WHERE ONLINE FRIENDS BECOME OFFLINE FRIENDSSocial Infusion provides social media users in the bleeding disorders community with an opportunity to meet and mingle in real life. Hundreds of people in this community interact with one another online through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and more, but most have never met face-to-face. With the National Hemophilia Foundation's 2012 Annual Meeting drawing thousands of members of the community to Orlando, this is a great opportunity to get together and take those online friendships offline. The event is a great icebreaker at the start of the conference.Last year, I hosted the first Social Infusion at English Pub in Chicago. They donated a great space for the event and we hosted approximately 50 attendees, including consumers, NHF chapter staff, HFA board members, pharmacy owners, mobile health developers, pharma marketers and the managing editor of HemAware magazine. This year's event will bring together some of the hemophilia community’s most influential social media users to kickoff the National Hemophilia Foundation’s 64th Annual Meeting. I expect to host approximately 100 people at the event in Orlando, as well as hundreds more across the globe as part of a virtual audience connected through social media.The event is free and includes appetizers and beverages for a limited time. The first 100 guests to arrive at the venue will also receive a Swag Bag. Register above to receive email updates about the event. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram with the official hashtag: #socialinfusion. THE VENUEThe Irish are renowned for knowing how to throw a party, so this year's venue is Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in the Pleasure Island section of Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World ® resort, just 4 miles from the Orlando World Center Marriott. The pub, owned and operated by an Irish company, was built entirely in Ireland, then shipped to Orlando. They offer the very best of authentic Irish food, beers and spirits, plus nightly live entertainment featuring Irish-born musicians and dancers.We will inhabit the Music Room, but will also have access to the connecting patio. The Music Room and patio are located directly across from the entrance to Pleasure Island and will make finding the venue very simple for attendees.TRANSPORTATIONRaglan Road is approximately 4 miles from the hotel... about a six minute trip by automobile. Transportation will be the responsibility of attendees. The Orlando World Center Marriott does provide shuttle service to and from Downtown Disney at the rate of $16 per person roundtrip, but reservations must be made at least two hours in advance. Taxis are also available and are much cheaper if traveling in groups. As the event date approaches, we will try to facilitate meeting times and locations so attendees can meet up with others to share a taxi. Monitor the hashtag #socialinfusion and infuzr.com for more information. Please do not attempt to walk to the venue. It's not a pedestrian-friendly route... and it would take about 90 minutes.Take the shuttle.  Cost: $16 roundtrip. Travel time is approx. 6 minutes. Mears Transportation Group offers roundtrip shuttle service from the Marriott World Center to Downtown Disney at a rate of $16 per person. Hotel pick-up times are 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 pm. but reservations must be made at least two hours in advance. Call (407) 423-5566 for reservations. Returns from parks are based on park operating hours. Contact the hotel concierge for schedule. Take a taxi.  Cost: $10-15 each way (per taxi, not per person). Travel time is approx. 6 minutes.This information was obtained from TaxiFareFinder and confirmed with Yellow/City Cab. They do not charge for additional passengers and each taxi can hold up to four passengers (the fare split is about $3-4/person). Vans are available upon request and can hold up to seven passengers, but there will be an additional charge. Call (407) 422-2222 or see the hotel concierge to call a taxi. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by clicking the button along the right side of this page. I look forward to seeing you in Orlando. Visit EventBrite.com for pricing.