Asking the right questions while using ALL your tools in the shed. Are your lawn blades sharp?

via johnhaydon.com

This post from John Haydon http://goo.gl/FI5Bq really hit a chord for me - the last few presentations I've stressed how imperative it is to hit upon one very simple theme - are you asking the right questions? Besides engaging are you finding your flag carriers?

I always like to tell the story about the pet owners who gift wrap a present for their dog - it's a crazy story http://goo.gl/qnqwB but one that helps drive home the point of asking the right questions to find who in a large group of members will have no problem going into battle with you. As John points out in his piece about asking the most important question of a first time donor, this process of data mining is key to understanding what you are doing right or what you need to change.

The tools we have available are plentiful and as I reminded a recent attendee who asked questions related to comparing Google + versus Facebook - it's not always about the new tools but more about why you and your organization are reaching out and can your culture from a resource perspective support these tools.

We sometimes forget it's not about having and using ALL the tools, it's about using the right tool for the right job. Have we forgotten about the Phone? Has the "industry" and "caller ID" services made us gun shy about actually picking up the phone every so often and reaching out to our donors?

Yep, it's time consuming making phone calls - you can reach more people more quickly with an email blast with links to impersonal polling services and while most people may find the call intrusive there is a theory that they gave you their phone number for a reason. Perhaps we are overlooking an opportunity or a hidden subliminal message that our members want to connect, they DO WANT YOU TO CALL . . . . it's OK talk to them.

Making that phone call in todays world is kinda old fashion - much like that letter writing thing we do - ahhh, letters. Yep, just another tool in the shed, keep those lawn blades sharp folks!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola orhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

What's on YOUR shelf? Has anything changed in 13 years of tech?

Enjoy a little video of what I found and some thoughts on the titles of these CIO magazines circa 1998 - don't be alarmed.  You're still in good ole 2011 . . . 

 

 

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola orhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

Second star to the right and straight on to a new world! Fight CRC bound . . .

It's not every day one gets the opportunity to push the proverbial needle and change your career course but today is that day.

As some know, my role at National Wildlife Federation came to a disappointing halt in late August when the program reorganized and due to budgetary constraints the decision was made to focus more on a project oriented front as opposed to the operations and tech services I had been brought in to provide.  I don't have any regrets as I had the opportunity to focus on some large scale tech projects and work on national environmental challenges.  In the process I partnered with some extraordinary people who would quickly become good friends.  NWF is indeed stocked with large amounts of passion!

Providing service for the accomplishment of a noble mission has been the very cornerstone of my career and while this change hurt on a personal level, I never lost sight or hope that I would soon put my skills, passion and ingenuity to be that change agent once again.  

And I'm happy to report my soon departure from the 9.1% club of unenjoyment is coming to an end.

The last few weeks I have had the pleasure to start a dialog with an organization that redefines the dedication and passion I am looking to be part of and in a very new and exciting role not to mention a very different field.  During my college years I had worked for a small social services group in upstate New York that provided services to those in need.  Service to others was instilled early on in my career, the passion to help people who were in need but didn't know how or where to go.

Starting October 31 I will be joining Fight Colorectal Cancer based in Alexandria Va as their Vice President of Operations.  I will be succeeding Judi Sohn who has been in that role for over 6 years, sits on the NTEN board of directors, knows Convio inside and out and is a self professed Technology MacGyver.  Big shoes indeed.  I have a lot to learn and will be wearing many hats but the excitement and the services the organization provides will make the hard work so worth the effort.

The team is lead by Carlea Bauman - President and "chief firecracker", there is so much raw energy and passion it's mind blowing to be around!  I am really looking forward to partnering with Carlea and hope to repay the trust she has placed in me to help focus the organization and put all this opps and tech experience I've accumulated over the years to work in this scrappy upcoming non profit. 

The remaining team is just as passionate and I hope to share more about this committed and inspirational group who desperately want to see a cure for this horrific disease.  Colorectal Cancer is the number three most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, a cure can happen - it will take a fight to make it so.

