What are people saying about you online?

The Social Media Policy Toolkit You’ve set up your Facebook page and Twitter account, maybe a Tumblr, pinned your interests on Pinterest, and connected with the professional world on LinkedIn. How do you make sure that once your presence is out there, it doesn't get you into any trouble? That’s where a social media policy can come in handy. A social media policy is a document that outlines for you and your entire staff what belongs on social media--and what does not. No matter what size your organization is, developing your own policy can be an extremely worthwhile exercise, but there are a lot of questions to ask, and it’s often difficult to find the right answers on your own. Let us help. A well-defined policy can help you better understand your social media presence, create a voice that exemplifies your organization’s values, and protect you from questionable content. Starting February 19, we are offering The Social Media Policy Toolkit, a three-week course designed to help you create a social media policy in real time with plenty of support from Idealware’s experts. Over three weeks, we’ll break down all the critical elements of a social media policy and help you create your own. We’ll take our time discussing how you can create a policy that suits your organizational values, what to do if someone says something negative about your organization online, and how you can navigate that tricky intersection between the personal and professional that is a reality for the social media environment. Along the way, you’ll use Idealware’s Nonprofit Social Media Policy Workbook to make sure your policy is comprehensive and easy to use. At the end of the class, you’ll walk away with a clear vision for your organization’s online presence, and have a document to show for all your hard work. Want to hear more about the course? Check out this promotional video with your teacher, Andrea Berry, discussing a few topics from the session. Watch the video here>>> Ready to register? Click here. This course is our lowest cost intensive toolkit of the spring, and there's never been a better time to check out our online seminars. ________________ You received this email because you signed up for Idealware updates. If you are no longer interested in hearing from us,click here to unsubscribe. Idealware | 1 Pleasant St., Suite 4E | Portland ME | 04101

Tumblr: When You Work at a Nonprofit

http://workingatanonprofit.tumblr.com/

New Webinars to Start Summer Off Right from NYCON

April Showers Bring May Flowers and lots of NEW Webinars! New Webinars All Month Long!

Know Thy Self: Assessing Organizational Readiness When Taking on the World of Restructuring [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO,  New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Tuesday May 7th, 2013    11:00am to 12:30pm    Register Now      Affiliation discussions are a discovery process - uncovering and clarifying motivations, interests, organizational facts and circumstances, strengths and weaknesses. It is a process where potential partners learn about each other and yes, learn about themselves as well. Successful affiliation talks depend largely on each party being prepared, as transparency starts internally first. The more clarity your board and staff leadership can get as to the organization's true operational, fiscal, and "mission" health, the better positioned the organization will be in type of restructuring or collaboration. This webinar, led by our seasoned restructuring expert, Doug Sauer CEO, will guide attendees as to the questions that you should first ask yourselves and then extend to your potential partner.  Register Now Flexible Spending Account Program Through NYCON New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Tuesday May 9th, 2013    11:00am to 12:00pm    Register Now      Did you know that an  FSA (Flexible Spending Account) is a great way for you can help your employees  save money on day care and health care services as well as over-the-counter items for themselves and their family members. When you put an FSA in place at your organization, your employees can contribute money deducted from their salary, before taxes are withheld and use this money to pay for eligible expenses. This also means that your nonprofit pays less in payroll  taxes along with the wonderful benefit to your employees. Join us on May 9th to hear more about how this benefits your nonprofit, including all the plan details, the process of enrollment, plan features - including debit card, and more about NYCON's services as administration Register Now NYCON Membership Benefits Orientation [Webinar] Good for Prospective, New & Returning Members! May 17th or June 14th - Your Choice Register Now  In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE.  We will be talking about these benefits. Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance  Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits The Nonprofit Voice in New York State    Register Now  Life Insurance Program Through NYCON Presented by Eric Laughlin, Licensed Representative, Council Services Plus The New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Tuesday May 23rd, 2013    11:00am to 12:00pm    Register Now      NYCON is pleased to bring an affordable, accessible Life Insurance option to the employees of our Member organizations through MetLife. MetLife is the leader in Group Life Insurance and is in a unique position to help provide the right plan for you as employers - not just today, but over time - to meet the changing needs of businesses and your employees. Many employees purchase life insurance through their workplace, it's a critical part of a company's benefits package - helping employees achieve financial security for their families. You can help employees feel that security by adding Life insurance to their suite of benefits.Join us on May 23rd to hear more about how this benefits your nonprofit, including all the plan details, the process of enrollment, cost and more. Register Now Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build It, Will They Come? [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, Central NY Office, NYCON and Valerie Venezia, Vice President, Membership & Marketing, NYCON June 14th, 2013 11:00am to 12:30pm  Register Now  Sometimes it seems like there's a new hot social media tool launched every day of the week. Figuring out what these tools do, how our nonprofit should use them, and frankly, if you need to use these tools can boggle anyone's mind. As busy nonprofit staff and board members we need to know what specific tool do we use for our specific goals? How do we measure success? This webinar will help cut through the clutter of social media mayhem and help you simplify, refocus, and target social media tools based on organizational needs and a focused message (and maybe even some actual metrics!)   Register Now

Ideal Ware:Best February 2013

Best of the Web: February 2013

The Idealware “Best of the Web” is a monthly roundup of the top nonprofit resources from the Idealware blog, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed to help you make the right technology decisions.

Infographic: Social Media’s Impact on Giving in 2012 (Nonprofit Quarterly) 

A look at how social media has affected online giving.

