2010030409

Ignite Event Draws 700 To Downtown Raleigh

By R.Gregg, The Raleigh Telegram

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

RALEIGH - A recent meeting of the Ignite social group yielded some interesting presentations on an array of topics, while over 700 people showed up to network and hear the speakers.

The event was held on Wednesday, March 3rd at the Lincoln Theater in downtown Raleigh and is part of a local effort to showcase new ideas and community-based topics to movers and shakers in the Raleigh area.

Around 20 presenters have five minutes to go through 20 slides as they expound on their topic. Some presentations are more serious while others are more humorous, but they all strive to be entertaining as well.

The event was emceed by local comedian Zach Ward, who later dressed in a rd tutu to get the audience’s attention after the intermission.

Presentations during this event ranged from the benefits of female boxing to how to become a better speaker. Other topics included how to host microfundraisers for charity, the redneck guide to Silicon Valley, 20 tips for startups, how to fight zombies, and others.

One presentation by Laurie Ruettimann entitled “Why My Cat Can Get A Job Before You” focused on her famous cat while dispensing job search and networking tips along with humor.

“Scrubby [my cat] is not all that handsome and not all that bright,” she joked.

Local celebrities were present as well including WRAL-TV’s Elizabeth Gardner who showed what her schedule was like in “A Day In The Life Of A Meteorologist Who Gets Up At 3AM,” and Miss NC USA Nadia Shirin Moffett. Local author George Smart also presented a slide show on Triangle Modernist houses as well.

For more information on the free group, visit their website at www.igniteraleigh.com.

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