Elijah van der Giessen

I help nonprofits build community.

NetSquared Camp volunteer meeting – Tuesday, August 3 — July 29, 2010

NetSquared Camp volunteer meeting – Tuesday, August 3

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Date: Tuesday, August 3
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Location: 302 Water Street, 4th Floor: Water Street Arts Society.

RSVP: http://n2campvolunteers.eventbrite.com/

We’re entering the end-game of NetSquared Camp. So it’s time to have one last face-to-face organizers meeting. Can you come?

We’ll have lots of logistical details to sort out, from lunch session leaders to where to do the session pitching to who’ll be doing the morning intro.

PLUS, we’ll be assigning volunteers! You get to pick the best positions if you attend the meeting!

Volunteer assignments:

  • front desk registration
  • session reporters
  • setup and teardown crew
  • lunch discussion leaders
  • internet help desk
  • gophers

Hope to see you there!

Want to have your mind blown? Check out these NetSquared Camp session proposals —

Want to have your mind blown? Check out these NetSquared Camp session proposals

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Unconference schedules are determined on the day of the event by participants. But we’re collecting session proposals ahead of time. Add your idea to the NetSquared Camp wiki.

Here’s Some Proposed Sessions As Of July 28, 2010

How to get real hits
Kyle Berger – Jewish Community Centre
You’ve got a good website and products/services to sell/promote. What techniques can be used to get the right people to visit your site?

How to Choose a CMS (Content Management System) for your Organization
Lauren Bacon, Raised Eyebrow Web Studio
When you’re developing a new website, the selection of a Content Management System (CMS) is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make — and the list of options can be overwhelming. Let’s talk about how to create a framework for choosing the right CMS platform for your organization, based on factors like how technically-savvy your staff are, the features you need, what kinds of resources you have for managing updates, and your organizational culture (for example, does everything need to go through an approval process? Do you want your members/constituents to be able to contribute content to your site? etc.).

Making the Most out of WordPress
Christopher Mallon, University of British Columbia
Lots of organizations are using WordPress these days, not just for blogging but for creating fully functional websites. Outside of WordPress.com, you can use any programming language you want (for example, javascript) in combination with the wordpress interface, which makes a powerhouse combination. But as a new user, I’d like to talk about how we can truly make the most out of this platform – how to go beyond the blogs and do things that really amaze people.

Gaining Supporters: Building Tribes vs Finding Tribes
Chris Mathieson, Vancouver Police Museum
Non-profits need supporters–people that align with our causes and provide us with their energy, enthusiasm, audiences and, of course, money. I’d like to talk about practical strategies that involve social media to seek out and recruit new supporters for our organizations, spending a significant amount of time debating the merits of building vs finding aligned groups of people.

The Data Deluge: You’ve got donors, dollars, and a database, now what?
Benjamin Johnson, Union Gospel Mission
Non-profits of all shapes and sizes are in a remarkably advanced position compared to even the largest companies who rarely get to know the age, gender, home address, etc. of the casual consumer. Donors are different. You have a database full of giving patterns, people, and financial data, but are you doing anything with it? How about an open, non-technical, discussion about the very new topic of data and analysis.

Ninja School: Kicking Ass at Social Networking
Cecilia Lu, Kiwano Marketing
What are the top do’s and don’ts for using social media networks as a networking tool? How do you portray your non-profit’s personality online and engage your volunteers, stakeholders, and sponsors? When’s the right time for moving the conversation offline? Join the Ninja for a casual, down-to-earth discussion on practical tips about how to get personable online.

So, you’re convinced it’ll be an awesome event? RSVP!

NetSquared Camp has a hashtag — July 19, 2010
Social sharing copy for NetSquared Camp Vancouver —

Social sharing copy for NetSquared Camp Vancouver

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NetSquared logoAlready RSVPed for NetSquared Camp Vancouver? Hooray!

As of this evening 71 people have registered, but we’re got room for more! Please invite your friends to join us at NetSquared Camp. Feel free to use the copy below (or draft your own message.)

Social sharing copy

EMAIL

I’m going to a cool summer camp and I think you should too. NetSquared Camp is a free, one-day event where nonprofits meet geeks to develop practical skills in social media, marketing, communications, design and technology. You bring your questions and professional challenges. We’ll table them with your peers and some of Vancouver’s brightest to workshop actionable applications for social change. NetSquared Vancouver: by sharing knowledge, experience and best practices, we can all make exponential gains for social good. RSVP for your ticket to practical, positive change:http://netsquaredvancouver.eventbrite.com

FACEBOOK

I’m going to a cool summer camp and I think you should too. NetSquared Camp is a free, one-day event where nonprofits meet geeks to develop practical skills in social media, marketing, communications, design and technology.

http://netsquaredvancouver.eventbrite.com/

TWITTER (Our hashtag is #n2camp )

#Nonprofits meet geeks to make gains for social good. #NetSquared Camp #Vancouver is free and fabulous: http://bit.ly/a3YrBH

>17 characters remaining for reTweets

NetSquared Camp organizers meeting 2 — July 5, 2010
NetSquared Camp Vancouver — July 4, 2010

NetSquared Camp Vancouver

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Register for NetSquared Camp Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia on EventbriteDate: Saturday, August 14
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00pm
Location: SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street
Cost: By donation!

