Calling Made Simple! March 26-30th is Colorectal Cancer Congressional Call In Days - #HR4120

Fight Colorectal Cancer, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have partnered to host the 2012 Congressional Call In Days, March 26-30^th.

 

Every call matters.  You can help support our 2012 legislative priorities by making one simple call! Our Congressional Call In event will be focused on reducing barriers to colonoscopy screening by supporting H.R. 4120, the ‘‘Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012”.  The bill would waive coinsurance under Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whatever surgical measures might occur. Colorectal screening is covered under Medicare, but if a Medicare patient undergoes a screening in which a polyp is removed, that individual is required to pay a coinsurance of $100 to $300!

 

Please call 1-866-615-3375.  Once you call, you will then be connected to your US Representative. We need cosponsors for this legislation if it is to pass into law!  What do you say?  Tell them that you support H. R. 4120 and you want them to cosponsor this bill.

 

 Below is a flyer with more information for you to review.  PLEASE share this advocacy

Flyer_for_advocates.docx Download this file

effort with your friends and colleagues! Don’t forget to post this on your Facebook or Twitter accounts.  Here are a few sample postings you can use:

 

Facebook:

 

•                    Help keep colorectal cancer screening affordable. Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! It is so easy, and it makes such a big difference in the fight against colorectal cancer. www.FightColorectalCancer.org

•                    I just called Congress to help save lives. Every call matters. Join me. Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! It is quick and simple, yet it makes such difference in the fight against colorectal cancer.www.FightColorectalCancer.org

•                    I just called Congress to help save lives! It took two minutes! You can do it too! Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! www.FightColorectalCancer.org

 

Twitter:

•                    I called Congress to help save lives! You can do it too! Call 1-866-615-3375 & ask your Rep to cosponsor HR 4120! #HR4120 @FightCRC

•                    Help keep colorectal cancer screening affordable for seniors. Call 1-866-615-3375 & ask your Rep to cosponsor HR 4120! #HR4120 @FightCRC

 

Fight Colorectal Cancer sincerely appreciates your continued support and advocacy efforts.

 

 

Is the model of engaging the young broken? Recent generations care less about social problems, really?

via nydailynews.com

When I saw this article on the "metro" paper that gets passed out when you ride the metro, my first thought was: bunk . . . but as I did a little more digging and spoke with my own college kids I wonder if maybe they got it right. http://goo.gl/ekDZS

"They have a reputation for being environmentally minded do-gooders. But an academic analysis of surveys spanning more than 40 years has found that today's young Americans are less interested in the environment and in conserving resources - and often less civic-minded overall - than their elders were when they were young."

If that's the case, we're really screwed.

Think about it this way: for years we've been talking about our passion for positive change on so many social fronts always saying: "for our children and for their children" as a battle cry to invoke change from environmental to social issues. The intent was to fight for a better world to leave our kids and in the process educate those same younger persons to follow us into the fold and pick up the flag after us - but now I wonder if our children will have the same struggles we have, an apathetic "care less" peer group.

While better educated and exposed to the social ills of our culture in so many new ways, I'm wondering why there remains a disconnect with the Gen Xer's and Millennial's? Perhaps it's not a disconnect, maybe more like a "what ever" attitude which may explain why so many of our member base has a little more gray on top. What are we missing? Have we over played our passions to the point that they are numb?

Last week at the Fight Colorectal Cancer 2012 Call-on Congress activist event we had one of our "fighters" bring their teenage son along. At first I really wondered if this was such a good idea but after meeting and talking with this young man I could see the spark, the passion - getting into the mix and engaging with politicians at such a young age was inspiring to watch and he was a ball of energy that many in the group really resonated with.

I get the impression after seeing studies like this article in the AP that our young Fighter could be a rare commodity. Is there anything left for us "boomers" to do?

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - 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

Reading, its bad for you.

I'm playing with this Post Droid app for my blog when I saw some emails regarding our upcoming webinar next Wed nite and I just had to share. Several of the emails were asking if we captured and archived our webinars and others asked about system requirements in order to follow along.

Now the reason for this topic is because if, and I'll say that again, IF they had read the confirmation email, right in the third paragraph it clearly states the system requirements. IF they had been to our website where the initial registration page resides the word "archives" over on the side may have been a hint we record our sessions.

I'm willing to bet we all fall under the "to busy to read" category, but how much time did it take to craft and send the email?

Have we become blind to the written word? Are we sharing too much? Is anybody still reading this? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Social Addiction - is there a cure?

via twincities.com

I want a new drug ... One that won't hurt my head ... One that won't make my mouth too dry ... Or make my eyes too red - I think Huey Lewis and News were way early on their prediction yet spot on when you compare the addictive traits of Pinterest.

