Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

• Transition in Turbulent Times

  Date: 2009.08.18 | Category: Organizational Pilates, Technology, Timeraiser | Response: 1

  Jen Grebeldinger- Normally a move across the country with a job would be a lot more involved.  Normally transitions can be tricky and painful and exceptionally disruptive.  This one wasn’t, and it’s thanks to the time and energy we’ve invested into establishing systems that allow for dynamic flexibility, instant scalability and genuine resiliency. 
  

  Armed with my laptop, a travel mug, cheques for 2009 Vancouver artists, my BlackBerry, a headset and my daily notebook I made the move from Toronto to Levitra pas cher Vancouver on August 1st. Viagra sin receta Purchase viagra online Viagra for women Viagra sale Viagra precio Prospecto levitra With this ‘office’ I can: access every file I need that relates to planning, administering and reporting on a Timeraiser, get coffee to go without using paper, pay the 25 amazing 2009 Vancouver artists, access the internet anywhere (with my USB I can tether the internet to my laptop, too!, use Skype to talk to my lovely colleagues for free, and track ‘to do’ lists; the minute I land, I’m ready to go.  I don’t miss a beat and I don’t have to use vacation days to organize my office (Since I’m on the west coast, there are many other things to do on a vacation!).

  If you read our other blog posts, or peruse our various Google Sites, you’ll probably notice that one of the things we strive for is to be as transparent as possible and provide uninterrupted access to our planning, administration and reporting tools.  You’ll also notice that we are big supporters of cloud computing and leveraging our technology platforms so that we can be efficient, agile and most importantly during these times, resilient.  So even with this big move we’re feeling strong and stable because we’ve been investing time into completing exercises that reaffirm our use of these tools as well ensure we are living the values we are promoting. 

  One of the original purposes of these exercises was to ensure, for example, that our volunteers on the other side of the country could always have the up-to-date documents they need to support one of our programs.  As it turns out, this has benefited me now that I have moved offices – I have instant access to every document I need without having had to backup the hard drive of my desktop computer in Toronto.  I also have access to documents created by volunteers and colleagues without worrying about who in our office had the most recent version. Viagra levitra Brand viagra Levitra contraindicaciones Purchase viagra Kauf von viagra Kaufen viagra Levitra prix pharmacie

  At its core these exercises or “organizational pilates” help us remain thoughtful about how we plan, administer and report on our programs.  We’ve deliberated the how’s and why’s related to the various technologies we’ve chosen to leverage in a more “slow food” approach as opposed to a “fast food” approach. 

  A Fast Food approach is transactional.  Think “super size me” and the “I want it now” idea where the focus is satisfying short term cravings that ultimately jeopardize long term health of individuals and environments.  In Fast Food you never know what all the ingredients are, let alone where they came from.  A Slow Food approach is fundamentally different; it is deliberate and focused on awareness so that less is more.  Encouraging consumers to know where their food comes from, Slow Food encourages the use of fewer, quality, seasonally appropriate ingredients which is healthier for people, environments and culture. Online levitra Over the counter viagra Levitra achat Cheap viagra online  

  Using this analogy, rather than being reactive and focusing on short terms goals that may ultimately jeopardize our organizational core (fast food approach), we have been thoughtful, strategic and deliberate in organizing our operations (slow food approach). 

  This Slow Food approach is the bottom line of why a big change like moving across the country hasn’t disrupted our operations.  The ease of this transition shows that the time we invested early on in creating our cloud infrastructure has been well worth it. Levitra pill Viagra bestellung Pastillas levitra Viagra alternatives

• Why We’re in the Cloud

  Date: 2009.08.11 | Category: Technology | Response: 2

  The debate over Cloud Computing versus a traditional server-model is a hot topic in the tech community and with organizations who are looking for cost- Levitra pill effective, scalable and easy-to-manage alternatives. Levitra pas cher

  As a non-profit operating in several timezones, we quickly recognized the need to have accessible, collaborative documents available to our staff and volunteers regardless of their location.  In order to be agile, expand the Timeraiser program, and further develop Civic Footprint, we need the ability to share and edit documents from anywhere. Viagra levitra Viagra precio Purchase viagra Kaufen viagra

  Like many non-profit organizations, we operate within a limit budget, a changing human resource model (e.g. roles and responsibilities of staff, volunteers/board members) and shifting technologies.  It can be extremely challenging to invest in new technologies, software languages and social media tools without full-time support Viagra sin receta and maintenance of these technologies. Purchase viagra online

  
  The diagram above gives you an overview of our technology backbone, powered by cloud computing options. Online levitra Levitra contraindicaciones Our two core programs, Civic Footprint and Timeraiser are built and maintained primarily using Cloud Computing software.  With Google Applications and Salesforce.com, we can keep up-to-date records of our contacts, plan and execute projects, and collaborate on documents and do some cool things with website development. Prospecto levitra We connect the work built in Google Applications with our external Social Media tools; primarily Facebook, Twitter and our blog.  We also produce unique information and e-learning videos that are posted to YouTube Viagra sale and promoted through Twitter. Brand viagra

  Although the ratio of Software as a Service to Desktop Software applications is 33:4, we do utilize and appreciate Desktop Software applications on occasion.  For those new to the topic, Viagra alternatives ” href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNuQHUiV3Q” target=”_blank”>this video from the Web 2.0 Expo provides a great definition of Cloud Computing. Viagra bestellung

  In our view, Cloud Computing presents a unique opportunity to use the newest web-based and open source technologies at a low cost. Levitra achat We don’t pay for expensive server maintenance or staff costs for network system support – nor do we pay for expensive data storage and license fees.  Because we access all our work via the internet, we can work from any location, allowing the flexibility to work with anyone (volunteers, funders, the media), from any environment (our office, home, the beach).

