Next Austin 501 Tech Club meeting:

Date:  Monday, December 14, 2009 (NOTE THIS IS NOT THE USUAL 3RD MONDAY!)
Time:  5:30 pm Pizza, beverages and general camaraderie, 6:00 pm  Presentation
Where:  Austin Free-Net offices, 2209 Rosewood Ave, 2nd Floor, Austin, TX  78702

Speaker:  Deltina Hay on Basics of WordPress as a content management system for nonprofits

WordPress was recently awarded the Overall Best Open Source CMS Award in the 2009 Open Source CMS Awards, and for good reason. More than just a blogging platform, WordPress is a powerful and user friendly CMS (Content Management System). This presentation will show you the basics of how to build a WordPress powered Website, including:

• Advantages of using WordPress as a CMS
• Diversity of WordPress Websites
• The anatomy of a WordPress Website
• Steps for planning your WordPress Website
• Maintaining and optimizing a WordPress Website

A veteran Web developer and publisher, Deltina Hay is a pioneer of social media and Web 2.0, especially as it applies to small business and the publishing industry. She is the owner of Dalton Publishing, Social Media Power, and the innovative social media website service, PlumbSocial.com. A long-time advocate of open source technologies, Hay has been  programming and doing Web development in one form or another for over 25 years. Her graduate education includes computer science, applied mathematics, and psychology. Her book, A Survival Guide to Social Media and Web 2.0 Optimization, can be found or requested anywhere books are sold.

Call Dale on her cell if you get lost:  512.576.9666

Austin Nonprofit Bar Camp!

Event Details:

Date:  Saturday, November 14th

Time: 10:00 a.m. -- 4:00 p.m.

Location: ACC Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Road

Keynote Delivered by: Holly Ross from NTEN

Nonprofit Camp is sponsored by: NTEN, 501 Tech Club, EFF, Plutopia Productions, 501derful.org, Austin Social Media Club, and GNI Strategies

What It Is:

Austin Nonprofit Camp is a free, facilitated and participant driven conference that will be the place in Austin for non profits to learn and troubleshoot their technology problems in a supportive, collaborative setting.

Nonprofit Bar Camp is being spearheaded by David J. Neff, Jon Lebkowsky, Maggie Duval and Matt Glazer. Their goal is to take the successful Bar Camp model and apply it to expand understanding and awareness of  technology within the non-profit community in Central Texas.  

How It Works:

Nonprofits and technology folks come together to have conversations about the issues that they face in a no sales, no cost environment. We bring tech experts together with nonprofits in a context that will facilitate mutual understanding. In addition to scheduled speakers, attendees will have the option to sign up to speak about issues and solutions they know best.

Nonprofit attendees collaboratively problem solve issues they face with running and promoting their organizations, workshopping with local technologists about the latest and most effective technologies and methodologies. These conversations will help nonprofits filter what’s useful from what’s not and keep their organizations humming and on track. 

Topics:

Google Apps, Data Exchange/Salesforce, Google Grants, Social Media, Marketing/PR, Cloud Computing, Email Marketing, Fundraising in Social Media, ZERO COST Infrastructure, ROI of The Cloud and much more! 

5:30 – 6:00 Pizza and general camaraderie

6:00:     Presentation
            Presenter:  Blaine Smith, Collex Company

Blaine will be speaking about how Collex currently protects the environment effectively and efficiently while simultaneously helping organizations make money through cellular/electronic collections.  The critical goal is to lengthen the process from manufacture to deconstruction of these devices and reduce our overall carbon footprint.

After studying advertising and marketing at the University of Oklahoma, Blaine began his career in information brokerage for Ft. Worth-based retail site selection firm, Buxton.  He continued his career consulting for cities and real estate groups across the United States to successfully market and recruit retailers and restaurants through customer and market analysis.  

Currently Blaine works with Collex Company, an Austin based electronics recycler that specializes in cellular collections and recycling.  He works with non-profit, charitable or community organizations to further their fundraising capabilities while minimizing costs and protecting the environment from harmful chemicals from our cellular waste.

We also have a Facebook group.  It's a good way to let us know if you're coming so we know how much pizza to buy.  Check it out at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=12266817409

Dale Thompson
Austin Free-Net

Not the usual social media suspects..... 

