30 Oct 2010

Everyone needs a social media role model. One of mine is speaking Nov. 10.

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause
Wednesday, Nov. 10
8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Seattle Center, Northwest Room

View the line-up and schedule

For the last year and a half, I've been feeling my way around social media, trying to figure out how my nonprofit organization, Swedish, can be involved in it, what my role as a corporate voice for Swedish should be, and how to interact and engage with the community. It's a brave new world, and there's advice galore out there. But when it comes right down to it, every organization needs to find their own way, find their own unique voice. And like any journey in life, it always helps to have role models.

One of my social media role models is Evonne Benedict (aka @gabbycat) of KING 5 News. (Evonne, if you're reading this, you're probably having a good laugh right now. But it's true.) Just by watching her on Twitter and Facebook, I've had a chance to see how she "works the crowd" on social media. Like a good hostess at a party, she draws people out, introduces them to one another and creates relationships both for herself and the station.

On Twitter, I've seen her toggle back and forth with ease between her official KING 5 account and her personal account. Somehow she always seems to know which conversation is most appropriate for which account, a skill I have still not figured out. Likewise, she always seems to know when it's time to take a conversation off line. It's fun to see her break stories on Twitter or sleuth out sources, ideas and info through her social media networks. She has a knack for selecting just the right things for KING5 to retweet, which are always interesting and often support others in the community. (I always feel pretty good about my skills as a tweeter whenever KING5 retweets something from Swedish.)

So now that I've embarrassed her enough, I am super excited that Evonne is speaking at PRSA's daylong seminar for nonprofits on Nov. 10. This is her first-ever speaking appearance on the topic of social media. She is speaking on a panel discussion called "Media Relations in the Digital Age." My friend and colleague Aaron Blank graciously agreed to organize and moderate this panel. He’s also recruited Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio who is another phenomenal voice on social media paving the way for others, and Paul Balcerak, a Web producer for KIRO TV and an active blogger whose exploring the boundaries of new media and journalism.

 

The nonprofit community is in for a real treat with this panel. It'll be a great opportunity to see how the news business has changed as a result of social media and how to work with reporters, editors and producers to raise awareness about your cause. This panel is one of many great sessions planned for Nov. 10. We have a terrific line up so if you work for a nonprofit and haven't signed up yet, please be sure to register this week. You won't want to miss it. Register online today.

 

27 Oct 2010

Rallying Young People Around Your Cause: What Nonprofits Can Learn from WA Global Health Alliance & PATH

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause 

Wednesday, Nov. 10 

Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center

8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

View the line-up and schedule

 

 

Of all the community events that took place this year, one that caught my attention was fundraiser for PATH called Party with a Purpose. This event stood out to me because it specifically targeted 20- and 30-somethings, a demographic that doesn't tend to have a lot of money, but does have a lot of energy, passion and idealism for changing the world (Think 2008 presidential elections. This is the same age group that got Barack Obama elected.) I was fortunate enough to attend the event in June and was blown away by the more than sold-out crowd, the dollars raised and the media attention around it. It got me thinking: how did the Washington Global Health Alliance pull off such a phenomenal event, and more important, how did they get this age group engaged?

 

In lining up speakers for PRSA's Connecting for a Cause, an annual seminar for nonprofits, I asked Kristen Eddings of the Washington Global Health Alliance to come talk about how they did it. I think all of us in the nonprofit world can learn from their experience. I'm really looking forward to hearing what she has to say. The younger generation may not be big donors right now, but what they lack in financial resources they can certainly make up for in terms of volunteering their time and energy and helping to raise awareness about important causes. And someday, they may very well become major donors ...

 

The Washington Global Health Alliance is just one of many organizations coming out to share their expertise with the nonprofit community on Nov. 10. They are part of a fantastic line-up that also includes Shauna Causey of Ant's Eye View, Evonne Benedict of KING TV, Chris Pirillo of Gnomedex, Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio and many, many more. If you work for a nonprofit, don't miss the event. It's a chance to get tips, ideas and inspiration for promoting your nonprofit mission.

 

Register today .

25 Oct 2010

Why I Volunteer for PRSA's Annual Nonprofit Event; This Year's Event is Nov. 10

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause
Wednesday, Nov. 10
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center
8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
View the line-up and schedule

PRSA Puget Sound's Connecting for a Cause is now in its 19th year. The event serves as a resource for local nonprofits, helping them stay abreast of new ways to raise awareness about their causes and  missions. For many nonprofits, which typically have limited budget and resources, this is often their only opportunity during the year for career development and PR/marketing education.