Attention Social Change geeks! You are invited to join us at Vancouver’s first NetSquared Camp.

What’s that? It’s an unconference bringing together nonprofits, activists and social entrepreneurs with their friends and allies in the world of technology and communications (social media folk, developers, designers, writers, marketers….)

NetSquared Camp Vancouver will focus on practical skill development and peer learning, so come with your questions and experiences.

Example topics:

  • how do I grow and manage my email list?
  • What fundraising strategies work best online?
  • Facebook Groups vs. Pages – which is right for me?
  • What’s CRM and why should I care?
  • How do I make a blog work for my organization?
  • How do I create a social media strategy?
  • What are best practices for Google Adwords?
  • How do I make an awesome Youtube video that converts to web traffic?
  • What’s the point of your website?
  • What is Drupal and why should you care?

Got a great topic you’d love to share? Add it to our wiki.

Internet Help Desk:

Are you new to this newfangled internet stuff? Why not join us at the Internet Help Desk?

Get one-on-one help from local experts who can answer your questions about such topics as:

  • How to create an email campaign
  • How to use Google Analytics
  • How to setup  Google Adwords
  • How to create a free site using WordPress.com

It’ll be awesome fun. See you there! RSVP now.

Vancouver ChangeCamp – there is such thing as a free lunch (with ticket!) — May 31, 2010

Vancouver ChangeCamp – there is such thing as a free lunch (with ticket!)

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Flag of British Columbia
Image via Wikipedia

Hi Campers!

We’re less than 2 weeks away from Vancouver ChangeCamp.
Don’t have tix yet? Your problem’s solved at http://vanchangecamp.eventbrite.com/

Here’s what you should know:

  1. The province of BC just joined us as a sponsor. That means LUNCH IS NOW INCLUDED with your ticket.
  2. ChangeCamp is a no-barrier event. Can’t afford to go? Don’t want to participate in the capitalist system? Email eli@vandergiessen.ca and I’ll provide a free ticket.
  3. Check out the session proposals at http://vanchangecamp.wikispaces.com/ And feel free to add your own.
  4. People are the heart of ChangeCamp. More people = a better event.

Please take a moment and think of just 2 people who just HAVE to be at Vancouver ChangeCamp. Then forward them our URL and a personal message.

Thanks!

Vancouver ChangeCamp: how can government become more open and responsive? — May 23, 2010

Vancouver ChangeCamp: how can government become more open and responsive?

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Coat of arms of City of Vancouver
Image via Wikipedia

Nonprofits have a strained relationship with government. It seems like we’re always yelling at them to open up their data. “Release the fisheries report!” “Publish the grizzly mortality counts!”

Wouldn’t it be great if nonprofits, community activists, policy wonks and government all got into a room and discussed our differences? What if government data defaulted to open, rather than closed?

Sounds kumbayah? Well, it isn’t. In fact, it happened last year. Community activists and nonprofits sat down with representatives from the provincial and municipal government (including Vancouver’s Mayor and BC’s Director of Citizen Engagement). And amazing things came from it, like:

Join me for Vancouver ChangeCamp 2010
When: Saturday, June 12. 8:30 – 5:00pm.
Where: W2 Storyeum, 151 Cordova W., Vancouver BC

Ticket are $20. RSVP at http://vanchangecamp.eventbrite.com/

What is Vancouver ChangeCamp?
Vancouver ChangeCamp is a participatory web-enabled face-to-face event that brings together citizens, technologists, designers, academics, social entrepreneurs, policy wonks, political players, change-makers and government employees to answer these questions:

  • How can we help government become more open and responsive?
  • How do we as citizens organize to get better outcomes ourselves?

ChangeCamp addresses the demand for a renewed relationship among citizens and government. We seek to create connections, knowledge, tools and policies that drive transparency, civic engagement and democratic empowerment.

The conference will be participant-driven, with the agenda created collaboratively at the start of the event, allowing participants to share their experiences and expertise.

