Social Media for the Third Sector

Gra Sutherland and I ran a session at the Shine Unconference for social entrepreneurs yesterday in London. What was billed as Authenticity in the Online World became Social Media/Web 2.0 for the Third Sector on Day Three, as the event unfolded and our awareness of what might be most useful came into focus.

Given it was one of the last sessions on a sunny Sunday afternoon, after nearly three days of the great shiny “happening”, we were delighted by the number, passion and knowledge of the people in the room.

Many were there to start scratching the surface of this new paradigm, this new way of making things happen in the world, others had already begun to engage more deeply and several were card carrying members of the converted and critically aware. Perhaps half were actively making part or most of their income directly through engagement with the social media space, which might explain the vested heat in the room. All were passionately involved in the debate that unfolded, whether they were talking or listening.

Questions People Asked

Initial questions asked included:

Why bother? Is it worth the 3rd sector getting into social media (back question here is about what is relevant to 3rd sector)

What is the current diversity of the internet? Who’s online.

Data on growth of social media for various groups, 3rd world, stakeholders of 3rd sector

What about reputation issues. How can we put stuff out there without losing our rights, our control of our message?

How do we build trust in each other online?

What are the sensible things to do in social media? How to start, put a toe in the water etc?

Why is there so much pressure to get onto facebook etc?

What will be left when the social media hype is over?

How can you make introductions safely online. How to replace the 20 min face to face ‘intuitive trust’?

Essence & Consensus

The key points we wanted to get across follow. Consensus was not sought, but to a large extent was experienced.

1. Web 2.0 / social media is a new paradigm emerging, not another internet fad or buzz word. It is changing the way we do things - potentially for the better. The pace of change is speeding up. New ways of collaborating, new economic models, new ways of building engagement and participation (think: fundraising, recruitment, contracts), new ways of communicating.

2. There are challenges and opportunities. It’s not utopia (yet). There are significant gains to be made, with wisdom and caution. Some often overlooked opportunities are for individual and group learning, collaboration and innovation. But it can be as simple as building dialogue tools into your website and partcipating in key online conversations that matter to you.

3. There is essential learning and initial or further exploration to be done by third sector people - leaders, communications/ fundraising people, HR and others. Case studies and other elements in a body of knowledge are already emerging to help in this (see UK Catalyst Awards for example). Professionals from a range of backgrounds are emerging to help.

4. The tools will keep changing but the key conceptual space is already starting to become clear (see We Think and CommonCraft for simple animated examples). Learning needs to focus on concepts first, tools second. This knowledge can be learnt and experienced without undue risk or brain drain, but a commitment is required to build capacity and embed the knowledge in specific contexts. There are no magic bullets or one size fits all.

5. Authenticity has never been more important.

6. Experimenting with tools like blogging, forums, flickr, facebook, YouTube, MySpace twitter, discussion lists etc is essential. You need to get your hands in there having real life experiences to get a feel for things. That doesn’t mean you have to be on facebook nor reveal all, anywhere at anytime.

7. We can now more easily be thinking and connecting with words, images, music, videos, photos, animation. It’s good to explore when and how to use a range of media to communicate. Different tools are more or less supportive of different media.

8. It can all be very confusing and time consuming! Even for seasoned specialists.

9. Small steps might be all it takes. One step at a time. As long as the path is clear.

10. Social media should work in support of, not as a substitute for, face-to-face, “real world” interaction.

We are well aware real consensus cannot be achieved in such a short time, nor was this an intended outcome of the session. To ensure your views at this point become clearer to yourself and others, participate in the ongoing debate.

Who Was There

Some of the people and organisations represented in the discussion included the very knowledgeable Dave Dawes (Foundation of Nursing Leadership), David Wilcox (Social Reporter. Much involved with building up social media around the Shine event and very active in this space. Do check out his blog and coverage of the event), Angela Walker (Neru - Brand & Marketing), Parag Shah (Art Switch), Alison Coward (social entrepreneur), David Floyd (Social Spider), Chris Prior (Franklin Waugh), Eszter Kun (social entrepreneur), Ben Matthews (Bright One Communications),

In the true spirit of the unconference and web 2.0, we collaborated with whoever turned up, rather than delivering a one-way, “we have the knowledge, sit there and eat it” presentation. Which of course can be very useful and inspiring to receive. But not empowering, nor making the most of the opportunity rare “face time” offers for deeper human interaction.

Social Media for the Third Sector Video

We see our job as offering time and cost effective training and ongoing support to help the Third Sector find out what is really worth knowing and doing within their own context.