Today as I was pulling together my slide deck for an upcoming Call-On Congress 2012 presentation related to Social Advocacy and Colorectal Cancer awareness ( shameless plug - thank you ) I came across fellow Google+ guru Julio Ojeda-Zapata piece on the three emotional stages of new social networks. In this case Pinterest which will make a nice addition to my presentation and the potential addiction is a topic.

I'm gonna paraphrase Julio a little as I had similar thoughts on the addictive platform so here goes:

- Stage 1 Incredulity: "Another network? Really?"
- Stage 2 Growing Interest: "That looks intriguing, who are all these people posting pins?"
- Stage 3 Bleary-eyed: "Why did I spend all night semi-incoherent pinning, clicking and commenting?"

I'm at stage 2 but fast on the way to stage 3 and I don't know if I can or should stop. I won't go into the details of Pinterest, Julio does a terrific job at exploring the network. But the one item not explored is where the monetary component to this resides.

Never forget, WE ARE THE PRODUCT - so at some point all these "pins" all these comments are getting mined, wrapped and sold. I like knowing that up front before the addiction becomes too overwhelming. They certainly made it easy and making it easy is where the drug begins.

So is there a cure? . . . . of course, it's the next big thing.

CRM to Social Challenges IT - I know I've heard that somewhere before.

The challenge of CRM to Social has been integration, and not integration for integrations sake but WHAT is worth integrating?  and from WHAT source? and for WHAT audience?

When I happened across Doug Henschen article in Information Week on the challenges of IT in catching up to integrating with the social side of CRM, I had flashbacks to similar discussions with my peers over SIX years ago. The stats and polling Information Week pulled together for this piece was jaw dropping. 

Making those connections, having the means to bring that data in, managing, segmenting, trusting the data . . .  In way too many cases the "social" side of CRM is done outside of IT involvement or as Doug highlights, without IT's help.  This makes the challenge to integrate and measure so much harder down the road.  

Now I know the stigma that surrounds IT departments, but if programs don't reach out and at the very least ASK for some IT help, you're missing an opportunity . . . and if IT shops don't get their collective restrictive heads out of the sand they too are missing an opportunity.

Knowing where your audience lives goes a long way to knowing how you communicate with them - that's Marketing 101.  Having backend systems talking to social system and capturing relevant data goes a long way towards how organizations stay connected and can engage.  

Of course underdstanding what "SOCIAL" means to you and your organization will help guide you in your focus on building that relationship.

In a recent post from Stanford Graduate School of Business Kris Deiglmeir titled: "Be Squared: Social Squared, That Is" SOCIAL was defined in such a way it brings clear and concise understanding to how these social networking tools are suppose to work and helps to understand how our "Relationship Management" systems should be designed to collect, segment and engage.

Understanding the WHYS always leads to the HOWS

At Fight Colorectal Cancer we are fortunate to have a rather robust data collection system in place using the Salesforce and CommonGround CRM platforms.  These systems work to bring data from many sources together and in one place.  Because Salesforce has such a rich level of integration I've recently taken advantage of the LinkedIn plug-in that now helps collect, find and document professional social network connections into a single viewable source.  

It's an  experiment to see how much information our small team can gather with hopes of better engagement. Before FightCRC I was exploring the Microsoft Social Connector plug-in that better integrate Outlook for individual relationship building.  

Integration depending on your environment will mean different things to different people.  Being flexible and knowing the expectations of your teams to interact is equally important.

Connecting and integrating may just be a lot of noise because in the end, it really boils down to your customer base and where they are on the SOCIAL scale.  

If they don't trust the medium, if they don't make their profiles available or choose to "LIKE" or "CIRCLE" you, it's a long road being social.  Building trust, identifying the "ask", engaging and cultivating your base all comes down to planning and one more thing . . . . LISTENING.  Can you hear me now?

 

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - 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.

 

11 Planning Grants Announced - sacred places and open spaces give us balance

via campaign.r20.constantcontact.com

It was many many many years ago I, along with several of my teammates, had the good fortune of being invited to chat with this rather eccentric fellow by the name of Tom Stoner who was at the time exploring how to better market and expand his vision on the Interwebs. That vision: Open Spaces Sacred Places

We had such a good discussion about the various tools, the time it would take, the building of the virtual community . . . it was inspiring to be a small part of such a simple concept which Open Spaces Sacred Places was bringing to the world: providing places of peace and thoughtfulness to those of us who can get so caught up in the stress of everyday living.
http://www.openspacessacredplaces.org/

It's great to see the successes Open Spaces is having, their Facebook page is a tremendous resource, they are using Constant Contact to distribute eye catching informative newsletters, they have a voice and reach that extends far from their simple offices here in Annapolis.