When: Saturday, June 12. 8:30 – 5:00pm.
Where: W2 Storyeum, 151 Cordova W., Vancouver BC

Ticket are $20. RSVP at http://vanchangecamp.eventbrite.com/

Net Tuesday June: How to turn your party into an EVENT — May 9, 2010

Net Tuesday June: How to turn your party into an EVENT

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RSVP now on Meetup or Facebook

NetSquared VancouverLast month Net Tuesday focused on event-based fundraising. But some of you were even more curious about the process of creating an event.

And so, because I’m here to help you scratch your itches, the June Net Tuesday will feature a how-to on creating successful local events.

Also featuring:

  • Helen Stortini, Growing Chefs, on her event fundraising software solution
  • Apps 4 Climate Action with David Hume, Executive Director, Citizen Engagement, Ministry of Citizen Services

Events are hard.

But they can also be a major part of an organization’s fundraising or engagement-building strategy.

Make the planning of your next event (or your first!) less hard by following these steps, courtesy of Marc Smith of Amuse Consulting:

How to turn your party into an EVENT!
  1. Create a mission statement for your event.
  2. What’s the buzz? What do you want people to say when they leave…?
  3. Venue, Venue, Venue. Choose the right venue based on tip #1 and #2.
  4. Know what your target audience is.
  5. Your event starts with the invitation and ends with a follow-up Thank you.
  6. Create layers of participation/entertainment.
  7. Be the Host! Have someone else run the logistics for you.
  8. Base your budget on a per person basis.
  9. Thank you gifts that are memorable, useful and have a life.
  10. Have fun! If you enjoy it, they will.

Marc Smith’s interactive presentation will take us through these steps as he guides us through the process of creating an event.

And I’ve already warned Marc that the Net Tuesday crowd is an inquisitive bunch, so don’t worry about interrupting him with questions!

Marc Smith’s Bio:
Founder and principal of Amuse Consulting, Marc Smith brings more than a decade of event planning experience to each event. Having worked for seven years at Capers Community Markets in Vancouver as Regional Demo and Special Event Coordinator, Marc planned a wide variety of sponsored and in-store events. He is a graduate (and valedictorian!) of Leadership Vancouver, and is a founding board member of the BC Ethics in Action Society. He is a board member of Just Singing Round Foundation and has volunteered for three years for Dining Out For Life for A Loving Spoonful. Marc’s full CV is available on Linkedin.com/amuseconsulting.
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Net Tuesday event notes: Event-based fundraising —

Net Tuesday event notes: Event-based fundraising

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Yahoo!

Last week’s Net Tuesday event was everything I could have hoped for. It’s been almost a year since I took over Vancouver’s Net Tuesday meetup from Joe Solomon and I’m thrilled with the evolution of the event. There’s now a strong presence from local nonprofits every month, and because the events have become less technical we’re getting questions from people outside Vancouver’s Technorati.

Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...
Image via CrunchBase

As always it’s the folks who volunteer to be speakers that make Net Tuesday work. Mad props to Sarah Hall for sharing her fundraising wisdom, love to Rob from Mobio for the smooth introduction to their iPhone app, and most especially to everyone who came out. You ask good, hard questions and the presenters love how engaged you are.

Twitter:

The group decided that we’d all use the hashtag #ntvan because it’s short and clear. So if you’re commenting on Net Tuesday Vancouver on Twitter please append a “#ntvan” to your tweet.

And why should you bother using hashtags? Because you can do cool things like the automated event summary on http://hummingbird604.com/

So, what did we learn this month? That there’s clearly no clear answers when it comes to friends-asking-friends fundraising platforms. There’s a TON of tools and there’s no obvious winner among the bunch. Based on your particular needs you’ll have to do some laborious research to find what’s best for you.

But Sarah’s best practices for fundraising apply to ALL of the online fundraising platforms, so give her slides another look (see below).

Notes from the Canadian Cancer Society’s  Sarah Hall: (with annotations by Eli)


Facebook causes – stops working in Canada as of May 31, 2010
Give Meaning – Vancouver-based
Artez – Toronto-based
Blackbaud Sphere/Kintera – not cheap!
Convio / Get Active -also not cheap!
Democracy in Action – A nonprofit Company
Salesforce.com – free licenses to the to the core product for charitable nonprofits.
Raisin
Chip In – a widget for accepting Paypal donations. You don’t need to be a nonprofit
Pinc Giving – based in Delta, BC
Canada Helps –  if you’re a registered Canadian charity you’ve already got a page here. Includes giving pages that anyone can setup. (thanks Ben for the correction)
Paypal – love ’em, hate ’em… they’re ubiquitous and easy to use.
Gift Tool – Vancouver-based.
Civicrm.org – opensource software… the sandbox demo they offer is quite impressive.

Also recommended – checking out NTEN and Techsoup to read more.
And checking out Beth Kanter’s blog.

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