NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoup.org - communications

In the Toolshed: Skype for Biz Wide Telephony

jamesvito — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:34:33 -0400

I like Skype. Say it with me..."I like Skype." Now, I don't want to seem too much a pusher of Skype, but I have to say, I'm impressed with this business model (along with Netflix, they're the best 21st century biz models I've experienced.)

Skype takes telephony and translates it into the digital future. Start thinking of your computer as a telephone, is how I could best describe it - a very cheap telephone. And they have business packages, which is why I'm throwing it in our Toolshed. Mostly likely your office has one computer, quite possibly several. With Skype you can make FREE computer-to-computer audio and video calls - and the quality is super sweet (I use it constantly for personal and business use on a Dell Inspiron 1525.)

The Raiser's Razor

jeremygregg — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:42:25 -0400

My blog is located at:

http://theraiser.blogspot.com/

Apply for a Gratitude Grant from Free Range Studios

Britt Bravo — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:15:36 -0400

Has anyone ever sent you a link to The Meatrix, Store Wars, Sam Suds or the DaVersity Code with the note, "You have to watch this"? All four online movies were created by Free Range Studios, an advertising and marketing firm that specializes in nonprofits and socially responsible businesses.

If you have a campaign at your organization that you think could benefit from their services, they are accepting proposals for their 2007 Gratitude Grant.

You can read an interview with Free Range's Principal, Jonah Sachs, on the NetSquared blog.

Building a Mutli-Level Online Community for WYSE

WYSE Monkey — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:17:47 -0500

This blog will cronicle the process of building a new and innovative web presence for Women and Youth Supporting Each Other.

We have a website. www.wyse.org However, it is outdated and our forums are under utilized becuase they are too static.

The goal is to create a modern website for WYSE that incorporates a blog, chat capabilities and many other available social networking tools to bring us into the 21st century.

My vision is a mutli-level web community that serves the needs of our constituents(girls in 6th through 12th grade), our volunteer networks(ranging from college students to professional women), sponsors and foundations as well as other non profits who have a cyber footprint.

Ruminations on a quick stop at the DMA Nonprofit Conference

Todd Whitley — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:32:46 -0500

I just got back from the DMA 2007 Annual Washington Nonprofit Conference, where I was able to dip into a session on integrated fundraising for “nonprofits only.” I was struck by one discussion, in particular, which was sparked by the session facilitator asking “What division owns the web in your association?” As various organizations started division-bashing, I’m sure I frowned. For me, it’s the over-arching communications strategy that should be defining how we communicate online and off…and that strategy should be consumer focused and supported by each division (in unique and various ways). People in this session were actually saying things like…”we don’t issue emails to our email contact list because of political reasons within the organization”…and “we stole the communications division’s list to conduct a donor analysis”…statements that seemed to betray the session’s intent (or, more truthfully, showed just how much work many of us have ahead).

I believe it’s the web services group that is best situated to lead the charge in defining and driving a collaborative approach to communicating cross-divisionally. The fact that we are customer focused by design is a huge asset for that role. But that said, I also believe it’s clear we need to befriend and engage our colleagues in other divisions – not only to win their support, but to share the work-load and ultimately to improve our collective effectiveness as an organization. Let that be the driver for organizational communications.

Study suggests that RSS is not as good as e-newsletters for building relationships

Celeste W of studio 501c — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:53:53 -0400

So says a study by the Nielsen Norman group, which I wrote about in my blog, studio 501c.

Scary Bloggie 4?

Celeste W of studio 501c — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 02:17:23 -0400

Emily, creator of the Nonprofit Blog Exchange, asks why nonprofits don't blog. I think it's because blogging is too often touted as a radical, new end in itself, not as a tool in a larger strategy for building relationships with donors, volunteers, members, and clients.

Relatedly, we need to engage more nonprofit communicators and fundraising professionals in the conversation. No matter how well intended they may be, techies and Web gurus often promote blogs and the like without regard for sound principles of nonprofit fundraising and relationship building -- principles that apply online and off.