To find out more about the approach we are offering in our next learning programme in Social Media for the Third Sector, view this short interview David Wilcox invited me to do.

At the end?

We were all intent on making sure the Third Sector (social enterprise, charities, non-profits) are not left behind in gaining this knowledge, if it can be used in meaningful ways that lead to genuine social impacts. No-one’s in it just to get “friends” in facebook or waste their time, to be sure.

How will we create these impacts? Well, we might need to dip a toe or two in the water. Maybe even plunge in at some point.

Let’s continue the conversation…

…in our social network to explore these ideas further… If your questions need expanding or clarifying, if you want answers or to help others find them, get in there. All with an interest are welcome. There are already many posts and discussions in the Ning that start to cover some of the question above.

Never joined one before? No time like now to experiment… You can watch for a while, explore when you are ready.

Shine weekend

We’re just back from the Shine Unconference. Lib was there for the lot, but I was only there for Sunday. I’m a bit tired to say much about it this evening.

But.. it was great and inspiring hanging around and chatting with a lot of people who are really going with their passions and doing great and good things. It was a very warm and friendly space, and I really enjoyed the sessions we did today.

Lib ran a short discussion on Authenticity Online which sparked a robust discussion of a bunch of issues around social media, free content, risk management, online reputation and online tools. There are a lot of questions out there around social media and the third sector. We collected some meaty questions which we’ll post over on the authentic blogging community in the next couple of days along with the beginnings of some answers. Thanks to all who participated in that discussion and hope you join us over on the community to work through the issues.

Busy afternoon — we then whizzed over to the “What’s in a Name” session being run by Neru. Lib and I are working on rebranding, so wanted to get some tips on choosing a new name for us. Interesting ideas from there. Thanks to the Neru team and all who threw in their thoughts. We’ll keep working on that new name and see what happens.

It always seems a long train ride home to Brighton on a Sunday, but when we got home it was still sunny and the air was fresh. It was quiet. You got the sense a lot of people had satisfying weekends and were now relaxing at home. I sure did.

RSA (Renewal, Sharing, Advancement)

Gra and I went up to the Royal Society for the Arts recently to hear Charlie Leadbeater talk about his new book We Think. We were also keen to find out more about the RSA as they have approached me to become a Fellow.

Mum bought a copy of We Think while she was visiting… keen to get her head around the space we are in, and perfect for her ilk, among others. There are many major ommissions and doesn’t come much from deep, personal experience (Charlie doesn’t blog or facebook), but is a fine point of reference for many at this point in time. I am recommending it widely.

Highlights of the evening were…

Blogging as Gardening

Talking with Charlie and Tessy Britton afterwards about blogging. Our message that “the first audience for your blog is you” (blogging as a reflective, learning tool or private/public path on which to travel) got Charlie mentioning “zero-audience blogging” and gardening as a metaphor for why and how some people blog, ie. the cultivation of your blog is a meditative pleasure in itself, towards the cultivation (and harvesting?) of the self… plus others can stroll by and enjoy it too.

Mary Harrington (aka Seb Mary) from School of Everything has talked about this in the past and present too. Interestingly, her garden is out back and not visible to others except when invited in. Mine’s a bit like that too. Maybe I could do with a bit of improvement out front (aka let’s finish the upgrade!

What’s Happening in The RSA

Looking around the crowd afterwards, I spotted Felix Velarde from Underwired. (To be honest, I was just looking for a model to do a nice juxtaposition shot and vox pop, note: interesting facial hair and piercings). He had many positive things to say about the benefits of RSA membership, as did Tessy, who we spent an expansive evening with.

The RSA, it turns out, are making special efforts to attract new media folk, new paradigm folk to their hallowed halls. When I first got their letter, I thought it was a mass marketing effort. Turns out they are serious about engaging Fellows (erk, the feminist in me gasps) in opening up debate and moving forward a very progressive, authentic, connected vision.

There is much emphasis on education which resonates deeply Glad to see Roland Meighan and friends trying to keep them on track as outspoken agitators working from within… Ian Cunningham is also a Fellow.

They are about “removing the barriers to social progress” and state their recently revised manifesto challenges as:

• Encouraging Enterprise
• Moving Towards a Zero-Waste Society
• Developing a Capable Population
• Fostering Resilient Communities
• Advancing Global Citizenship

If we were courting each other, I would have to say the feelings are strongly reciprocal and we will be getting hitched, if for no other reason that to follow Richard Sennett’s call in The Craftsman to cultivate our skills and higher self in the company of like-minded people.

