NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoup.org - Internal collaboration

How Do You Use Social Networks to Build One?

Cauzoo — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:58:38 -0400

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

Cauzoo

URL

http://www.cauzoo.com

Location

Los Angeles

Project Description

If you're building a social network, mailing list, or other social tool, how do you break through a crowded market? With MySpace, Facebook, and a host of new niche social sites popping up, how can you beat the competition?

Simple- you don't. You work with them to go places you never could before.

Cauzoo.com had a problem that most new sites had- gaining traction in a crowded field. For us, the challenge is making clear that we don't want to supplant MySpace or Facebook, but supplement the social experience by adding a new angle. Undoubtedly, most of your non-profit sites are the same. You aren't asking for all a person's time, just a bit of their attention. But how can you do this without scaring them away? In addition, how can you make a better site from it?

Our answer was simple- instead of fighting the competition, we promoted it.

If you look at the bottom left corner of a sample profile page, you can see "Social Me", an exciting example of our tool. We know that people have countless different social identities- so why not use them? It helps our users recognize that Cauzoo is a place to show part of yourself, not all of yourself. That lowers the barrier to entry and clarifies our concept. Secondly, it simply makes for a better site. Our pages have more utility if users know more places where they can reach their friends.

The great thing about "Social Me" is that it's not our idea- we used code from the Open Source site here- http://dbachrach.com/showyourself/. It wouldn't be tough to figure out anyway, but this is a good reference point for some of the social networks out there that your users might have. Naturally, we're not sure how many sites/non-profits this will help, but we'd love to definitely take a step to say one thing: you are on Social Networks for a reason- promoting them!

Board Collaboration for PAPIE

ginaj — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:27:48 -0400

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

Palo Alto Partners in Education

URL

http://pieboard.nexo.com

Location

Palo Alto

Project Description

Palo Alto Partners in Education (PAPIE) is a primarily board-driven organization with only 2 staff and a budget around $2+ million. We raise private funds to supplement public funds for all the public schools in our school district.

Challenge:

We needed a tool to ensure communication and collaboration amongst the board members, staff and volunteers. We also wanted to keep a history of documents, activities, decisions, etc. to ensure continuity due to volunteer turnover year-to-year. The tool had to be easy to use and very accessible. It had to be flexibly private, meaning that it needed to allow proper permissions for each person - ensuring that only the proper person(s) could see or do what was appropriate. It needed to combine a website and email communications to reduce duplication of effort.

Solution:

www.nexo.com

Nexo allows us to create a free group for PAPIE. We have a highly customized, private website that any authorized person can add to, change, or read. We also get an email group integrated with the website so that updates, alerts, news, etc. are easy to distribute (even automatic if desired) to the group. We also can have live chats on the site if desired. We have multiple pages and multiple sub-groups (board, marketing committee, development committee, etc). The site essentially defines our own social network.

The website allows us to share blogs, files, pictures, videos, calendars, events, to do lists, budgets, plans, press releases, contact information, RSS feeds, etc.

Impact:

Not only has nexo improved communication, collaboration and participation, but a by-product is that we have a back-up for our most important files such as board minutes, budgets, etc. These used to just be stored on one computer which is scary for many reasons. The site also makes is much easier to transfer knowledge from year to year since new leaders/volunteers have the roadmap from the year before.

Grassroots Social Justice Event Turnout with Local Leaders

Mac Johnson — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:17:30 -0400

Women Get Tech'ed

xicanista — Tue, 30 May 2006 19:02:36 -0400

Wireless Networking in the Developing World

Graham Freeman — Wed, 24 May 2006 12:22:52 -0400

Project Screenshot

URL

http://www.wndw.net/

Location

The web

Project Description

The massive popularity of wireless networking has caused equipment costs to continually plummet, while equipment capabilities continue to increase. By applying this technology in areas that are badly in need of critical communications infrastructure, more people can be brought online than ever before, in less time, for very little cost. The authors hope to not only convince you that this is possible, but also show how they have made such networks work, and to give you the information and tools you need to start a network project in your local community.

