Nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies and other mission-based organizations: learn how to use Twitter… via Twitter! Today, May 9, at 9 am USA Pacific time, follow #nptwitter on Twitter. Much more detailed info at the TechSoup Community Forum. If you can’t participate at the time, you can view the discussion later by doing a search on #nptwitter.
But wait – there’s more! Last month, TechSoup hosted a free webinar to discuss ways to use social media to find, communicate with and build community among volunteers, lead by myself and Erin Barnhart. One of the questions that came in but that we didn’t answer to the asker’s satisfaction (our answer was all-too-brief) was:
As a nonprofit law firm for kids, I’m concerned about confidentiality with social media, especially Facebook. What are the hazards in this area?
Offer your answer, and read my own, on the TechSoup Community Forum.
I hope volunteer managers / volunteer coordinators in particular will view these resources. Too many of you think social media is something to be used by those working in your marketing or public relations department. You need to be using online tools to engage with volunteers and potential volunteers yourselves! I’ve been saying this since 1994 – you’re 17 years overdue! Here’s my own advice regarding online social media specifically.
Interesting timing Jayne. Take a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13330409 which is a news story running here in the UK today about someone on Twitter using the medium to flout controversial super-injunction laws. This has prompted a debate about whether privacy/confidentiality laws specifically designed for the media (TV, newspapers etc.) can/should also apply to new-media like Twitter, blogs and other social networks.You may also be interested in http://www.tweetdoc.org/ which allows users to compile a document from hash tags used for tweet chats etc.