I used to think the UK was impossibly BIG. Now the multiple connections between RSA, School of Everything, Richard Birkin (Biff), Ian Cunningham, Richard Sennett, Michael Fielding, Tessy, Roland, John Grant, Andy Gibson, Seb Mary, MA in Person Centred Education, blogging, progressive education, and Everything are so rich in the potential patterns they create - it’s almost fractal in it’s beauty. Feeling very connected and safe within the spaces opening up and the paths between them. In permaculture terms, there is edge, there is diversity, the soil is rich, the system is in harmony.

Spring has sprung.

Free School (of Everything) Tomorrow Night - London

What do you want to learn?

Looking forward to meeting up with the School of Everything (SOE) folk (Andy Gibson, Sebastian Mary Harrington and compadres) tomorrow night at Free School. We’ve been talking about fun, expansive stuff in the informal education space together lately and found many friends and values in common

They helped set up Social Innovation Camp with Dr Dan, Nesta and all, and are now all systems go with real funding from people like philanthropist and visionary Esther Dyson, plus Rocco Pellegrinelli, JP Rangaswami and Channel 4 Education. Their charter is to make learning and teaching much more accessible and human, in the spirit of Ivan Illich. (Interesting to note Illich’s shared use of ‘convivial’ with Slow Food Movement, another passion). They were kind enough to invite me to be their Feature Teacher last month.

I won’t go on about it too much, but suffice to say I am deeply inspired by what they are about, by what they are creating. It links up with so much of what we have been looking at over the last decade, culminating in the MA in Person Centred Education journey. See more on the previous blog Learning.

Social media, social enterprise and education all come together. Sparks are flying! Wherever I go right now - Team Everything are there. The list of friends/colleagues in common, random path crossings and thought trains is getting too spooky to mention.

I’ve been asked to do a short show and teach at Free School, plus it’s a good chance to meet up, and my London digs are in Bethnal Green anyway.. too easy! I’m guessing it will be a great and somewhat intense evening of like mindedness and learning. Real learning. Plus Sarah Cheal is coming down from The Foundry to join in, which is a grand bonus prize.

Where? Gallery Cafe, Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green

When? 6-9pm on Tuesday 29 April.

Here’s how Seb Mary described it earlier. Nice and informal:

“The idea is to get interested local people, friends, fellow social-enterprisers and other lovely people together for a few hours regularly to swap skills, find out what we can teach each other, and of course eat cake. And go to the pub afterwards.

The format of the evening is: cake (of course), nice people, a friendly cafe, and a Free School signup sheet. This is basically a piece of paper where you can add what you want to learn, or what you can teach, and see if anyone else matches up. It always results in new friends, and surprisingly often in skill-swapping.

We also like having a mini-teaching session or two on something people might find interesting…. might you be interested in running a mini-session on blogging for social enterprises?”

Free School will also be running at the Shine Unconference for Social Entrepreneurs on 9-11 May. Authentic Blogging / Presence Labs will also be at Shine, and might be offering a session too. Will keep you posted.

More on Free School with SOE here…

Can’t make it, or want to swot up before or after?

“A Taste of Social Media” (web 2.0, mass collaboration and creativity, blogging, flickr, facebook etc) for individuals, activists, organisations, artists, any and all.

Plus many many more short sessions where you can learn or teach for free.

For a preview of “what is social media?“, start with the wiki definition. Social media par excellance.

Try out a ning social network here. Join if it’s you - and post your thoughts and questions.

Enjoy the wonderful We Think animation to introduce Charlie Leadbeater’s new book of the same name and start getting your head around social media again, and again, and again…

Feedback from Fresh Writing classes

Thanks again to folk from our Fresh Writing classes for bloggers and non-bloggers alike. But watch out, we might have you all blogging soon. In the meantime, it’s an honour to be helping you get your words and ideas flowing. Really impressed with what you are all coming up with and the impact this is having in your lives.

Games, exercises, tips to make writing easier and more fun, strategic thinking on audience and the writers/bloggers life. Even nice biscuits and a game you’ll all love called Two Bob (or a Pebble) Up Your ‘Ort Sport. (No photos taken fortunately… you had to be there).

More about the writing classes here…

“Fun, interesting and worthwhile - personally and professionally. I’m glad I took time out of a lousy schedule to do this class. Now I can rite reel good.”

“It’s been easier to write. I’m jotting down ideas again and having more of them. It’s the creative convalescence, soon I’ll be back at full strength.”

“Did first workshop on the Tuesday. Signed up as a co-worker at The Werks to give me a place to go write. Wrote a 10 minute play that Thursday & Friday & submitted it to a competition on the Monday. First thing I’ld written in years. All good.”