I have a feeling I will be taping many friends and partners as I start the learning process so be ready for my call!  While my focus in the next few months will be in learning the new territory and watching reruns of MaGyver I hope to continue being a presence in the tech field.  You can run from tech, but you can't hide!

Fight Colorectal Cancer - Get behind a cure.

www.FightColorectalCancer.org

Facebook  |  Twitter

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola orhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

Who else is going in circles over Google + ?

I have been so negligent in diving into Google Plus - excuse me . . . Google +  I'm old school, spelling it out versus using symbols or acronyms seems more natural.  

This past week I had to run up to my son's school when I saw the shirt and my first question was - when are you getting a hair cut?  . . . . noooo, kidding I would never do that.  Actually it was: "Do you have one for me?" ( it's all about me after all, plus I'm contributing to this college experience with hard earned $$$$ so where's my shirt hippy? ) But alas there were no more new cool Google T-shirts with the circle logo promoting the Google + services - so all I got was this lousy image of a shirt and a kid with long hair - not the T-Shirt.

I digress, in a recent presentation we came upon the topic of Google + as compared to Facebook and I quickly pushed the question away stating the "what and how" wasn't as important as the "why" and tried to focus the group on understanding the "why" in which they wanted to promote and market their various causes and don't worry about the "what".  But I may have been wrong in making so hastily a comment - after all, if you understand what the tools can DO perhaps that will help you come to the "why" you want or need to market.  Reverse engineering does after all have a place in how we work with tech so why not go there?

The bottom line is: we are all looking to have a conversation, that's what these tools and they do it well.  I've always been a big fan of knowing and segmenting what my peeps are all about so I can have intelligent meaningful dialog. Google + does that segmentation very well. This same way of thinking applies to many non profits looking for the same focused dialog. 

So maybe I need to take some time, rethink my circles and do something more with the hundreds of PLUSES and peeps sitting in my Google + account.  And maybe, just maybe I'll get a T-Shirt.

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola orhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

2011 Chesapeake Watershed Forum | Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay @allianceforbay, we need a shorter hashtag

via allianceforthebay.org

This weekend I have the opportunity to present with my ex-workspouse but forever friend @starfocus on how organizations integrate and use social networking to help promote and message. I'm extremely lucky to have been asked and honored to be part of this amazing group of people who man this army to protect and restore the Bay.

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is working with some broad and diverse organizations that are focused on messaging the education of restoration science and action to the Chesapeake region. For nearly 40 years the Alliance has spearheaded innovative ways to engage people and groups to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. And if you noticed what happened with the run off from recent torental storms, the rivers and tribs are having a negative impact on the bay this season making the need to engage and message for cleaner filtering that much more important.

The NWF MidAtlantic office has been a key partner in this group - and show casing how NWF has utilized the various tools and methods to engage will be a delight to talk about with those who are attending the three day forum.

This is also my first time visiting Shepherdstown, WV so besides hanging with some of my fave buds I get to see some amazing country in my own backyard. http://bit.ly/nLfzPg

Saturday morning I may be in need of an intravenous drip of caffeine but I'm betting my twitter stream will be getting a workout as we talk and train this dedicated army who are committed to saving the bay! Keep an eye out for some creative hashtags - we need to work on something smaller, a little help D?

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub.

Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

via market.android.com

In a recent Droid commercial I saw this dude speak into his mobile while abroad and it translated what he said. Wow. Of course I said "I need that" because that's part of what we do, we see shiny new stuff that we need.

The app appears to work like a champ, I installed it and within minutes my mobile was speaking fluent Spanish and all I had to do was talk or type what I wanted translated. So the question is . . . . did I do something smart by installing this app or did I just perpetuate being lazy? Thanks to the tech I don't need to learn the language now, I can just type or speak it up!

