Over here Jon Bounds has reminded us of our collective Birmingham blogger wish to mark Blog Action day next week in some shared way. When Tom Watson asked us about this a while back there was plenty of enthusiastic muttering.
The theme for blog action day 2008 is poverty, considered in it’s widest sense. So rather than simply blog, we’re arranging to do something more practical: run a social media surgery for voluntary and community groups in Birmingham. Many of these deal directly with poverty in the city, I think all of them contribute in some way to creating life opportunities or alleviating suffering or disadvantage.
The aim is simply to get a group of volunteer social media savvy people together who can give one to one advice on which bits of the social media palette might be able to help these groups accomplish more.
Perhaps we might set up some blogs, get people using video or images in a new way, help them map problems? Who knows? I’m quite certain everyone who takes part will learn something. (I’m wondering if this will help me imagine what a digital mentor might do.
Half an hour ago Candy Passmore at BVSC agreed to provide a room at their place (138 Digbeth, B5 6DR, map). The proposal fits very closely with their attempts to encourage the voluntary sector to find new ways to communicate, lobby and network. The offer also comes with wifi and some food between 5.30 and 9 on the evening of Wednesday 15th October 2008. Once we’ve got something written she will also pass the invitation onto their networks within the city.
So who fancies helping and who knows any community or voluntary groups who might like to come?
Update: Its on.
Birmingham Voluntary Services Council love the idea and are happy to help us with space at their place, tea coffee and perhaps a morsel for those who want to stave off their tea time pangs. time is 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm Wednesday 15th October 2008.
Sign up here: http://birminghamblogactionday2008.eventbrite.com/ any problems with that don’t give up – leave a comment below or call me on 0777 909 5692. If you want to find out about this stuff we want you there!
Tags: Birmingham UK, blogging, brumbloggers, Citizen Journalism, net2uk, netsquareduk, nptech, Snnprofit, Social Networking, teaching podcasting, upyerbrum, Video, Voluntary Sector, Youtube
Count me in, sounds like a great idea.
[...] First posted here. [...]
Nice one Nick, I hope it’s a success for all who participate. Sadly can’t be in Brum on that date, but am sure all will have a great time.
[...] Blog Action Day 2008: Poverty – Birmingham does it with a Social Media Surgery for Birmingham community and voluntary groups 5.30-9.00pm on Wednesday 15th October at BVSC, 138 Digbeth B5 6DR. If you’re social media savvy and have the time to spare, get in touch with Nick Booth. [...]
[...] by Stuart Parker in Call for help, Meeting, social media. Tags: birmingham, blog, blog action day trackback Birmingham bloggers get involved in Blog Action Day. We’ll keep a track of ongoings and postany relevant stuff as and when. [...]
What a great idea. Is there a way to participate remotely?
Thanks rachel – we’ve barely begun organising it. I’m hoping that we will be able to get some orgs online and to give them a kick start in the social web, linking to them etc etc would be a great way to help.
Sounds like a fabby idea. Would love to be involved in Brum, though I might see if I can organise something similar with some vol orgs in the Northants area. Another option might be to do what Rachel’s doing and get involved via the ether.
Hang on. How about we try and get as many of these things happening in as many locations as we can, and link ‘em all up, so we all know what each other is up to and share problems and solutions?
If it is a start, I’ve got socialmediasurgery.com…
This is a brilliant idea Nick, is there any way I can help? Will certainly be letting some of the low carbon communities know about this.
[...] As part of Blog Action Day 2008, where the theme is Poverty, a few of us Birmingham social media types are running a social media surgery for voluntary and community groups on October 15th from 5.30 – 9pm. Nick Booth, whose idea it was, has the details. [...]
[...] Special social media event planned in Birmingham. (More here. And here. And here.) [...]
This is a great idea, I will see who and what I link into in the VCS in Birmingham… although you’re closer.
Should be able to get some national coverage through NAVCA, but think it will be reporting what happened rather than promting before hand – however will be national publicity for Blog Action Day and the groups that get the help.
See you next week!
(PS, is Brumbloggers just Birmingham or can orgs in the Black Country … Worcestershire …. Coventry be involved)
[...] If you could register your interest here that’d be great or just feel free to drop in on the 15th from 5.30 – 7.30pm. More background can be found on the blogs of the organisers Jon Bounds and Nick Booth. [...]
[...] A quick mention on Blog Action Day, Wednesday 15th October. We were planning on attending as one of the social media ’surgeons’ to offer advice but it seems we have been included on the ‘patients’ list! which is cool, because we can quiz some of the ‘experts’ on some of the finer details of blogging! We hope plenty of organisations get involved here, the technology can really help make a difference. Maybe it can be a platform to providing more frequent, similar events too. [...]
[...] The notion was raised (on Twitter, naturally) about a week ago and in that time we, marshaled by the mighty Nick Booth, had gathered about 10 experts and spread the word through the voluntary sector networks. We had a room, food and drinks, a bunch of laptops and awaited the crowds. [...]
[...] We turned up at Blog Action Day a tad late due to other engagements. By this time, things were in full swing. All the tables were full, the surgeons were talking their stuff and the patients were listening intently on the benefits of blogging. This is exactly how it happened. Again, it proved a healthy demand for this knowledge exists within the community but we kind of knew that. What the group, and more so, Nick Booth for being the lead organiser, proved was a way of making it happen that proved useful to both attendees and hosts. It wasn’t just a case of filling spaces to satisfy funding requirements. One question came up about how the event was organised so quickly and effectively. I heard Nick mention that it happened because “we’re all networked”. The event worked well, the people who attended came because they knew, or thought they might gain something from attending. This event didn’t really look at the real crux of the Digital Divide. Exchange the people in that room with people who didn’t want to be there, who couldn’t care less – then what do you do? how can you use the technology to encourage them to be more active? get involved with community stuff? improve their education? Ideally, those who attended the surgery will take back what they ‘learnt’ to their projects and groups and promote the technology. Hopefully it will encourage further exploration. The event was a great starting point though, and proved what can be achieved with a little organisation and belief. Category : Events / social media [...]
[...] Blog Action Day in Birmingham – a social media surgery for voluntary orgs. [...]
[...] months on from the very first Birmingham Social Media Surgery and Fazeley Studios hosts another session of free help and advice [...]
[...] almost a year since the first Birmingham Social Media surgery began to help voluntary and community groups in Birmingham make the most of social media and the [...]
[...] the anniversary of the first Birmingham Social Media surgery, designed to help voluntary and community groups in Birmingham [...]