“I’ve been flying since the first session. A real release.”

Flexible, affordable, easy transport, what’s stopping you? We all need to express ourselves better in life… and be seen and heard.

Register on Upcoming and see who else is watching/coming, get in touch with Libby if you want to know anything, or just turn up on the day.

Look forward to sharing the magic of your words with you. The techniques we use are so immediate and such fun that you will surprise even yourself with what you are capable of, and how this can translate into your daily life and work expression.

No need to be afraid. Everyone is equal in these sessions and you do not have to read what you have written unless you want to. The inner critic or ferocious editor (find out more in the e-book here) takes a break during most sessions, infact, it is only welcome when being constructive. If none of this makes sense or you are in any doubt, call for a gentle chat with me. It is a very natural thing to have some fear about writing. It is wonderful to overcome it.

Bestest - Libby

More posts on writing to help get your words flowing…

Survey results & comments from Autumn courses

Find out how we rated and what clients think of our courses with an update on the Testimonial page.

“Helped me to just jump on the blogging train and get moving… The course got me into action and increased my learning and Libby was a lot of fun to be with. Met some nice people too.”

“You helped motivate me to enter the new world.”

“I benefited from the course by learning what’s possible through blogging and considering the different things I’d want to share in this medium. I also learn’t how easy it is to start and develop a blog and how much interesting material is available in the blogosphere.”

“I’ve wanted to set up an online site for a long time. This was a relatively cheap way to do it and that was my initial goal. However, the extra benefits I’ve gained have been great, and a little unexpected.”

Thanks to all for your feedback and suggestions of the top priority screencasts you want to use to embed your learning and clarify what you missed. As you can see, we are already moving ahead with making the improvements you suggested. Get in touch if you are really stuck with anything in the meantime. Soon, we will start linking to your new blogs!

More… 

Blogging at LIFT08

Next week I will be dedicating some time to a few long lost passions.

1. Eating fondue.

2. Inviting time, space, stimulation, reflection, dialogue to motivate my curiosity for how we learn and create

3. Learning, creating (well, not so long lost)

4. Blogging at the level we encourage others to.

Actually, they gave me a free ticket to attend, so I really HAVE to blog it. Do unto others and all that.

Since things took off for Authentic Blogging last year, I have to admit to feeling a bit of a fraud. Every week we talked with people about the potential of reflective blogging - and barely found time to walk the talk. No excuses now. Time to put down some real stuff for the Authentic Blogging book.
From 6-9 Feb I will be at LIFT08 in Geneva, then taking a train around the alps to just kind of be in the world, gaze in awe, maybe stop somewhere and yodel. Write. Breathe. Write.

It’s a rawther special happening by all accounts, gathering together the likes of speakers Andy Reisinger (Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore), Naked Scoble, Bruce Sterling, Cory Doctorow and many other lovelies besides. In so many ways the LIFT folk model the way we want to see people coming together in the shared, co-construction of higher thinking, feeling and creating. Hyperlinks subverting hierarchy all the way… I cringe as I name drop the big guys we all respond to (or not), as I espouse the more egalitarian wisdom of the crowd.

Sure it will get a bit techy at times and I will wish my uber-geek Gra was sitting in my ear like a babelfish from time to time. It will be strange being away from my little family, Gra, Bea and Maxi the Cat. But I am guessing that the people, the novelty, the conversations, giggling at the Svizz-ness of it all will keep the baying wolf of homesickness at the door for a few days at least.

There are still some tickets available if you want to join up. It’s going to be amazing.

More to come…

Any offers of somewhere to stay in Geneva or advice on which train journey to take are most welcome indeed!

Fresh Writing Classes in Brighton

For Beginners & Professionals

Express * Create * Connect * Learn * Grow * Play

A chance to let your words rip and flow. Fun, fresh activities will make these classes one of the highlights of your week.Perfect for anyone who uses the written word to communicate, eg. social enterprise folk, creatives, geeks, government folk, artists, writers, journalists, communications professionals, business people, activists, eco-warriors, peaceniks, bloggers. Come one and all!

“Fun, interesting and worthwhile - personally and professionally. I’m glad I took time out of a lousy schedule to do this class. Now I can rite reel good.”

“It’s been easier to write. I’m jotting down ideas again and having more of them. It’s the creative convalescence, soon I’ll be back at full strength.”

Find out what else regular participants are saying about them here…

Great writing exercises and games that build confidence, dissolve writers block and get your fingers flying across the page or keyboard.