I'l have to play with this a bit more to see if it helps me learn, after all good tech teaches us, shouldn't make us lazy. Of course I already have the French language down pact: I vood lick to go to ze hotel - I learned that from Steve Martin. See, French is easy!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

Net Neutrality Rules Published, Saving the Interwebs at last - let the lawsuits begin

via wired.com

Let's be clear - this has to be the one of the neatest wiring jobs of a server rack I have seen in years! Kudos to this poor shmuck who spent better part of a day color coding and wrapping all these cables into nice bundles - polite tennis clap time . . .

What does this have to do with Net Neutrality? Absolutely nothing and yet this is the pic that made its way in the news piece Wired published about Net Neutrality. The FCC has finally outlined the rules for what many of us take for granted or haven't considered, unless . . . . and here it comes, you live on your mobile and question the inconsistent costs between like services from different carriers.

Here is a brief definition of Net Neutrality:

"As the name indicates, Net Neutrality (also known as Network Neutrality or Internet neutrality) is all about creating a neutral internet. The term supports the view that Internet traffic should be treated equally.

The term also backs that internet should be an open platform like any other utility used in our home like electricity as Internet has already become part and parcel of our lives and has been indispensable.

Net Neutrality advocates no restrictions by Internet service providers (ISPs) and governments on content, sites, platforms, the kinds of equipment that may be attached, and the modes of communication." - http://bit.ly/pLeZGL

Now that the FCC finally has published the rules that go into effect 11/20 we can now rest assured that the interwebs are once again in safe and sound hands . . . . I jest, of course the lawsuits will soon start and all bets are off.

Bottom line is I don't see how mobile consumption wins or even comes out ahead especially when you see the limits being placed on basic functionality like tethering. Why should I have to pay extra to tether my mobile device to my iPad when not in a WiFi hotspot? I don't want a separate Verizon MiFi hot spot device and service, I want to use my 3G capable Droid that I'm already paying for thank you very much. And why are there caps on bandwidth use for the iPhones depending on carriers? Are we really saturating the network that we have to limit distribution?

Isn't that cable bundle picture a thing of beauty? So neat, so organized . . .

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

Be Bold, Be Bald! - Nationwide Cancer Fundraiser, count me in!

via beboldbebald.org

I know what you're thinking - aren't you already loosing your hair? Yes, of course I am but now with a single stroke of a bald cap the act is for a good cause!

I know too many people this past year who have lost their hair due to chemo treatments, it's not much effort on my part to slap one of these bad boys on and make a statement: I'm sharing the love and admiration - Be Bold, Be Bald!

What are you doing Oct 21?

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he listens - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

US schools adding iPads, why you should be thinking Tablets

Oh to be a freshman again . . . . A few weeks back I mentioned how I think Non Profits should make an investment in getting their boards connected with tablets - auto configured access to either portals via services like Sharepoint along with meeting notes and documents related to budgets all via these devices would make such a difference in how organizations interact with their boards.  

The board would be connected virtually, allow for electronic voting, collaborate consistently via web meetings, reviewing documentation via consistent applications and save a ton of money down the road not just in printing costs but the labor costs to pull all this documentation and materials together.

So when I saw this piece about how US public schools are moving away from traditional teaching materials like BOOKS and instead distributing learning materials via the iPad I was stoked.

My youngest is currently enrolled at Hood College in Frederick MD - they distributed to the freshman class tablets - all their materials, assignments are being accessed via the tablet.  

It's streamlining education and getting this generation hands on access to tools that are not only mainstream but are fast rising to become the standard of how our culture will be connected and should collaborate.

 

It's exciting to see and to be a part of, I wish I was a freshman again - the things I would do differently . . . . oooooo, beer tent.

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

 

Don't bring your lunch, get your CIO to buy you lunch!

There is a lot to be said about how tech and business programs struggle to get on the same page but the simplest way I have found is lunch.  Yep, I said it - Lunch, paper bag, in a cafe, on a bench - it doesn't matter, as long as it's a bite to eat and good conversation with someone other than your iPad.  

Lunch has always been my work time where I would just catch up plow thru the day - BUT I have found that the best lunches I have had were always either with peers or partners of the programs I supported.  You may think these were meetings in disguise as lunch but they really were about connecting and more importantly reaching out. 

