Volunteers Charles and Monique in our Franklin Area Climate Team were intrigued by Steve Sherlock's quick intro to many cool ideas, tips and tools available for non-profits working on social change. After our meeting, they asked for some more info on some of the tech topics we heard about tonight... Steve blogs about civic issues in the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, and on a number of personal interests as well. He's volunteered to help FACT maximize its online visibility as we work toward local events on October 24th for the international 350 Teach-In.
On the way out of the meeting, Charles began to put some of the new media concepts together with his own concerns about health care, politics and delivery of information... he's on his way! He asked for some links to sources I've explored over the past three years on my own voyage of discovery into new media and social networking. Others may find this short list helpful, so here it is... please comment and add more links!
Grass Roots Use of Technology conference, sponsored by Organizer's Collaborative, a group I joined after attending in 2006. This year's GRUT will be at Northeastern this year, October 17th, 2009.
Usually OC posts presentations from the past conference, but so far I don't see them on their new site.
One of the interesting thinkers I first met at GRUT is Alison Fine. Alison has published a lot about the new media implications & ramifications that Charles is picking up on. Her blog is good and she also does a monthly podcast called "social good." Her latest book is called "Momentum: igniting social change."
For an introduction to how some people are USING all of this stuff "out of the box" check out "The Action Mill" and co-founder Nick Jehlen... a video of one of Nick's presentation at a past GRUT is now on line at Action Mill. They have a good blog that also is loaded with info on what they're up to. Lots of meat here!
In the parking lot, Charles and I started talking about the Obama Campaign as an example of a modern political campaign that was based on direct contact with the voter, outside the bounds of white male powere structure; the idea of power at the edge rather than at the so-called center of society. For more on the concept of "pushing power to the edges" see Network Centric Advocacy.
The 2005 report which coined the concept of pushing power to the people through technology (I believe) is at this link; http://www.pacefunders.org/pdf/05.06.05%20Final%20Version%201.0.pdf. Well worth reading.
Another superb source for latest info on how people use the web in a democracy, check out the Pew Center for the Internet and American Life.
Happy reading!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Keeping in Touch - Resources to Help You
Thank you to the brave souls who participated in our short survey on non-profit needs. We found your responses helpful. It's clear from the small sample that everyone sees the need for realistic fundraising goals and budgeting to be able to reach your targets. Other needs include assistance designing new ways of reaching your members and prospects and preparing Board members and volunteers to help the organization.
If you did not take the survey but would like to add your own "two cents" to the dialogue, please email me or comment on this post!
Here are some current links for those working on land conservation or other enviro projects:
The summer 2009 issue of "Saving Land" - the Land Trust Alliance magazine - is filled with news you should know about. The online version is now available for download. It includes a two page spread on the major social networking venues and how they can be applied to your organization.
One of the tools mentioned is the photo sharing site flickr. Here's a new photo group I created for photos of Franklin, Massachusetts and one for the Taunton River Watershed that has many outstanding photographs of the now officially Wild and Scenic Taunton River.
A flickr photo pool is basically an online location for people interested in one place, one activity, or an artistic idea to share their images. Some groups have thousands of members and images. If your organization has even a few members who care about the mission, events and activities you sponsor, it's a fun way for them to share person-to-person without going through your hierarchy.
The first step is to create a free flickr account for someone in your organization - a volunteer or staff - and share a few photos on the web. You have the flexibility to set the copyright protections using standard Creative Commons choices. (You can also restrict access to your family or friends if you want to use flickr as a personal or family photo sharing site.)
Once your flickr page has been started, you can then search for other photos already on flickr that relate to your location or your group's issue. Comment on the ones you like to give feedback to the photog!
When you're ready, you can then join groups set up by others and very easily create a group just for your location or cause. Add your own photos to your new group and then invite others to link their photos. And you're off!
Flickr has a very good Help section that will provide initial FAQ and search tools for assistance.
Of course, if you would like help with all of this, please let me know!
If you did not take the survey but would like to add your own "two cents" to the dialogue, please email me or comment on this post!
Here are some current links for those working on land conservation or other enviro projects:
The summer 2009 issue of "Saving Land" - the Land Trust Alliance magazine - is filled with news you should know about. The online version is now available for download. It includes a two page spread on the major social networking venues and how they can be applied to your organization.
One of the tools mentioned is the photo sharing site flickr. Here's a new photo group I created for photos of Franklin, Massachusetts and one for the Taunton River Watershed that has many outstanding photographs of the now officially Wild and Scenic Taunton River.
A flickr photo pool is basically an online location for people interested in one place, one activity, or an artistic idea to share their images. Some groups have thousands of members and images. If your organization has even a few members who care about the mission, events and activities you sponsor, it's a fun way for them to share person-to-person without going through your hierarchy.
The first step is to create a free flickr account for someone in your organization - a volunteer or staff - and share a few photos on the web. You have the flexibility to set the copyright protections using standard Creative Commons choices. (You can also restrict access to your family or friends if you want to use flickr as a personal or family photo sharing site.)
Once your flickr page has been started, you can then search for other photos already on flickr that relate to your location or your group's issue. Comment on the ones you like to give feedback to the photog!
When you're ready, you can then join groups set up by others and very easily create a group just for your location or cause. Add your own photos to your new group and then invite others to link their photos. And you're off!
Flickr has a very good Help section that will provide initial FAQ and search tools for assistance.
Of course, if you would like help with all of this, please let me know!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Survey Open: Services Needed by Non-Profit Community
We are working to find solutions to keep your organization healthy and moving forward even during these tough times.
We are currently developing a non-profit service concept that would be based around your organization’s needs and our strengths. No need is too small or too great.
Please accept our invitation to take our short survey on the current needs of the non-profit conservation community and allied organizations at Survey Monkey.
The survey has 10 short questions. You may take it more than once if you work with, or volunteer with, more than one organization. Thank you!
(Survey Monkey offers free accounts for anyone to run a short web-based survey with sophisticated tools to collect and analyze up to 100 responses. Constant Contact offers a trial subscription for its survey tool. Talk to us to learn more about how online surveys could be used by your organization.)
We are currently developing a non-profit service concept that would be based around your organization’s needs and our strengths. No need is too small or too great.
Please accept our invitation to take our short survey on the current needs of the non-profit conservation community and allied organizations at Survey Monkey.
The survey has 10 short questions. You may take it more than once if you work with, or volunteer with, more than one organization. Thank you!
(Survey Monkey offers free accounts for anyone to run a short web-based survey with sophisticated tools to collect and analyze up to 100 responses. Constant Contact offers a trial subscription for its survey tool. Talk to us to learn more about how online surveys could be used by your organization.)
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