The Basics on Using Video via Vimeo

As I work toward incorporating more video into my blogs, work, Facebook, etc. I am searching for good instructional videos on "How To". Before taking about this with others... I need to know more about it myself. Here are a couple I find interesting:

Shooting Basics:

Video 101: Shooting Basics from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.

Editing Basics:

Video 101: Editing Basics from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.

Using Social Media to Spread the Gospel

This is not my "usual" social workshop audience. Normally my workshops include business professionals, students, and those interested in social media for personal profit. I was so excited when Karen from St. Joseph's Catholic Family Ministry (via St. Marie's Parish in Manchester NH) called to ask if I was available to talk to them about incorporating social media in their new/growing ministry.

As some already know, in my "real" life I work for a non-profit company called Granite State Ambassadors, that I founded along with Peter Morgan and my good friend and 15-year-long training partner Bill Petersen. Over the past 4 years Bill has been transitioning from University Dean to Pastor... now known as @PastorBillP (in Twitterville) is the Pastor for the Faith Lutheran Church in East Hartford CT. To say "I miss him" is an understatement. He was my sounding board, my rock, my mentor. So when I reached out to him and asked him to join me for this workshop to use his experience as a case study for us, I was thrilled that his answer was yes!

I've cataloged (tagged) a list of reading materials, how to videos, and the actual Power Point (in 7 parts) I used for this workshop at:  http://www.delicious.com/judiwindow/stjoes11162010 for your research and reading pleasure. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I could help you and/or your organization with social media. [More pics from the workshop.]

I'd like to give a special shout out to my friends and colleagues at Nackey Loeb School of Communication for recommending me to Karen for this specialized workshop. I will be teaching 2 "Facebook for the Fun of It" workshops in March 2011 and a full-length (6-week) class on Advanced Social Media in January/February 2011 at the Lobe School in Manchester NH.

Things You've Gotta Know About The Big E

Today was a labor of love... on this Labor Day. I worked to finish a PowerPoint presentation for Friday's volunteer orientation. I love planning orientations I find out so many cool things... like:

1. There is a thebigetv channel on YouTube.
2. You can purchase discount food coupons, rides on the Mardi Gras floats, & Midway tickets online!
3. The Big Marti Gras Parade is Cool
4. The Craz-E Burger

Brooms, Telephones, and Email

As I prepare for an advanced social media class this winter. I've been thinking a lot about questions I've answered over the past several classes. One being who should take charge of "social media" within an organization.

In reading the article "Does social media belong in PR or marketing division?" from iMedia Connection (a daily publication I choose to have delivered to my email box every morning) I find I want to answer the question with a question: "Does the telephone belong in PR or marketing divisions?" Sounds silly. Social Media is a tool, just like brooms, telephones, and email. In most companies every department who needs the tools should have access to them. Why limit your thinking about social media? Keep your mind open to the concept that social media is a tool to access the hearts and minds of those you wish to communicate with... like your telephone. Imagine your grandparents having the same discussions when telephones were first brought into the workplace. One phone, one desk, one person.... we've come a long way baby! Each member of your team, whether janitorial, sales, marketing, or senior management have reasons to utilize social media tools.

This reminds me of a tour I attended with Granite State Ambassadors to the Best Western Executive Court Inn when they first opened in 1999. As information specialists who staff visitor centers in New Hampshire, "GSAs" are fortunate to take insider tours of locations so we can help guests traveling to NH. What stands out from this particular tour (taken over 10 years ago!) is the encounter with the laundry lady. She brought us down into her domain deep into the hotel's bowels. There she talked about how much laundry she did each day while folding sheets. For some reason she went off on a tangent about how she takes lipstick stains out of sheets... FASCINATING... not only the process (which I don't remember) but the fact that she takes the time and pride to do that.... From that moment on, I've sent hundreds of people to that hotel confident that they will have sparkling clean sheets.... Now Tweet, Blog, Facebook that "Marketing Department"!

What Are We So Scared Of?

People are scared.
People are scared of other people.
People are scared of the future.
People are scared of technology.

Why? I don't know. -- But becoming comfortable with change is an important first step in the future of eBuiness. This video will be a great opening for a workshop.


http://www.youtube.com/user/alcasish

Technology is a good thing. It is all around us, used every day, all day, for good and tangible reasons. When teaching introductory classes to social media, one of my most asked questions is "Does my business have to "do" social media? It is so time consuming" Nope, you do not have to. But living here on earth, we find the plant has recently grown a "central nervous system" that you (and your business) belong to. Be active or be passive, it's your call. Where do you want to reside on the DIKW pyramid?


A Smarter Planet

Thanks to my Google Reader and ReadWriteWeb for pointing me in the direction of these two interesting videos. I will find a good place for them in social media my workshop presentations.