I recently read a post called "Five Cures for What Ails IT" from John Baschab, senior VP of management services at Technisource, a tech staffing and IT services company  - I really liked another of his points made about an IT Steering committee, been talking about a group like that for over a decade but it's a hard concept for most non profits to get behind - but I digress.  What struck me about the piece was the "lunch concept" - I jumped out of my chair when I read that and ran to the frig to make lunch - I was hungry but it was an "ah ha" moment. 

During my last outing with my former co-workers and friends I mentioned my disappointment at how the organization doesn't encourage more of a group lunch on a daily basis.  They have this huge lunch room which hardly ever gets used.  At CBF where I spent 10 years of my career they have a very active lunch room - lunch is available in the Cafe and gets heavily used by the staff, eating at your desk is discouraged.  There's a reason for that:  it stimulates camaraderie, gives you a chance to break the daily routine and hear what others are doing via a different channel.  

As John states, getting your program folks out and in a different setting stimulates the conversation between IT and the program your lunch mate works - also give you the Technologist an opportunity to pitch ideas and make that much needed connection.  Making connections is a must have for Tech programs to be successful.

Most times eating lunch with program partners and peers outside your department was more about listening - I'm a fan of the three L's: Look Listen & Learn  or is it Look Listen and Lunch?  I'm also a big fan of Breakfast. Can I get some waffles, please?

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

Bottled Purified Water Makes Me Insane

So another topic a little off the beaten tech path for me but I can't help it.  Water Bottles, I'm a fan of telling it like it is and right now Water Bottles have me thinking . . . 

I'm a fan of water - we all need water to live and I typically carry water with me as I'm afraid someday I'll open the car door and find myself in a desert or possibly floating in space and very thirsty.  I've seen the movies, I know it can happen.

When I read in a recent issue of Time Magazine how much we consume in plastic bottles and some push back from readers ( Melissa Gilespie Sept 5 issue for one ) about how they HAVE to consume their water in a bottle and avoid the tap - this really made me cringe.  I try VERY VERY hard to not purchase water in a bottle and I'm a water snob, I admit it, I like my water pure, I like it chilled, not shaken and I'm fine with no ice.  But it doesn't take much to pick up a water filtering system either on the go, at home or at work.  I use a Brita pitcher filter system at work for over two years now, it's the best $20 I ever spent www.brita.com.  At home I have filters on my sink and frig - when you consider the industry is a $50 - $100 Billion dollar ( yes, that's a B as in Billion ) consumer black hole, I'm not surprised people are so easily misled into buying overpriced bottled water.  So when I go out I prepare and fill a bottle . . . from the filtered tap of the local municipal system of course.

I wasn't aware of this but did you know almost 44% of "purified" bottled water actually comes from municipal water systems?  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09610.pdf

Mother Nature Network posted a 5 easy to understand piece about why we shouldn't be buying bottled water http://bit.ly/qfKIhQ and it makes a whole lot of sense.

It takes 200 million bottles of water to circle the globe, in 2005 over 28 Billion bottles were sold.  Do the math, this is insanity.

Want to know more? Start with the Sierra Club's fact sheet on bottled water.

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

Slowing down can be dangerous to your blog . . .

So evidently when you go from twice or even once a month posts to  . . . well one in a few months ( like I did ) you loose viewers and readers when you try to start back up.  How hard is it to get re-started?

I can understand that, I've certainly took a break on many fronts as time is very limited and there is only so much to go around.  Now that I have had a chance to reflect and have some free time I need to find a way to get back into the game.  Storytelling is something we all have the ability to do, sharing our experiences, finding an audience who you can engage with but also engages you back - all of this matters provided you don't burn out and find a way to get out there.  And while it's easy to rant and blog and post it's harder to get linked and really connect.

SEO ( Search Engine Optimization ) is a real cornerstone to distribution in todays medium.  It's a practice I need to pay more attention to  especially if you desire to engage at a level larger than your immediate family and friends.  For many of us who work the Non Profit world and are focused on marketing and messaging we live on on SEO - as a technologist I need to be focused more on this process.