How-to: Quickly Optimize Your Website for Mobile Devices (NTEN)

How do you get the most bang for your buck when investing in the mobile web?

On Demand Tactical Technology Planning (Idealware)

All your tactical technology planning needs in one on-demand package to solve your organization's current problems and avoid future issues.

Secrets to Finding Out What You Need - Good Questions to Ask During a Technology Assessment (The Data Bank)

When you start by asking the right questions, your organization will be in the best place to plan for the future.

Getting Started With Data-Driven Decision Making: A Workbook (Idealware/NTEN)

Could you use more help thinking through how to use data to help your organization make decisions? This workbook Idealware prepared for NTEN is the perfect place to start.

I Could Be Your Next Monthly Donor. So Call Me, Maybe? (NTEN)

Tips on how to recruit, retain, and upgrade monthly donors.

5 Smartphone Apps for Nonprofits (About.com)

Use these apps to keep up with the rapid growth of mobile.

The eMail Guide Email Marketing Glossary (The eMail Guide)

The 325 email marketing terms everyone needs to know.

Power through schedules with 21 Google Calendar tricks (PC World)

Save time and increase your organization's productivity by becoming a Google Calendar whiz.

A Guide to Synagogue Management: Research and Recommendations (Idealware)
We looked at a variety of donor and constituent management systems to create an overview for a complex and niche market

Pew Report: How internet and social media have transformed the arts

How internet and social media have transformed the arts
By: Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger

Social media has become a new way for arts organizations to promote their work, attract new audiences, as well as advertise themselves. Audiences have become more diverse, attracting younger people to the organizations.

For the full story click here

May 11th Program RECAP: See What You Missed About Social Media!

SCNY ED Group May 11th Program RECAP It's A Social Media World After All! Even if you missed the Program this week, you can still take advantage of the social media tools and resources for your nonprofit! You will find the NYCON presentation from Wednesday's program available here for your information and use. This info lays out the pros and cons of the higher profile social media tools, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogging. We encourage you to make the most of the NYCON presentation and embrace Web 2.0 for your nonprofit. Just be sure to take a look at our essential Rules for Social Media and develop a good social media policy.    Questions? Contact us.

Southern Tier Tweet-Up

https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=200929503263546
More Info Work in social media in the Southern Tier or just love it? This is the networking event for you. Get together with everyone you Facebook or tweet back-and-forth with every day.

Join us at the Roberson Museum and Science Center for food, drinks, fun, networking and new friends! Be sure to invite your Facebook and Twitter friends! Let's use the hashtag #BingMeet on Twitter to get the word out.

Price of admission is bringing your favorite food dish or drink to share. Please, no cases of beer or the likes. Let's keep it classy, kids. Sodas and juices count.

Also, check out our tweetvite: http://tweetvite.com/event/bingmeet (Thanks, @amywoo!)

Roberson Museum and Science Center
Facebook and Twitter friends - mark your calendars.
Roberson is hosting the Southern Tier Tweet-Up on Friday, May 6! Great chance to meet your "virtual friends" and network with other local social media users.

Southern Tier Tweet-Up Location: Roberson Museum and Science Center
Time: ‎6:00PM Friday, May 6th

Free workshop on social media for nonprofit groups: Corrected Registration Info

A half-day workshop for nonprofit organizations will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Broome County Public Library.

Called “Cutting Edge Technologies to Grow Your Non-Profit Organization,” the workshop will look at social media and its ability to transform nonprofits. Other technologies to help recruit and retain volunteers will also be discussed.
The Broome Leadership Institute Alumni Association, RSVP, Southern Tier Young Professionals, United Way of Broome County, Binghamton University College of Community and Public Affairs and BU’s Department of Human Development have joined together to hold this free workshop.

For more information or to sign up, contact Amy Shaw at (607) 772-8863 ext. 313.

2nd Annual Half Day Workshop for Non-Profit Organizations
“Cutting Edge Technologies to Grow your Non-Profit Organization”
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 / 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Broome County Public Library (Decker Room), 185 Court Street, Binghamton

Tentative Agenda

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast

9:30 – 9:35 a.m. Welcome

9:35 – 10:45 a.m. Social Media
Speakers: Bijoy Datta, Director of Client Relations, Vibrant Creative (formerly GrafiQa Creative Services) &
Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
Social media is beginning to transform non-profits both in the way they work as well as their relationship they have with their members and donors. In this session, we will examine:
- What social media is and how it is relevant to non-profits
- An overview of social media tools
- Do’s and Don’ts of social media
- Effectively using social media to cut marketing costs
- Telling the story of your mission in a relevant way for social media
- Learn how “cause marketing” with various social media can build donations, engage existing and gain new volunteers
- Effective local examples

** Please note, this session does not teach you HOW to use social media. We focus more on what’s out there and why it could be important to your organization.

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Effective Volunteer Management System
Speaker: Greg Jenkins, Encounter Program/Facilities Manager, Broome County Council of Churches
Find out how one local organization has implemented a state-of-the-art effective volunteer management system.

11:15 – 12:00 p.m. Ways to Engage Student Involvement in your Organization
Speakers: Dr. Allison F. Alden, Director, Center for Civic Engagement, Binghamton University &
Mary Beth Smith, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Binghamton
For more than 50 years, Binghamton University students have gained much by working as volunteers, interns, and employees in the local community. And the community has gained many dedicated, inquisitive and hardworking people, who have made significant contributions to local life. Find out how one local non-profit effectively engaged student involvement in their organization.

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Closing Inspirational Keynote
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, Executive Director, Broome County Council of Churches