I know those benches very well and miss having one as close as I did when working at CBF - if you haven't sat on a "pickle barrel" bench made at a Open Spaces Sacred Places location . . . well, you just haven't really sat.

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - 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.

Hang Outs and Google+

Omgeeee. Peter nailed the simplicity and effectiveness of using Hangouts. Can't wait to try. I luv all the cams he has in the workspace, no hiding!Peter G McDermott originally shared this post:How to Use Google+ Hangouts (A Beginners' Guide)

via plus.google.com

Using Hang Outs is driving a lot internal buzz but the number one question I keep getting is "Why" - meaning if we are already using GoToMeeting or Skype why do we need Hang Outs? And the best question . . . should we figure out how to use it internally first before trying with partners or outside folks? Training is going to be key but beyond that the tools need to full-fill a real need.

What are you using it for?

Applications, Tips | LinkedIn moving the needle - what I learned at Tech & Social Change #@socgoodtech

LinkedIn Applications enable you to enrich your profile, share and collaborate with your network, and get the key insights that help you be more effective. Applications are added to your homepage and profile enabling you to control who gets access to what information.

• 

  Portfolio Display

  by Behance

  Showcase your creative work in your LinkedIn Profile with the Creative Portfolio Display application. Free, easy to manage, and supports unlimited multimedia content.

via linkedin.com

This past week I had the chance to sit in on the NTeN Baltimore based Tech & Social Change meet up: http://www.meetup.com/Tech-Social-Change-Baltimore/ - the topic was about using LinkedIn for NonProfits. The group was quite diverse from novice to advanced but still the discussion as all NTeN groups are known for turned rather lively and very informative. I'm always impressed at the level of expertise and passion NTeN brings together and the Tech & Social Change Baltimore group that Kate Bladow has ramped up was no exception.

As I listened to the discussions along with presenter / speaker Colleen McKenna ( http://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenmckenna ) I find there is much more to explore on LinkedIn. Some of the functions are more in-depth then I realized and will have to start some discussions at my own work place in order to explore the value. I found many of the new features and concepts of how to use LinkedIn as an alternative marketing and engagement tool to be worth exploring.

As the point was driven several times, LinkedIn is just one of the many tools in our shed! It doesn't mean to abandon other social media tools, depending on what your professional or organizational strategies are will determine the usefulness of this tool.

In no particular order, here are some of my notes taken during the meetup:

Inmaps - a visual tool that provides a visual of your connections via your network in LinkedIn http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/01/24/linkedin-inmaps/ helps get a sense of where your contacts are in the cloud.

INfinity is another tool, picture is important in seeing the visual of your contacts. This is also via the LinkedIn Labs http://infinity.linkedinlabs.com/

Have you checked out the LinkedIn Labs?

Cardmunch, I can't wait to try this! This app transcribes / scans via smart phone camera - business cards and connects back to your LinkedIn, who evidently bought them - and it's free. http://www.cardmunch.com/

With 120 characters available in your Name and initial description use this space with key descriptive words that would be searched by potential contacts, recruiters, etc. Don't limit yourself.

Company accounts do NOT have access to the same apps as individuals, at least not yet. Concept is to build out your organization leadership which in turn drives contacts to your organization.

Alumni is newer option to find contacts and build out LinkedIn connections based on where you went to college. Schools are starting to really come on board with this service. Here is a post that details some of the benefits: http://doteduguru.com/id706-linkedin-alumni-group-tutorial.html

Turn off notifications to limit what updates are seen by public - this is a great tip if you are making modifications or simple changes of info to your profile. It is especially useful if you DON'T want your current work place to see updates happening and potentially get the wrong idea . . . . this change is done by clicking on your name, selecting SETTINGS and click on Turn On/Off Activity Broadcasts under Privacy Controls

Do you like getting "Recommendations" Don't except all of them - many organizations see them as not valid references and more of a PR ploy. "I like you and you like me" concept. So be careful what you share. Keep professional.

While I'm guilty of this you may want to reconsider posting ALL your Tweets via Twitter. Instead use #ln to post tweets on LinkedIn - this step by step setup can be found at http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/10440/linkedin-how-to-share-twitter-tweets-in-...

And the last tip I really can't wait to do involves your business card. On the back of you cards place a QR code that links back to your LinkedIn Profile URL - almost any URL shortner program can create these for you including Bit.ly and Goo.gl and you want to make more of a statement with your QR a little more hip look is an option with a "design" aspect - learn more at: http://mashable.com/2011/04/18/qr-code-design-tips/

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - 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.