In researching this there are volumes written on the topic - one very effective group who has a slew of information, especially if you are just getting your feet wet, is from Social Media Examiner.  They did this one article titled 7 Ways to Improve Your Blog SEO using inbound links which makes a lot of sense.  

"Blog posts that solve problems, provide a valuable resource, entertain, demonstrate innovation or even create controversy can all generate incoming links. Average content won’t cut it. It needs to be outstanding."

There's also something about the logo with the cute explorer dude carrying the magnifying glass - I use one of those now when I read the paper, do people still read papers?

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

Looking to take the iPad into the Board Room?

I'm always on the look out for ways to bring the tablets into the enterprise and this has to be one of the simplest ways - also talk about getting some real buy in at the board level.

Simply put - either provide your board with apps and links to materials for your board meetings if they have an iPad or tablet or and here it comes . . .  give them preloaded tablets as a means to connect them to your organization and activities that are happening with your partners, affiliates and coalition members.

There is a group out there called Diligent which provides a secure service for deploying materials that allows for either online or offline use in and for boards.  This service could even go beyond board practices but could be extended to internal senior managements that meet in diverse locations as they too could greatly benefit from this type of solution.

http://www.boardbooks.com/

 

Think about the paper you will save, think about how few issues you will have with access to internal data stores or SharePoint sites from different Operating system and platforms?  I like this idea, give them the tools and fully load them with a service that is both secure and robust.  

What was that line from Scotty said in Star Trek?  The right tool for the right job - BoardBooks may be that right tool!

http://www.boardbooks.com/diligentbooks/diligent-overview.shtml

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

Sometimes you have to enjoy paradise.

I'm on vacation this week with my family in Maui - Island time is a phrase often spoken here and I now know why. After a long day cruising around a tiny bit of this amazing island we headed back towards our resort.

I was behind a relatively slow vehicle when I had the opportunity to pass, but I didn't as would've been the norm. I had this view of the water on my left and a sinking sun about to set.

Who rushes paradise?

Foursquare Meetup - 4/4squared/2011 day, perfect marketing #4sqDay

via meetup.com

I always struggle with the "check in" concept and at times wonder about the value of the geo tagging check-in concepts. Mobile devices have made the art of checking in much easier but posting where I am all the time is . . . well, it's a little intrusive - BUT I will say that when it comes to events and meet-ups, I'm there and checking in!

This coming event on Saturday April 16 looks to be a perfect date that FourSquare is using to market and expand it's level of engagement. The play on numbers is the like striking gold. 4sqDay aka the 16th of the 4th month couldn't be a better marketing bonanza for the foursquare addicts and community event planners are taking full advantage. Some are using it to actually collect items for the needy like this one:

*** MAYOR OF GAITHERSBURG SIDNEY KATZ WILL ATTEND EVENT AND PROCLAIM FOURSQUARE DAY IN PERSON! *** Please bring non-perishable food for donation to Manna Food Center! 15% of all food sales from 12-3pm will also be donated by Dogfish Head Alehouse! See the blog at http://4sqmo.co and see the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189316337777060 we will have our event at Dogfish Head Alehouse 12-3pm on Saturday April 16th! RSVP and see you there! *** FREE T-SHIRT TO THE FIRST 50 REGISTERED

The way 4Square had engaged with Meetup events and the number of schedules popping up all over the place is fun to see. I was surprised how easy and quick it was to use the service - I even managed to set something up for an event at the 16th. If you do any event planning and want to have a little fun give it a whirl. All you need is about 10 min, a meetup account and of course some 4Square savvy technical know how - the app helps.

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

Zachary Karabell for TIME: To Tweet or Not to Tweet | Me thinks Zach needs to get outside and mingle

via greatertalent.com

It's Sunday morning, I'm sipping a rather strong cup of coffee, flipping thru my emails, Facebook status, Tweets when I happen to catch Zachary Karabell piece he wrote for Time with a title I had used in one of my blog posts. In this case though the piece from Time was trying to place the economic value on Social Media. The full title was "To Tweet or not to Tweet - Social media sites are all the rage, but what is the added value to our economy?"

