Trends ??? My opinion only

Now that we are almost finished with our course, Technology in the NFP I am going to say that there seems to be  lot of trends in technology, social media, and on line engagement.  We talked about the ever changing needs just in designing this course each year, it is apparent from this perspective alone.  What is a hot item today, is remembered only in brief passing these days.  Big as it is, Facebook hasn't had a double digit birthday yet, and maybe won't live to see one.  Google keeps adding new things, morphing to stay in the game.  Its all relative, but is it all just a flash in the pan?  And as consumers and users are we never satisfied with what we have, always looking for the next big thing?  Rather than thinking of this as a trend, I am beginning to feel like I am learning about a fad.  I should be more cautious, thats what I said about computers in 1973, and look where we are today.  I should have been paying more attention.
Is this the speed we can expect technology to travel, or is it one more sign of or disposable society ?

Article Review of Social Media in the NFP Sector

Strategic Consulting

White Paper: Social Media in the Not -for- Profit Sector

In a recently published article from Indigo Blue (http://indigoblue.co.uk/strategic-consulting/article/social-media-not-profit-sector) the topic of social media use by not for profits reinforced all we have been talking about in class around the use of social media as it pertains to donors and engagement.  Another area that was discussed in this article was equally important for NFP's that are always strapped for funding, and short on professional development dollars.  The prevalence of Communities of Practice (CoP) in this area are rapidly growing and providing experiential advice and a myriad of advice, evaluation and communication into all areas of NFP organizations.  This is further enhanced by evaluation tools often available to assist with sorting out bonifide professionals from the arm chair quarterbacks. This is a valuable support for organizations, and can be akin to brainstorming solutions, or as the article states" a mechanism to exploit the collective intelligence of the organizations membership".  This sharing of information is priceless.

The article overall does a good job of pointing out areas we need to focus on in order to gain success in our organizations.  As we delve deeper into the role of technology and social media in the not for profit sector this can be a critical to our success or failure . Well worth the short read.

Case Study: Do Your Homework Before Deciding on a Database

This article I found on Charity Village was an easy to understand look, through case studies, at the intricacies of deciding on a database for your organization.
No surprise, everyone agrees with what we kind of already know from discussions in class: Do the paper planning before you invest a dime.  First decide what is important to your organization, critical needs versus the nice to haves.  Test drive those that interest you: is it easy to navigate, does it capture everything you want in a way that all involved can get what they need to from it, etc. Is it in your budget?  What about withstanding test of time, will your needs outgrow the system and  require expensive replacements before you can manage them?
Sometimes mistakes are made when organizations mistakenly set out to build their own.  Investments of time and money don't produce a database that achieves what you need it to.
One case study looked at a collaboration between several agencies.  Several group meetings determined a need for a relational database system thats cost of training, initial and ongoing support, and upgrades  etc, could be shared among everyone, while still delivering on individual customized needs.
Everyone has an opinion of what the best database is, but the answer really lies in doing your homework, and comparing the options available, then determining if it fully meets your needs. Don't jump in without all the information, talk to others who have experienced this, consider everyone in your organization who will need specific information, take your time and you will be satisfied with the outcome.
Check out the article with short case studies at:

http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rtech64.html

Wordleing (is that a correct verb form for Wordle)?

Wordle. I guess it has it's uses in the Not for Profit sector. If you have a powerful message you want to get across, you could use a wordle almost as a logo of sorts. Plaster it on T shirts, notecards,fridge magnets etc. It would put your message in peoples faces, and maybe generate a little income as a fundraiser.
As I am trying to do here, it can be put in a blog, as well. Especially useful if you are committed to posting regularly, but are short on time or ideas. It would keep your postings consistent, and might appeal to some readers.
Today I decided to use it to express the many emotions I have as I go through this Technology in the Not for Profit learning experience. To that end I have found this part of it to be an effective stress reliever. Have you tried creating Wordles, just to relax or relieve stress? It's a bit like doodling, do people still doodle?

The Boy(s) of Summer

This is a video of Kirill, my 'grandson' from Belarus.  He visits our family each summer; the video was taken at his home in Belarus when he was 10.  While his English language skills are still being developed, his appreciation of North American pop music is undeniable. 

Personal videos, such as this example, tell a story and can be an effective tool for not-for-profit organizations to connect in a real and meaningful way with their stakeholders.

Privacy in a Social World -Just sayin'

Well since beginnnig this course I have gone from really never giving much thought to my privacy in the world, governing myself with only good sense, to think about it on an almost daily basis.  Again last night I watched briefly an article that raised issues in the grocery store, when using electronic devices when you shop. Seems like marketers monitor your shopping habits, and information provided to barage you with information/propoganda about their products.  Same now with Facebook.  I can't say as I like this approach, it strikes me in the same vein as junk mail that comes to my home. On the other hand, if I use common sense when poking around, I can remain relatively unaffected by this practice.
When we apply the same thinking to a not for profit organization, we have enough information available to keep safer from risks.  The more involved and possibly larger a non profit becomes the more resources need to be devoted to minimizing risk to ourselves and our constituents. It makes sense to use what is available to us, either in human resources or technology to safeguard that which we are responsible for.
My concern is that as technology grows, we are beginning to lose our capacity to self monitor.  Revisit all you learned through your life about staying safe, apply it to technology and you reduce risk considerably.
While not actually related to technology and privacy, I would recommend to anyone grappling with the privacy issues to read The Gift Of Fear by Gavin De Becker.  This is an excellent book about protecting ourselves from violence, but it can be applied more broadly to protecting ourselves in general.

Using Technology in the Not for Profit sector

Thinking about my adversity or fear of using technology and is it all necessary?  In the article below a techie speaks about technology being here to stay, and how not for profits need to invest in the people to use it, and train others to use it as well.  When they put it that way, I'm sold and I can't wait to see what it can do for my organization.
http://news.gilbert.org/features/featureReader$3842
Combining this article and the opportunity we had last week to give Raiser's Edge a try, were compelling reasons to utilize the people power, to operate the technology that improves performance of an organization.  Everybody can win.