Date:  Monday, July 20, 2009
Time:  5:30  Pizza!
Location:  NEW!  Lance Armstrong Foundation, 6th and Robert T Martinez 

A panel of 5 nonprofit leaders, social media monsters, and how they leverage their social networks, to advance their respective organizations missions, collaborate with one another and use social media for social good.

Questions that will be answered:
1. For nonprofits, how does social media change the way you engage donors and constituents?
2. How do you leverage your networks to further your nonprofits mission?
3. What does collaborating with other nonprofits bring you?
4. How to use social media to reach Hispanics?
5. How can a CEO or ED of a organization use social media?
6. How to move online communities to offline action?
7. How does social media engage volunteers?
8. How to use video to tell your story?
9. What are things you tried that failed?
10. How do you engage the new online audience?

Bios:
David J. Neff - David is the Director of Web, Film and Interactive Strategies for the American Cancer Society's High Plains Division. His department manages all web and interactive strategies for 6 states.

Armando Rayo - Mando is the director of HandsOnCentralTexas, a civic action-center that strengthens communities through meaningful volunteer action. Rayo’s expertise lies in developing community engagement frameworks, especially Hispanic engagement. Rayo is a consultant with Cultural Strategies, writes for GivingCity.com, TacoJournalism.com & has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy & NPR.

David Davenport - David joined the Food Bank in March 2008 as President & CEO. In 2004, David became the Executive Director of End Hunger Network. Since 2004, End Hunger Network has received national acclaim as one of the most effective and innovative organizations of its type in the United States.

Heidi Schultz Adams – Heidi Adams is the founder and executive director of Planet Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community of young adults with cancer in their 20s and 30s, and to raising awareness about their unique medical and psychosocial needs.

John Turner - John is the Director of Marketing for United Way Capital Area. Previously, John held marketing positions with the American Cancer Society Quitline, Marsh, GE Capital and managed ebusiness, CRM and marketing efforts for AAA in San Francisco.

The address for the Austin Free-Net offices is 2209 Rosewood, not 2208.  The name of the building is the Arthur B. DeWitty Job Training and Employment Center.  Near the corner of Northwestern and Rosewood.  Come to the second floor and look for signage.  There is actually a parking lot outside the door to the second floor because the building is built on a hill.  The door faces the park, though, not the parking lot.

Join the monthly gathering of Austin, TX area nonprofit technology folks!

When: Monday, May 18

Where: Austin FreeNet Offices, 2208 Rosewood Ave, Austin, Tx

May Meeting Details:

Finding and keeping passionate supporters for your nonprofit is challenging no matter the economic climate. With so many competing demands for attention (and wallets) today, you need to think strategically and creatively about keeping your causes at the top of the public's mind. Your nonprofit also needs to reconsider how it forms relationships with supporters so they remain engaged and wanting to tell others about your nonprofit's work.

We'll talk about three keys that every nonprofit should know when it comes to finding and embracing online brand ambassadors:

• Content
• Meaning
• Conversations
  

At the end of the session, you'll walk away with the basics toward a gameplan that you can use in your nonprofit to better engage your unique community and have them wanting to tell the world about your causes.

> RSVP on Facebook

> Join the Online Austin 501 Tech Club by registering here first, then joining this group!

Who is Chris?
Chris Bailey is the Principal and Chief Community Strategist for Gravit8 Social Relationship Marketing. He works with both nonprofits and forprofits, helping them create online communities and social solutions that generate long-term engagement and relationships. He's been involved in the nonprofit and association sector for over 15 years in diverse roles including membership development and marketing for organizations both large and small. Prior to launching Gravit8, he coached several nonprofit clients at Convio helping them to develop tailored constituent growth and retention strategies that boosted their visibility and results. Currently, he's working toward an MS in Business Anthropology from the University of North Texas. Learn more about Chris and read his blog at www.gravit8.com or reach him on Twitter at @chris_bailey.

CONTACT: contact@lightscamerahelp.com
Aaron Bramley
(917) 678-4590

David J. Neff
(512) 789-5672

FILMS FOR A CAUSE FIND THEIR FESTIVAL

Austin, TX—Lights. Camera. Help., the premiere film festival exclusively for non-profit and grassroots organizations, officially opened its submission process last night.