I attended my first Connecting for a Cause when I started at Swedish, a nonprofit health system, in 1998 and began volunteering on the planning committee five years ago. Coordinating an all-day seminar like this one is not an insignicant task, but it's something I've found extremely rewarding and well worth my time. Every year, I personally come away from the event, having learned something new. And in this day and age, when the media landscape is changing so rapidly, it's ever more important to stay on top of the newest thinking, techniques and tools.

Also, it never ceases to amaze me how local PR professionals are so willing to give of their time to speak at this event and share their expertise with the nonprofit community. In my five years of recruiting speakers, I have only had two or three people decline the invitation to speak and that was because of immovable conflicts. To me, it's a reflection of how much support there is for the nonprofit community of Greater Seattle.

This year, we have an outstanding line-up of speakers, including some well known local voices in social media, such as Chris Pirillo and Shauna Causey, as well as members of the mainstream media,  including Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio, Evonne Benedict of KING TV and Chuck Taylor of the Everett Herald. If you work for a nonprofit, I hope you'll take advantage of this great day-long resource that PRSA makes available to all of us. Register today. Hope to see you there.

23 Oct 2010

Don't Miss PRSA's Annual Nonprofit Seminar Nov. 10

Don’t miss the 19th annual “Connecting for a Cause” on Nov. 10 at the Seattle Center. There’s a great line-up in store! Learn how to make social media work for your nonprofit. Get up to speed on media relations in the digital age. Hear from a local e-metrics expert about how to measure your success online. Find out how other nonprofits are getting maximum PR exposure despite limited resources. Plus much more.

This year’s presenters include Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome, Shauna Causey of Ant’s Eye View, Kristen Eddings of PATH and the Washington Global Health Alliance, Melody Biringer of Crave Seattle, Chuck Taylor of the Everett Herald, Evonne Benedict of KING TV, Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio, Laura Kimball of Jolkona, Aaron Blank of The Fearey Group, Melissa Tizon and Dana Lewis of Swedish and many more.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center

 

Register here: http://asi-seattle.com/prsa1/register.php

 

SCHEDULE

 

8:30-9 a.m.

Breakfast and Welcome

 

9-9:50 a.m.

Make Social Media Work for Your Nonprofit: Tips from a Geek

Chris Pirillo, Lockergnome

 

10-10:45 a.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

How to Write for an Online Audience

  • Chuck Taylor, The Everett Herald

E-metrics: Measure Your Success Online

  • Anil Batra, POP Multimedia

11-11:45 a.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

How to Manage Volunteers and Interns for Your PR Efforts

  • Melody Biringer, CRAVE
  • Laura Kimball, Jolkona 
  • Moderator: Nikki Balcerak , Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Engaging 20- and 30-Somethings: Rallying Young People Around Your Cause

  • Kristen Eddings, PATH and the Washington Global Health Alliance

Noon to 1 p.m.

Lunch and Media Panel

 

Media Relations in the Digital Age

  • Linda Thomas, KIRO Radio
  • Paul Balcerak, KIRO TV
  • Evonne Benedict, KING TV
  • Aaron Blank, The Fearey Group

1:15-2 p.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

Creating Online Community

  • Melissa Tizon and Dana Lewis, Swedish

Nonprofit Makeover: Fresh Ideas from Fundraising to the Web

  • Bridget Perez, Tray Creative

2:15-3 p.m.

45 Ideas in 45 Minutes

  • Shauna Causey, Ant’s Eye View

3-3:15 p.m.

Wrap Up

 

Register here: http://asi-seattle.com/prsa1/register.php

Visit PRSA Puget Sound's calendar listings: http://www.prsapugetsound.org/Page.aspx?nid=35&date=11%2F10%2F2010

 

Cost: $85 PRSA members; $95 PRSA non-members; includes continental breakfast and lunch

Melissa Tizon's Space

Corporate communicator. Healthcare. Nonprofits. Mom. Wife. News junkie. Closet foodie. Pronounced Tea-zahn. Seattle. "If you have something genuine to say, there is someone who genuinely wants to hear it." -Marianne Williamson