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A social web sampler for social change

Tuesday, February 7, 2012: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Valentine's chocolate

 

Using the social web for social change can be — dare we say it — like a box of chocolates. There are lots of choices, and they’re all tasty, but you probably shouldn’t eat them all.

How do you figure out what online services, tactics and approaches make sense for your nonprofit, social good project or activism?

Join us at Philly NetSquared’s Social Web Sampler to share tastes of the different options out there. We plan to have 15 small group discussions — five simultaneous discussions x three 20-minute time slots. (Sessions 1-5 for 20 minutes; then sessions 6-10 for 20 minutes; then sessions 11-15 for 20 minutes.)

What are the topics?  Well, here’s what has been offered so far (in no particular order):

  • Desktop tools to help manage the social web flood, led by Warren Allen.  There are many social media platforms out there on the Web: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and more on the horizon. Also, some organizations have many people who use those sites on behalf of the organization. What a mess!!! In this discussion we will get hands-on with a couple of great tools that can help you manage the situation and improve your organization’s social Web presence.
  • Email Marketing & Social Media, led by Crystal Gouldey.  How social media ties in with email marketing to build a larger audience for nonprofits.
  • Improving your Organization’s Website for Better UX, led by Michael Tedeschi. One of the biggest issues with growing web technology is keeping your organization’s website up-to-date and streamlined for better user experiences. Join this discussion to learn about some best practices about user interface design, information architecture, and web design to present your information clearly and easily to your target audiences.
  • Mobile Site or App for your Org?, led by Nate Gasser.  Mobile internet use is growing rapidly and estimates say it could overtake desktop use as early as 2014.  Your organization can communicate with mobile users through social media like Facebook, or existing apps like Foursquare, but does it make sense for your organization to launch its own mobile website?  How about a native iPhone or Android app?  Let’s discuss the options and share ideas and experiences with sites and apps.
  • Legal issues with business adoption of social media applications, led by Frank Taney.  Non-profit institutions and other businesses stand to gain substantial benefits from harnessing the power of social media applications.  However, there are legal and operational risks inherent in indiscriminate use of these applications.  I would discuss those risks as well as potential methods to avoid or at least mitigate those risks.
  • Tools for audio podcasting, led by “Podcast Steve” Lubetkin.  A few cool tools you can use for audio podcasting and how they work.
  • Making Social Media Part of Your Regular WorkDay, led by Gloria Bell.  The sheer volume of information streaming in from social media can be overwhelming.  Add finding time to digest it and be an active participant in the conversations and it feels easier to just not do it or, worst yet, to do it with half an effort.  We will discuss tips, tricks and tools you can use to incorporate the stream of information into your regular work day without feeling overwhelmed.
  • Timebanking, led by Jim Wurster.  A TimeBank seeks to reweave a local community through an extended, volunteer-based ‘circle of giving.’  By sharing the skills, experience and needs of our community, we empower both ourselves and the communities in which we live.  I’ve helped develop our TimeBank in Media, PA and can share lessons learned and help think about how it might work in your community.
  • Web and media strategies to maximize your reach, led by Rob Kall.  I’ll briefly present an overview of building a “platform” for you or your org, then how to tap the power of the web and media to maximize your reach and effective use of the resources available, using case examples.  The overview will include blogging, facebook, google alerts, twitter, youtube, cross-posting to alternative media, email, listserves, print, and more.  My background— I founded and built opednews.com, ranked by technorati as one of the top 100 blogs in the world, overall. I consult on the use of the web and media for non-profits, corporations and authors.
  • Multi-channel Social Media Marketing, led by Ralph Medley.  Using many different marketing channels  as part of the marketing strategy to get the word out, to ensure that the “Word Of Mouth” is happening and that vital buzz is generated as people share the latest news with their groups and networks.
  • Utilizing Mobile for Better User Experiences, led by Michael Tedeschi.  As the market share of smartphone users continues to grow (over 40% of American cell phone users have them), not taking advantage of mobile applications and mobile-friendly websites can lead to lost viewers. By branching out to this market and making use of current best practices for mobile web, non-profits organizations can expand their presence to their wider audience. This discussion will talk about user experience and interface design for mobile web, the current technology, and how to best use it.
  • Tools for video podcasting, led by “Podcast Steve” Lubetkin. A few cool tools you can use for video podcasting.
And more slots are available.  You’re invited to fill in this form to lead a discussion on some (any) aspect of social networking, social media or some other social tool or topic, and how it might apply to nonprofits and social change efforts. Blogs, wikis, Facebook, YouTube, folksonomy… you get the idea.  You may be an expert on the topic; or you may just be willing to lead a discussion on a topic you’re interested in.  It’s sort of like a mini-unconference.

Like our previous Social Web Samplers, this will be a highly interactive gathering with lots of shared knowledge, networking and excitement. Refreshments (including chocolate!) will be available.

NOTE: Because of the small-group format, we will NOT be streaming or recording this event.

Thanks to the American Friends Service Committee for sponsorship.

