HoNoToGroABeMo you have my heart!

We made our goal this year and that is awesome. I also had my best year in terms of fund raising by 200%, which is awesome. Plus, I did this Manly Points thing this year and that was fun and seemed to encourage some others to post more and that was awesome.

Last year I felt like we had a financial success but I didn't take the time to connect with the community as much. I didn't read many posts. I didn't engage in many conversations. This year I vowed to do it better. I read every post and I responded to many of them, either by comments or through the manly points bonus points system.

There were some fantastic themes going on this year as well. I really liked the Beard Anonymous mix and had a lot of fun with Brian's "evil beard".

I want to also comment on the fantastic-ness I get out of HoNoToGroABeMo that I've noticed every year. First, and foremost, I get to help people. Women people...even better. Second, I get to be part of an awesome community full of people who want to help people. Third, it's a huge boost to my productivity. Each year as the school year starts I get busy with that and all my projects in life take a back seat. The self-imposed obligation to post daily here ends up being the kick in the butt that I need every year that kicks up my productivity again. As a result of my time on this site I am fruitful from December through August...and that's no small something.

For the women, thank you HoNoToGroABeMo. For the people, thank you HoNoToGroABeMo. For making me a better person, thank you HoNoToGroABeMo.

Now, the final Manly Points wherein we will discover who the manliest man of the bunch is. Everyone gets a bonus 5,000 points for meeting our goal...this is not reflected below. This time in order from most points to least!

Cmaaarr - 349 (+10 for winning)

Pete - 348 (+5 for bringing loads of cash...and since we know that sponsorship money makes beards grow, and beards are next to manliness...bringing in sponsorships means manliness)

Bob - 339 (+10 for helping to make all this possible)

Jim - 330

Wesley - 316

Kris - 315

Jeffrey - 306

A Dam - 300

Brian - 285

Chooch - 260

Jason - 252 (Not bad for starting a week late)

Drew - 216

Wannes - 209

Michael - 149 (+10 for sushi, -5 for whining about not getting points for it instead of waiting until he had posted about it)

Duane - 145

Brian E - 140 ( I opted to go Brian over Beard A Non based entirely off of funds raised...Beard A Non had it on pics, but as I established before, sponsorships are close to manliness)

Beard A Non - 140

Fred - 109

Chris - 80

And with this...the only thing left to come by the site for now is the highly anticipated Cmar awards.

I'll see you all next year!