p.m. for a meet and greet and food. The program starts at 7 p.m. with not one, but TWO, experts on blogging.
(Posted 9/18) UPDATE: Only the location has changed: We are now meeting at Piccolo Mondo in Arlington off of I30 and North Collins (corner of Lamar and Collins in the Whole Foods shopping center).
Where: The Courtyard Marriott by the Ballpark. The address is 1500 Nolan Ryan Expressway, Arlington, TX 76011, or here’s the Web link.
Cost: $15 for nonmembers and $10 for members.

RSVP to me or Tonie.

More about the program in another posting. I am working on spit-shining that one.

I do hope to see you there.