I will credit Zach ( can I call him Zach? ) with putting the various business aspects of the products into perspective - I enjoyed the article. It had a nice flow and was well written. But Zach missed the mark entirely when he tried to say that the tools are a "divider" of social and economic class. I think the stat he quoted from Pew Foundation that - "only 45% of adults making less then $30K have broadband service" does not represent or speak to the conclusions he makes between the "haves" and "have nots" when placing value on Social Media.

I don't have the space or bandwidth to get into the reasons why this country hasn't put more effort in making broadband a part of the infrastructure all across the US but between mobile, free WiFi in almost all coffee shops and even pubs, the Library . . . you mean to tell me that my fellow Americans who make under $30K don't have access to broadband content? Give me a break Zach, I don't buy it.

What Zach also missed is how social media has brought people together, how people with similar passions can more easily unite and share. How we connect today is very different with how we connected 5 years ago. If you weren't in my email list the chances of me reaching people outside my small network was slim. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn has changed the playing field and as a result expanded the playing field. As I commented in my blog a few months back, these services have become the new "In-Box" for many of us and the monetary aspect of using these, it's there Zach - it may not be measurable in the terms you are use to working with but value is most definitely there.

Added value is engagement. Added value is connections and networking. I streamline and work more efficiently because of Social Media and I have seen plenty of folks who make under $30K do even more with these tools. You want an economic value to social media? Try this out: Today I am planning to attend the "SWING INTO SPRING at LES FOLIES BRASSERIE, in Annapolis" I'm doing this because a Facebook fan page of a Jazz group I follow recently posted the event - the tickets are $8 I would have not seen or easily knew about the event if not for social media. and I'll most likely spend much more than $8

When I read how billions are being spent on these tools I'm reminded that when I signed up for Twitter it cost me zero dollars. My Facebook, LinkedIn, Yammer, Foursquare, YouTube, Google, Picasa, Posterous accounts . . . ZERO. These guys are data mining the crap out or me, I get it - anybody not in tune with that is missing the big picture, nothing is free. In fact come to think of it the only thing that cost me money was the subscription to Time - had I known I could read Zach's somewhat skewed comments for free . . . . may have to rethink my subscription.

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.

The Accidental Technologist at #11NTC Me & Phil being mobile - Vol 2

Having my picture with Phil the Penguin was a lot of fun, I was hot just walking around and this Arctic friend had to have been melting!

Day Two was a continuation of Day One in the life of the Accidental Technologist at #11NTC except . . . . the Science Center was now available and with it came a slew of partners and solution providers that was for me a great time to meet and exchange ideas and see some cool solutions.

One idea in particular remains the Mobile front.  Mobile is plentiful.  Media and Mobile - Mobile is Media, or rather mobile brings media to an untethered audience.  The sessions focusing on this topic at 11NTC will touch on many of the mobile questions and standards the folks I have spoken with seem to crave.  I keep wondering though if standards are really out the window? For many of us we see mobile as a personal preference especially when it comes to device choices.

So what are we using mobile for and is there a way to move some of these mobile apps into the enterprise?

The two groups I spoke with who have taken mobile giving apps to new levels are Charity Dynamics and M-Give.  They are putting something as basic as the text to give programs we have seen groups like Red Cross and NWF use via mobile devices to work on web sites and as part of social networking apps.  http://apps.facebook.com/text-giving/campaigns/g9FlOWL6dpj/donations/new?sn=fb

I like this concept - think about how you could offer payment options other then credit cards for events or registration fees.  Plus I don't know how many times I'm online and I don't have my credit card handy but I know my cell phone! Maybe I'll ring up Phil the Penguin and see what he thinks.

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own

The Accidental Technologist at #11NTC - Vol 1

Fellow 11NTC Newbies and Old-fogies, that last definition wasn't my idea but the #11NTCStory group liked it - I am writing to report that the T in NTC is alive and well and after the first night at the StoryTelling session #11NTCStory led by Michaela and Roger followed by the "Peter Campbell BeerFest" @peterscampbell it seems the energy of how organizations are using tech to tell their stories continues to be a theme.  