Sponsored By: 
  • American Friends Service Committee

Crowdsourcing Change: Applying the Social Web to Some Important Philly Projects

Tuesday, January 3, 2012: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Crowdsourcing: Fishing for social change through group effort
Featuring: 
Deni Kasrel
Caroline Bean from GPTMC
Jacques Sapriel from PhillyEcoCity
Iris Marie Bloom from Protecting Our Waters

We’re excited to kick off the new year with another edition of our popular “Crowdsourcing Change” program on Tuesday, January 3. We’ve lined up three terrific projects eager to receive the wisdom of our crowd.

In case you’ve never been to one of these lively events, here’s the way it works: Each presenter shares how they’re using online marketing and the social web to achieve their goals and objectives. Then the crowd (that’s you!) participates in a facilitated discussion about how each presenter might use the social web to even greater effect. It’s a fun format for learning, sharing and potentially making a significant contribution to worthy projects.

We start gathering at 6 PM at the Friends Center (1501 Cherry Street). Light fare is available and RSVP’s are appreciated. Not in Philly? Or can’t make it downtown? Watch the live Internet stream at http://phillynetsquared.org/live, and contribute your questions and comments via our Twitter backchannel (hashtag: #phlnet2).

Here are the presenters we’ve lined up for the January 3 program:

  • Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), publisher of the region’s official visitor site VisitPhilly.com and the “what happening” blog uwishunu.com. GPTMC works to lure leisure travelers to Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, through marketing and image building that promotes the region’s vitality and highlights its many attractions.  Focus questions GPTMC would particularly like to address:
  • What are the best new tools for us to use to engage with our potential traveler? Google+? Pinterest? Tumblr? Something else?
  • Our social media efforts pay off when we partner with other organizations and brands. Who do you think could work as potential partners in social media promotions to raise Philadelphia’s image as a destination?
  • PhillyEcoCity, a virtual meeting place for people across the Philadelphia region who are interested in environmental and sustainability issues to find information, collaborate, and inspire one another.  Focus questions PhillyEcoCity would particularly like to address.
  • Is there a way to use social media for find like-minded people to help build this organization with me?
  • How do I use social media to create synergy among people and organizations that have the same passion and interest for sustainability?
  • Protecting Our Waters is a Philadelphia-based grassroots alliance committed to protecting the Delaware River Basin, the state of Pennsylvania, and our region from unconventional gas drilling, such as fracking, and other threats to our drinking water, environment, and public health.  Focus questions Protecting Our Waters would particularly like to address:
  • How can we make our blog more interactive and increase its readership without putting a strain on our tiny volunteer staff?
  • Some people oppose fracking based on common sense, but feel intimidated when “bigwords” or tough concepts are used.   Others only take a stand when detailed scientific studies are noted.   How can Twitter and Facebook best be used to mobilize both types into taking a vigorous stand for a moratorium now?

This promises to be an interesting, unique and practical event. Please join us in person, or online.

Special thanks to our sponsors, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

Sponsored By: 
  • American Friends Service Committee

The Occupy Movement and the Social Web: Views from Multiple Occupy Sites

Tuesday, December 6, 2011: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Occupied and Free: Perfect together
Featuring: 
Vanessa Graber
Chris Goldstein
Bobbie Sonner -- from Greensboro
John Wright -- from Greensboro
Gordon Dymowski -- from Chicago
Others to be announced

The Occupy Movement has swept over the country and the world.  Here in Philadelphia, Occupy Philly was encamped at City Hall since October 6, until last week’s eviction.  But it is still going strong.  All of the Occupy sites around the world are constantly evolving into yet unknown structures.  But one thing remains constant: the heavy reliance on social tools.

  • How have Occupy sites been using social media and social networking tools?
  • How are these uses similar to, or different from, those of the “Arab Spring” and other international liberation movements?
  • How do changes to PHYSICAL Occupy encampments (due to Winter, forced evictions, etc.) affect the role of these VIRTUAL tools?

But the Occupy movement is, of course, much more than Occupy Philly.  So, we are planning a video conference so that multiple sites can share their experiences and perspectives with one another, and with you.  Our event will include live participation from social media representatives of:

  • Occupy Philly
  • Occupy Chicago
  • Occupy Greensboro (NC)
  • and possibly one more (depending on its own eviction events)

As usual, we’ll stream the event on the Internet (via http://phillynetsquared.org/live), and use the Twitter hashtag #phlnet2, so anyone around the world can also participate.

In downtown Philly, we’ll gather at the Friends Center (1501 Cherry Street).  We’ll start the video conference some time between 6:30 and 7:00 PM, so please get there on time. Lite food will be served.

RSVP’s are strongly encouraged for this event.  Since Occupy Philly and other Occupies are moving targets, we want to be able to alert people to any last minute changes.

Thanks to the American Friends Service Committee for sponsoring.

Sponsored By: 
  • American Friends Service Committee

Digital Content: Protection & Infringement for Nonprofits & Social Causes

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Copyright can be puzzling.
Featuring: 
Dina Leytes
Alan Lewine

What Every Non-Profit and Activist Needs to Know About Digital Content Protection and Infringement: Practical Advice on Copyright, Trademark and Other Types of Intellectual Property

Do you publish content to social media, a website or an e-newsletter? If so, then you need to be aware of the do’s and don’ts of intellectual property law, which includes copyright, trademark and trade secret law.