When your password gets hacked . . . don't be lazy and don't be using 123456, that's mine!

I remember about 6 maybe 7 years ago - I had this extremely bright, gifted . . . she could be reading, talented Network Administrator / Developer who made the recommendation of using complex passwords for the organization and wrote this 4 page in-depth expose as to why and examples of how to come up with a complex password.  At first I giggled but the more I dived in I realized how big this was and all that was riding on something as simple as a password.

This was an organization that had never had complicated passwords and I'm sure a few of them were actually using the word "password" as their password.  Needless to say the change did not go over well, increased calls to the help desk were recieved, lock outs happened, there were some exceptions of course that had to be made but in the end she was right.  The need for complex passwords IS critical to prevent good accounts from going bad.

Because so much of what we did internally has moved via the external portals a complex password that didn't enforce  non repeating words, min 8 characters, caps, lower case, alpha numeric - all of it was going to be necessary if we wanted to secure our data and level of access.  This discussion was almost 7 years ago . . . . so I am always surprised when I see today so much of the social networking services that DON'T require something more complex.

The graphic I posted from e-Strategy After Hours David Erickson who publishes the e-Strategy Internet Marketing Blog and e-Strategy After Hours captures the inconsistent mess that we as consumers . . . or the "product" depending on you point of view - have to live with if we aren't creative and careful.  

Some of us, and I'm one of them, try to use the same password for many of the accounts we access, especially the ones I don't deem to be "identity theft" worthy.  But a lot of these services if hacked could become a source of embarrassment and if others are like me, if one password gets cracked for one service others like dominos are just ripe to fall.

I have seen password management tools and was recently recommended that I start using one - I'm talking about web browser applications that make remembering unique complex passwords easier but keep in mind - you are putting an awful lot out there sitting in a bunch of one and zeros as opposed to that gray matter you call your brain.

My gray matter isn't what it use to be, and as I don't trust the browser to remember the password I may turn to tools like:

• LastPass
• Xmark
• Mitto Password

. . . just to name a few, either way I'm gonna have to stop using 123456 as my Facebook password, dang it!

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. 

Eric Lanke captures the challenge of "Innovation" : Why Innovation is Hard

via ericlanke.blogspot.com

I like this post from Eric Lanke about his experience from the WSAE's National Summit on Innovation for Associations - he captures the event and asks the questions we all come across when defining how to be innovative.

How are you going to do that? How are you going to get that done? Many times it means doing something different. Are we up for different?

http://ericlanke.blogspot.com/2011/10/why-innovation-is-hard.html#

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.

10 Friends - 10 Dollars, 10 Champions needed to Fight Cancer - #frakcancer Be Bold Be Bald

I leave the house today, wearing my "I'm Going Bald . . . " T-Shirt and sporting my "Be Bold, Be Bald" head cap, get in my car to hook up with a pal for b-fast and I started to notice people looking my way and wondering: "why is this guy wearing a swimming cap in his car?"  

I'm positive they were thinking that - but I started feeling self conscience about the cap when it hit me . . . . people who are in chemo treatment are loosing their hair and going bald not by choice and must have similar feelings except - and I'm assuming this . . . loosing their hair has to be the least of their concerns, they are fighting to extend their lives - fuck the hair loss and fuck my feeling self conscience - pardon my French but I'm starting to learn more about this horrific disease in all its forms and it pisses me off.

So I got over wearing the cap - when I got to the restaurant and when my friend finally stopped staring at the cap, I was asked by our waitress what the scoop was, and I told her - I'm showing my support for those fighting for their lives and helping to raise funds along with awareness.  She asked if I'd actually shave and go bald - for the right price I said I would.  I know groups who have done that with their volunteers but for me this was a first step in the fight against Cancer.  I have had some close friends who lost their battle and a few who are currently fighting for their lives.  But I would do the deed - $500 donation would be all it takes to clip away and I'd film it, so I'm ready!

Now, if 10 friends could give just $10 today, that's an additional 100 dollars - 50 friends or followers and out comes the clippers - all of those funds will go towards the fight to end cancer.  AND it's a great way even after the event to show your support for those who - as we say at Fight Colorectal Cancer - are "Fighting for a Cure".

So it's NOT too late, don't delay: Be Bold Be Bald day is Oct 21 follow the action on twitter @beboldbebald #FightCRC click here http://bit.ly/nrV6t9 for my fundraising page.

See you boldly and baldly next time and thanks my champions for your time and support!

PS. All donations (online and offline) will be accepted through at least November 15.

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.

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.