FrontlineSMS - Text messaging hub for NGOs

kiwanja — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:54:57 -0500

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

kiwanja.net

URL

www.frontlinesms.com

Location

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Project Description

A one page summary of the project can be viewed at www.kiwanja.net/frontlinesms.htm or full details via the dedicated project website at www.frontlinesms.com

Questions and Answers About New Orleans Voices For Peace

Voices For Peace — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:08:27 -0500

Q : What is the New Orleans Voices For Peace Project?

A: Providing the tools, technologies and training for communication.

Q: For Who?

A: Communities effected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

New Orleans Voices For Peace

Voices For Peace — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:54:26 -0500

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

Plenty International

URL

http://www.neworleansvfp.org

Location

New Orleans

Project Description

Providing Internet access, website hostng, media development and training for partnering organizations and communities effected by the Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Coming Soon:

New Orleans Voices For Peace Mobile Media Lab

* Our goal is to assemble a Web 2.0 mutual empowerment mobile media labs which will provide technological access in the name of solidarity.

MISSION:
*With an understanding of culture, class and racial divides we strive to engage in mutual empowerment of residents, activists and grassroots organizations in the Gulf Coast region who have been left without a voice in the digital age. In short, to give voice to the voiceless.

*In order to create fusion in ideas and put those ideas to action the Mobile Media Lab will provide a common ground where organizations working from all over the spectrum can unite in order to bridge the disconnect often found between local organizations and our natural allies working on a national level.

*We will do this by providing free internet access and conducting multimedia training(s) in a mobile media lab where Gulf Coast residents and area organizations can create testimony to their continuous struggles and document progress made since the disaster. To properly address the clear connections between the disaster in New Orleans as a microcosm of the injustices created by Western Society, we will provide technological assistance and education to aid in the assembly of folk stories related to the tragedy of New Orleans. This project can be conducted both locally and throughout the diaspora.

PROJECT:
*Create a mobile news team to document events in NOLA, and around the country (demonstrations, disaster relief, educational tours, etc.). In addition, we will promote training with partnering organizations in media production.

*Provide an open source web portal to both socialize and focus the information of all participants. This will be conducted through the following hosts: http://www.neworleansvfp.org, http://neworleansnetwork.org http://www.commongroundrelief.org, http://www.ivawdeployed.org, and others.

*Create a mobile computer literacy lab to remove the technological hurdles to equal media access (including printing, fax, internet skills, social networking, & access/management of information that has been recorded).

POSSIBLE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS:
*9th ward history project -mapping the history of the residents in the 9th Ward, documenting their survival, rescue, relocation and recovery through collaboration with residents, volunteers, universities, faith-based groups, and grassroots organizations.

PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS:
United Peace Relief (http://www.unitedpeacerelief.org)
Common Ground Relief (http://www.commongroundrelief.org)
New Orleans Voices For Peace (http://www.neworleansvfp.org)

PASSED INTERNET ACCESS AND MOBILE MEDIA LAB PROJECTS:
Veterans For Peace, chapter 116, Internet access, IMPEACHMENT BUS
CAMP CASEY I, Internet access, Crawford, TX
Camp Covington, Internet access, Covington, LA
Common Ground Relief, Internet Access, New Orleans, LA
Emergency Communities, Internet access, Buras, LA
Four Directions Solidarity Network, Internet access, Dulac, LA
Camp Liberty, Internet Access, Slidell, LA

PROGRAM NEEDS:
*media equipment - imacs, audio/video equipment, satellite Internet, digital video and still cameras, digital videon projector, PA system.

TRANSPORTATION NEEDS:
*Bus - Retired school buses or entertainer tour buses.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Mobile Media Lab will generate operating capital and travel budgets through grants, contracting of production services, retail sales of concessions, tickets and soliciting donations.

More information (http://www.neworleansvfp.org/node/2269)

Contact: gordonsoderberg@mac.com
504 613-0174