* Connect with your real voice
* Enjoy expressing yourself again (or for the first time?)
* Give the ferocious editor (or “inner critic”) a holiday and let your words flow freely
* Learn how to write effectively for different audiences, and even for yourself
* Write authentically and learn to connect, be heard and seen by others for who you are

* Stand out from the crowd and compete in the “Attention Economy” of the new world order
* Enjoy writing like a person, not a corporate-speak, “we’re not listening anymore” brochure.
* Get help editing and planning your writing projects
* Join our fab new online space and share youre words, projects, ideas - get extra resources (all students eligible to join).

Your teacher Libby Davy from Authentic Blogging has a background in creative and professional writing, editing, education and strategic communications.

Venue:

The Werks
45 Church Road
Hove
BN3 2BE
www.werkshop.org.uk

Bike, bus or drive if you must. Parking is only a quid for two hours

When?

10.30 - 12.30

1 July

15 July

Put them in your diaries now if you have a positive intention to come and learn / create / express / play.

£13 per session (on the day) or £20 for last two.

Still offering first class free to permanent desk spacers at The Werks and friends of students.

Leave a comment if you would like to know what we will be going in Autumn or to make suggestions…

Please help this grow by spreading the word to those that might be interested.

Contact Libby Davy on 07968 687 107 or libby@nodestone.com

Some folk already starting to book in and watch what’s happening at Upcoming: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/402221/

About Libby
Hello there. I have a degree in communications and have taught writing, editing, publishing and strategy at a university and community level. I am a published and awarded short-story writer (very low-key to be honest) and have had work broadcast on national radio. For many years I have been studying education and involved in a range of education projects, in addition to my own teaching practice. Completed part one of an innovative new Masters programme in Person-Centred Education at Sussex University, and may even return one day.

For many years, I consulted in strategic communications and marketing, and business coaching - with an increasing emphasis on ethical, sustainable / environmental and social enterprise.

In essence, I am a fun, friendly, Australian mother with a passion for creative expression, business, education and human potential - including yours!

http://nodestone.com/2008/05/29/fresh-writing-each-fortnight/

http://nodestone.com/2008/03/28/new-dates-for-fresh-writing-plus-spring-tips/

Authentic Blogging to sponsor Widgety Goodness prize

We have been involved recently with helping create Widgety Goodness UK 07, Europe’s first Widget conference, in Brighton at the Corn Exchange tomorrow.

Anyone participating in the WGUK07 Social Network will now have a chance to give their blog a boost.

Authentic Blogging has sponsored the event with a coaching session for two bloggers captured in the feed into the network on the day.

For those that aren’t up with this stuff yet, it’s really quite neat. Backnetwork provides a platform for social networks to build in the lead up to a conference or event, on the day and for some months afterwards. Delegates join with speakers, sponsors, media and organisers to answer each other’s questions and help set the focus for the event. During and after, they chat, think and debrief to make even more sense of what’s going on and move things forward in their worlds.

We’ve been facilitating this space since its inception.

So Graeme and I thought it would be nice to give something to the community of Widgety folk by sponsoring the prize for “Most Indepth Blog Post on the Day”.

Delegates will have their laptops there and, believe it or not, be tapping away to share what’s happening for them. To document and reflect. To download, store and retain it all in their “external memory drives” ie. their blogs.

…and propping up the bar at the After Party later on.. and chewing each other’s ear’s off no doubt.

It’s going to be a great day.

Good on you Ivan, Emm, Zoe, Kris, all the sponsors and speakers and punters for bringing it together. Can’t wait to share more about the wonders of widgets.

Books

We are very into books here at Authentic Blogging. The way they sit in your hand, by your bedside. The way you can hold them up and pass them to each other to share.

There are several books that have been a major inspiration for our approach to blogging. Their wisdom and examples have been synthesised into our own experiences blogging and teaching blogging, and just living in the world, doing business, particating in dialogue.

Here they are:

Naked Conversations - no surprises there

The New Rules of Marketing & PR - or there

The Artist’s Way - recovering your creative self

Writing Down the Bones - connecting with your passion and truth

On Dialogue - connecting with your own and the truth of others, towards evolving high level, progressive answers to any human problems or opportunities - from war in the middle east to how to sell a widget

On Becoming - self education in the fullest sense of the word

Authentic Blogging (in development right here and now… join the conversation!)

Read our free e-book on the Essence of Authentic Blogging to find links and quotes that bring it all together. Blogging for purpose and pleasure. For personal and professional growth and enterprise success. For entering the new communications paradigm with authenticity and strength, engaging and participating, connecting with your self and your world as you grow.

Starting with the self and radiating out from the there.

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