Four prominent non-profit organizations showed their support for the festival by formally submitting their films at the Reel-to-Reality event held at Southwest Key’s East Side Community Center.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society, United Way, the Capital Area Food Bank and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary spoke about the value of the films-for-a-cause genre, showed trailers for their films and then formally submitted their films.

This is the first annual Lights. Camera. Help. festival, where films and videos with a cause directly related to a non-profit or grass roots organization will be evaluated on a rigorous criteria by a panel of judges. The films and videos will gain recognition by being considered the best in one of several distinct categories. Proceeds from the event with go to the organization that is the subject of the winning video.

This festival is the first of its kind in the nation and reflects the spirit of Austin, a city with prominent non-profit, grassroots and activism communities. Non-profits, grassroots organizations and filmmakers will use the festival to spread the word about their cause, develop a community of followers, and expand the film-for-a-cause genre.

It’s free to submit to Lights. Camera. Help. and any film or video is welcome, so long as the emphasis of the video is on a non-profit or grassroots organization.

“We really wanted to make sure that every non-profit organization is able to tell its story, regardless of resources. A lot of film festivals charge 50, 60 even 100 dollars to enter a film. We do not.” - Co-founder David J. Neff

In its first year, Lights. Camera. Help. was conceived by three friends, Aaron Bramley, David J. Neff and Rich Vázquez. “We created Lights. Camera. Help. because we want to help non-profits and grassroots organizations gain visibility through film and video,” said Co-founder Aaron Bramley. “It’s a phenomenal way to tell your story, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.”

“The idea was to give non-profit videos validity and merit by judging them. We want people to see these videos, know they’re important and say ‘hey, that’s a cause I want to support.’” - Rich Vázquez, Co-founder of Lights. Camera. Help.

The Festival will begin on July 31st and up-to-date information can be found at http://lightscamerahelp.com.

and let us know if you'll be attending.

If Facebook isn't your thing, just shoot me an e-mail. I just want to get enough pizza. Dale

Dale Thompson
Austin Free-Net
dale@austinfree.net
512.236.8225 x10

Tuesday, January 27, 2008
5:30 - 7:30 pm - Pizza, brownies & beverages

Where:
Austin Free-Net Offices
in the DeWitty Center
2209 Rosewood Ave
2nd floor
Austin, TX  78702
No registration required, but if you are a FaceBook member, go to our FaceBook page and let us know you're coming: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=49638344195

The Musical Art of Social Media

Event 1: Social Media Be-Bop: What the jazz basics can teach us about good social media practice.

This workshop and discussion is aimed at conveying sound media practice through one of America's oldest art forms, jazz. The meeting is perfect moderate to advanced level social media users because it not only assumes a basic knowledge of tools and techniques, but also presents an alternative way to think about using social media as part of a communications strategy. For a better idea of how this is accomplished through the use of jazz basics, please take a look at the agenda bellow.

1. Arrive/welcome/food/jazz playing to get everyone in the mood. - 30 min

2. Introduction - 5 min

3. Basic one: Call and response - 20 min
This is where jazz started. It was all about listening. With one person singing out a call, and a group of people singing the same thing back—or singing the same thing back with variation. This mimics the conversation in social media, in many ways. One is the way you broad cast your message and others repeat it. Another way would be a corporate model where the call is the overall message and the responses are the employees reinterpreting that message as their own.

4. Basic Two: It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got that Swing - 20 min
In other words, the audience wants legitimacy. In the world of social media, an audience will only respond to a call if it's the real deal. People are getting very good at spotting impostors and it's important to make sure that you're not singing "It does not mean a thing if it does not have that swing" when you should be singing "it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. dooVA dooVA dooVA dooVA...."

5. Basic Three: Innovation, from the Blues to Avant Garde and everything in between. - 20 min
Very few jazz musicians perform the kind of jazz they grew up listening to/playing. Yes, everyone needs the basics, but go out and turn Be-Bop into Free Jazz, and never stop listening

 Mike Chapman will be presenting on Politics and your non-profit. The
growth of Social Media  in Politics.  http://everydotconnects.com/

5:30 PIZZA

6:00 - 7:00 Presentation

Austin Free-Net Offices
2209 Rosewood Ave, Room 213
Austin, TX  78702

RSVP if possible: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/212530685
 

Same as last month, which got cancelled due to Ike. 

Small World Labs on Community and Social Media - Sam Eder

 No reservation required.