The material is available as a freely downloadable PDF, a paperback bound book available for purchase, and on the collaborative wiki. Contributions via the wiki are encouraged.

Arts Engine

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:39:05 -0400

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

Arts Engine, Inc.

URL

www.artsengine.net

Location

New York City

Project Description

Arts Engine, Inc. supports, produces, and distributes independent media of consequence and promotes the use of independent media by advocates, educators and the general public. By fostering the production and use of independent film, video and new media, Arts Engine connects media makers and active audiences in order to spur critical consideration of pressing social issues.

Our projects include:

Big Mouth Films
Big Mouth Films produces feature-length, social issue documentaries independently and in collaboration with numerous companies and organizations. Big Mouth is best known for the Emmy-nominated film Deadline, a compelling exploration of the events surrounding governor George Ryan's commutation of 167 death sentences in Illinois.
www.artsengine.net/projects

MediaRights.org
MediaRights helps media makers, educators, librarians, nonprofits, and activists use documentaries and shorts to encourage action and inspire dialogue on contemporary social issues.
www.mediarights.org

Media That Matters Film Festival
The Media That Matters Film Festival brings high-impact shorts and Take Action tools to audiences around the country all year long through distribution of a DVD with all sixteen films, Web streaming, broadcasts and community screenings.
www.mediathatmattersfest.org

YMDi
The Youth Media Distribution Initiative (YMDi.org) is a comprehensive series of online and offline programs that boost the distribution and impact of youth-made films.
www.YMDi.org

Volvox

Britt Bravo — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:24:52 -0500

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

Multiple (see project description)

URL

www.eurovolvox.org

Location

Reading, England

Project Description

The Volvox project is a new project created in response to the EC call: FP6-2003-Science and Society-5. The official title is: 'Co-ordinated internet-linked networks for promoting innovation, exchanging knowledge and encouraging good practice to enhance bioscience education in European schools.' It is a partnership between the Association of Danish Biologists (Denmark); The Max-Planck-Gymnasium (Germany); University of Tartu (Estonia); COINOR, University of Naples (Italy); University of Padova (Italy); the European School (Luxemborg); Science Festival School, The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (Poland); Ciencia Viva, National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture (Portugal); Goteborg University (Sweden); the National Centre for Biotechnology Education (NCBE) and The University of Reading (U.K.).

Here is a graph of the elements that have influenced and will be incorporated into the project:

Rural Innovation Network

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 15:30:40 -0500

Project Screenshot

URL

rinovations.org/

Location

India

Project Description

Rural Innovations Network is an innovation network for the rural world in India.

Based in Chennai, south-east coast, the RIN helps to â€˜moveâ€™ products created â€œfromâ€? and â€œforâ€? rural zones. For example, someone decides to upgrade or design a new tool for agriculture, just like a â€˜rain gunâ€™ or some kind of â€œstem injectorâ€?, and the networks helps him/her on itâ€™s development, marketing studies, distribution, etcâ€¦

The Triangle Area YMCA

michaelatmo — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:45:21 -0500

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

many vendors and consultants have supported this project

URL

netsquared.org/blog/michaelatmo/managing-tech

Project Description

With 12 branches and program offices in the Raleigh-Durham area, and 2 residential camps several hours away on the coast, this North Carolina YMCA faced serious challenges in its information technology infrastructure. Connectivity, bandwidth, software management, hardware maintenance, user support asnd training were all complicated by the number of sites and the distances involved.

All these issues were made far more managable by the adoption of thin-client computing, using Citrix to publish Windows applications over their internal net as well as the public internet, as the basis of their in-house computing. I've blogged a more detailed description of their solution here.

By the way, none of the options in the Orgranization Type select really describe the YMCA. Maybe we should have another choice for YMCA/JCC types of groups?

Tools for Online Collaboration

AaronPettigrew — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:27:22 -0500