I was very happy to share several tools from the Droid App world like Cinch, Posterous and TweetCaster to help better make the Droid mobile devices more integrated with the messaging and in the process learned from others - for instance about how the newer versions of the FlipCam ( thank you Cisco ) auto compresses the videos depending on the upload source.  All this time I've been using third party compression tools.

This blog entry and the theme of "Tech" will focus on what I hear from others, no matter the significance, newness or pros or cons as the story is sharing, the sharing is key to learning.  I've mentioned in the past how this conference is much like a "family reunion" where we see faces we knew from previous sessions but also new faces and voices of NTC community.  Hooking up with old friends like Divas @blondegeek and @cariegrls but also fast on their way to becoming rock stars @SLianne and @BRCTweets makes for good conversation and lasting friendships.  

As we all share our stories don't forget to get out of your comfort zone, don't be afraid to go up to a total stranger and simply say:  "Newbie or Old-fogie" see what they say and don't forget to tweet about it!

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own

2011 NTC | NTEN - why am I not nervous?

via nten.org

This week I am anxiously awaiting the #11NTC conference in DC - this is an opportunity to hook up and learn from some amazing talent of our industry who are putting tech to work in so many unique and innovative ways.

One of the sessions I was lucky to be selected for was an invite only workshop for Story Telling on Wed evening. On top of that I will be one of many honored by the NTEN team as a contributor to our genre. I really felt humbled getting that notice and silly wearing my "aNTENna" but the contributions and help I have shared with so many is what I do, I don't even think about it. Sharing information, taking time to blog, tweet, call and present is what all of us need to do on a daily basis, inside or outside of NTC.

The "storytelling" session is going to be a real learning experience. The workshop will cover how to tell stories across various media and social networks and is limited to 25 people, so getting some one-on-one advice and training is a real thrill. After the workshop, participants will form the official 11NTC Storytelling Team, capturing the spirit of the conference through writing, photography, video, blogging and other media. So look out participants, I may be armed with a flipcam and looking for you!

This years NTC will not only mean catching up with some good friends but meet new ones I have had the pleasure of engaging online. I always look at NTC as a reunion of sorts, brings good like minded people together where we all learn from each other - how do you say no to that?

I don't think I mind missing SxSW, in fact I just checked the Tweets and my liver is happy I sat this one out. Saving my brain cells for 11NTC is just what the Doc ordered! See ya at the Tech Track: Veritably Valuable Virtualization – Voila! (#11NTCttvirt) on Friday Morning, I'll be the guy speaking and holding a camera, ready, set . . . . action and story tell!

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own

Motorola Xoom vs the Apple iPad - why competition will drive me mad and racing for the store

via eweek.com

Don Reisinger did an interesting comparison of the benefits the Motorola Xoom has vs the iPad. The tablet market is ready to explode on this front and as you follow his piece it's clear Apple will have it's hands full trying to embrace new users. http://bit.ly/dTgYed

The one thing that will set all these devices apart however is going to be the APPS - who has the best access, who is developing them and for what device, which ones make the most sense for us as consumers and LOB folks to use. We keep hearing how there is an "app for everything" and with a plethora of devices about to drive us mad I worry about who will have access to the apps, how do we as technologist apply real solutions and more importantly how easy will they be to deploy.

At first it bugged me to no end that when using the iPad app store I was forced to use an iTunes account - but I understand the logic. If I have a device not connected to a billable service it makes sense to tap an existing provider like iTunes to process the revenue. It's an extra step, even for the freebies but I can respect the process. Should I be worried about the bean counters? At some point the cost of apps will need to be addressed on our mobile policies and who gets to in charge of that in our organizations?

Wondering how the Xoom will work in this field? Guess I'll find out - part of my evil plan for tech domination is to go out and test all the toys I can get my hands on. ( insert evil laugh here )

Michael Sola heads up the IT program at NWF. he's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own