We’ll explore these issues and more at Net Tuesday, November 1, starting at 6:00 PM at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street (or online via http://phillynetsquared.org/live).

In this highly informative program our two presenters will offer insights and practical details regarding intellectual property including:

  • Basic explanations of the key areas of intellectual property law
  • Who owns social media and other digital media content
  • What you need to do to protect your content
  • How not to infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights

We’ll also explore the use of copyright and contract law to create “partial” copyright protection while encouraging distribution of your content.  Sometimes called “copyleft” one much-used example is the set of licenses offered by Creative Commons.  We will review some of the basic rights protected by copyright and discuss how to choose which rights to protect and mechanisms to enable and limit copyright to fit your needs.

As usual, the program includes plenty of time for questions and to explore how these issues apply to your own specific situation.

Moderated by Deni Kasrel

Our two presenters:

Dina Leytes, who has been to several Net Tuesdays, is an associate at Griesing Law, LLC, where her practice is focused on commercial litigation, intellectual property and new media matters, including trade secret, copyright and trademark-related litigation. Dina counsels businesses and organizations on a range of strategies and solutions relating to e-commerce, online-content protection and infringement, licensing agreements, domain names disputes, social media legal risks and First Amendment law. She also represents clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Prior to entering private practice Dina worked for the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center in Geneva, Switzerland.

Alan Lewine specializes in transactional and policy matters pertaining to internet, copyright, information technology and television production law. His clients and employers have included AOL, PBS, National Geographic Television, Comcast, MCI and Intelsat.  Alan’s involvement in digital copyright issues dates to his 1996 work with David Post, Lawrence Lessig and Eugene Volokh in producing “Cyberspace Law for Non-Lawyers,” distributed by email listserv. Alan is currently in-house senior counsel for a major internet service provider. He serves on the board of directors of the Center for the Copyright Information, Inc. Alan is also an accomplished jazz bassist and composer. Some of his recordings are available for free download on Myspace and elsewhere, subject to a limited “copyleft” license.

Sponsored By: 
  • American Friends Service Committee

Location-based services for nonprofits and social causes

Tuesday, October 4, 2011: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Featuring: 
Robert Cheetham
Rachel Weeden
Cliff Stevens
Gloria Bell
Ivan Boothe

 

Whether checking in with FourSquare, finding the nearest Starbucks or reporting on violent events witnessed in Kenya, location-based services are becoming more common, more useful and more creative.  The Pew Internet and American Life Project reports that 28% of American adults are using location-based services.

At our next Net Tuesday we’ll demonstrate and discuss these sorts of services, why they’re important, and how they may be helpful to you. 

We’ll begin gathering at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 4, at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street.  We’ll also be streaming the event live over the Internet (see http://phillynetsquared.org/live) and supporting a Twitter backchannel (via hashtag #phlnet2) to welcome participation from those NOT based at our location.

Who should participate in this event?

  • Nonprofits and social activists can learn about and discuss opportunities for how this fast-growing feature of modern life might be used to engage their supporters and advance their causes.
  • Techies can learn about and share current tools for creating compelling, effective services.
  • All of us can discuss where location-based services are going and how they can enhance our lives.

We’ll have a highly interactive discussion with some local experts who are heavily involved in location-based services, including:

  • Robert Cheetham, President of Azavea, which specializes in geographic data, geospatial analysis and the web.  Robert will talk about Augmented Reality: seeing the city with location-based digital overlays.  He’ll present an overview of the development of an NEH-funded prototype for an augmented reality application that used photographs from PhillyHistory.org.  What works, what doesn’t work and where the technology is going.
  • Rachel Weeden, Solution Engineering Manager at Esri, which “is built on the philosophy that a geographic approach to problem solving ensures better communication and collaboration”.  Rachel will describe ArcGIS Online, an open data platform for maps and geographic information that allows geographic data to be delivered as simple, useful maps. It includes free applications that require little to no training and are great for non-GIS users. ArcGIS Online can be used within an organization, or to share information with a larger community and the public.
  • Cliff Stevens, founder of Lokadot, a brand new mobile application that serendipitously streams crowd-sourced audio files based on your location.  Cliff will talk about the trends for people using their mobile devices for listening to audio/music and video, what are organizations doing, and what location-based mobile solutions are they using, to engage with their constituencies so as to leverage these trends and new-found capabilities.

  • Gloria Bell is Principal of Red Stapler Consulting, and an active force behind numerous local social media groups and events (including the Social Media Club and the upcoming SocialMediaPlus web 2.0 business summit (for which Philly Net Squared members can get a 15% discount).   Gloria will discuss FourSquare, the hyper-popular service for checking in your whereabouts, and how it can be used effectively by nonprofits.

So, come and join the discussion, learn about some exciting new social applications and technologies, and consider new ways that location-based services may be able to help you achieve your own objectives.

Sponsored By: 
  • American Friends Service Committee
  • Chevy Volt

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