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It’s our anniversary!  Philly NetSquared started holding monthly Net Tuesday gatherings of people “interested in using the social web for social change” back in May, 2008.  And, for our second anniversary, we’re going to hold a “Social Web Sampler”.

The Sampler will be an opportunity to address how various social web tools can help YOUR nonprofit or social action cause.  Blogs.  Wikis.  Mapping.  Facebook.  Podcasts.  Photo sharing.  RSS.  Videoblogging.  Mobile applications.  Twitter.  Tagging.  LinkedIn.  Digg.  Meetup.  And so much MORE!

•  How are nonprofits and activists using these tools?
•   How can they be used most effectively for YOUR nonprofit or social cause?
•   What are the latest developments and trends?

The evening will be divided into two major sections: Small Groups and Large Group.

First, we’ll have time-limited, small group discussions around a specific social web tool or topic and how it applies to social change or the nonprofit world.  Which particular social web tools will be discussed, and who will facilitate those discussions?  That’s up to you.  You’re all invited to lead a discussion.  Maybe you’re an expert in using one (or more) of these tools.  But you don’t have to be an expert.  Perhaps you are just interested in a tool or topic and want to enjoy a discussion focused on it.  YOUR interests and passion will shape the agenda.

We plan to have three 15-20 minute discussion periods, each with 4-5 simultaneous groups, resulting in a total of 12-15 small group discussions focused on a particular social web tool or topic.  Each small group discussion will have a computer available for real-time demonstrations (and wireless is available).  Small group topics people have already volunteered to lead include:

• Twitter (Sara Cederberg & Warren Allen)
• Podcasting (Steve Lubetkin)
• Facebook (Judah Ferst)
• Blogging (Ivan Boothe)
• Video web conferencing (Tim Siftar)
• Facebook (Sara Cederberg)
• Monitoring social media impact (Cliff Stevens)
• WordPress (Jim Wurster)
• Flickr (Ralph Medley & Tony Heriza)
• Content management systems (Nate Gasser)

If you’re interested in leading a group discussion, please sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/SocialWebSampler.  Please sign up before midnight on Sunday, May 2 to be sure to secure a slot.

Then, after our thinking has been stimulated by these small groups, we’ll regather into a large group, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the collective wisdom of the entire crowd by asking about applying these tools and strategies to your own situation.

This will be a highly interactive gathering with lots of shared knowledge and excitement.  Lite fare will be provided if you’re hungry.  Hope to see you there.  RSVP’s via Meetup or Facebook (links above) are appreciated.

We gratefully acknowledge the American Friends Service Committee, who sponsored our kick-off event two years ago, and has graciously offered to sponsor this anniversary event also.

“Crowdsourcing Change” will be a highly participatory event where attendees will have an opportunity to help three “Social Changers” who are using — or trying to use — the social web for the common good.

Presenters will first explain the change they are trying to achieve through social media. Attendees, with the help of a moderator, will then provide feedback, ideas, constructive criticism and concrete instructions to help the presenters succeed.

The three presenters will be:

• Megan Barnes of Dignity Housing, a non-profit organization established by people who were formerly homeless to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty confronting low-income and homeless families and individuals in Philadelphia.
  Read Dignity Housing’s project description.
• Darlene Cavalier, of ScienceForCitizens.net, a place for citizens to find out about, take part in, and contribute to science through recreational activities and research projects and for scientists to tell eager citizens about your work and get them interested in helping out.
  Read ScienceForCitizens.net’s project description.
• Medard Gabel of EarthGame, who is working with the UN on developing a giant “dashboard” for the world, a 32 foot by 8 foot high-definition video wall will be a permanent installation at the UN Headquarters in New York where millions of people will see it. There will also be an interactive web version. The purpose is to provide an overview and status report on what is happening right now on Spaceship Earth.
  Read EarthGame’s project description.

We’re planning an interactive discussion with some exciting case studies of how nonprofits and grassroots community groups are using the social web — networks like Facebook and media like YouTube — to inspire leadership among their supporters and deepen their commitment to the cause.

Takeaways:

• How can organizations use the social web to empower supporters to move to the next level of commitment — from passive subscriber to active community leader, from event attendee to event volunteer, from anonymous donor to community fundraiser?
• What tools can organizations employ not only to ensure that their message gets out, but so that supporters also learn to speak with their own voice about the cause?
• What kind of metrics can you use to measure your level of success in the social web? How can you approach executive staff or board members unfamiliar with online social networks and social media?

We’ll be joined by Bryan Mercer from the Media Mobilizing Project. MMP exists to unleash the powerful combination of communications, media making and organizing in order to clarify the issues at stake, document lived human realities, and act as a tool to inspire and unite those who have a vested interested in change. They’ve worked with grassroots organizations including the Philadelphia Student Union, PA Head Start Association, Taxi Workers Alliance of PA, UNITE-HERE Hotel Workers Rising Campaign and the African American Business and Residents Association to implement new tactics for the creative use of media in organizing campaigns.

In addition, we’ll examine some specific case studies, like Casino-Free Philadelphia and others (including those raised by you, the attendees).

Using social media to cultivate leadership is an exciting and quickly developing phenomenon. If you’d like to read some more about it, feel free to check out these resources:

• Community Organizer 2.0 web site
• “Does Millions of Followers Mean You’re Changing the World?” (blog post on Frogloop)
• “Gurus Are Not Enough: A Call for Organizers and Organizing in Social Media” (blog post on Rootwork)

RSVP’s are appreciated, but are by no means required. Feel free to stop by, and bring a friend.

RSVP: via Meetup (nice, but not necessary)
Questions?: contact philly@net2tuesday.org

Whether you’re a newbie or an old hand, we’ll use our August meeting to share thoughts about how particular Web 2.0 technologies have been used (and could be in the future). We’ll have an open, facilitated discussion about various elements of the Web 2.0 landscape. Those who are unfamiliar can ask questions; those who are experienced can share insights and tips; and we can all envision how these tools might be applied to our present circumstances and dreams.