  We have described the advantages and disadvantages in detail in our Cloud Computing Strategy.  I encourage you to review it and let us know what you think.  The bottom line is that Cloud Computing facilitates innovative sharing and collaboration of documents with our stakeholders and volunteers, a fantastic cost-saving opportunity, and an agile environment that permits us to grow at our desired pace. Levitra prix pharmacie We also don’ t ge Over the counter viagra t stuck with pesky desktop upgrades and software installs. Kauf von viagra

  There are risks with moving your organization in the Cloud; but there are also magnificent benefits that far outweigh the perceived dangers of data loss, security or compatibility issues.  We see the future in Cloud Computing, and would love to debate the topic further – leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts. Cheap viagra online

  See you in the clouds. Viagra for women Pastillas levitra

• Our Twitter Strategy

  Date: 2009.07.28 | Category: Technology | Response: 2

  When developing our Twitter communications strategy, we were faced with one reoccurring issue:

  How do you broadcast content that is relevant and interesting to your audience, particularly when you know Kauf von viagra that audience is comprised of different stakeholders with varying interests Viagra precio ?

  As a non-profit looking to promote high qu Over the counter viagra ality engagement, our goal is to influence and reach out Viagra for women to a range of stakeholders. Levitra pill Viagra bestellung Our audience base includes active volunteers, potential volunteers, partner agencies, funders, artists, media, and the broader public looking for more information on who we are. Purchase viagra

  So, if we write posts that only focus on one group, does that mean the others will tune us out (or worse, unfollow?)

  We needed a way to organize our outgoing Twitter messages (since Tweetdeck only allows you to sort groups for consuming tweets). We are open and excited to adapt our strategy as we learn more and things change.  For now, to tackle the “what to post when” issue, we’ve developed a daily posting schedule that targets a particular interest group each day.  This is not an exclusive list; some days we might wreck the plan and retweet a United Way post on a Thursday (because great content is great content).  Here’s a snapshot of the schedule:
  

  • Monday: Tweets of interest to United Way, retweet United Way posts, find interesting articles of interest Levitra prix pharmacie to this group. Kaufen viagra
  • Tuesday: Tweets of interest to non-profit agencies in general, relationship management and community building in the non-profit space. Pastillas levitra Note: Tuesday is “Charity Tuesday” on Twitter.
  • Wednesday: Tweets that appeal to the broader public: feature blog posts from local artists, comments on relevant news stories, and promoti Purchase viagra online on of Timeraiser or Civic Footprint. Viagra alternatives
  • Thursday: Tweets of interest to Volunteer Centers:  Promotion of Civic Footprint, a reminder to log your volunteer hours, or tweets that focus on Volunteer Centers in specific cities. Viagra sale
  • Friday: Re-tweet our Top 10 favourite tweets of the week (ours and others) and Follow-Friday mentions.  We’ll maybe throw in some fun posts, since it’ s the Levitra pas cher start to the weekend and all. Levitra contraindicaciones

  It is our hope that as we gain dedicated followers who engage with our communications, a publishing pattern will begin to emerge. Online levitra Viagra levitra

  What do you think about a daily content-schedule for Twitter?  For Twitter users, how are you managing multiple audiences Levitra achat ? We look forward to your feedback. Viagra sin receta Brand viagra Prospecto levitra Cheap viagra online

• Mapping out our Social Media Strategy (with a Purpose!)

  Date: 2009.07.22 | Category: Civic Footprint, Organizational Pilates, Technology | Response: 1

  You may have seen our tweets or Facebook posts describing the excitement over our new social media strategy and integrated tools. Purchase viagra online Viagra for women Viagra precio It’s great to be live. Viagra sale

  If you haven’t yet – check out our Facebook Fan pages and become a fan! While you’re at it, Levitra achat href=”http://twitter.com/civicfootprint”>follow us on Twitter.

  It wasn’t an instant process to get here. Kauf von viagra We knew that building a social media presence would mean more than setting up a profile and letting it sit. Over the counter viagra We also knew that building the tools without a goal and purpose would be a waste of resources. Our participation in social media has started with a strategy and some great conversations on what we want to do with these tools.

  The challenge we faced was reaching out to and engaging multiple stakeholders in the social media tools they are using. Levitra contraindicaciones Pastillas levitra We knew to be successf Kaufen viagra ul, we must be where they are online. Viagra bestellung

  Otherwise, how do you capture attention and build a conversation knowing the interests of your audience varies greatly? Some people (still) love email. Others live in Facebook. Lots have flocked to Twitter. Levitra prix pharmacie Cheap viagra online Others surf on Youtube all day.

  So how do you ensure that each of the profiles update regularly with engaging content and link back to our other sites?  Without a well thought out strategy, the mere thought of maintaining a meaningful presence is exhausting. But as you’ll see from the diagram below, we sat back for a moment to visualize where people are and what tools they are using. Prospecto levitra

  At the end of this exercise, we’ve determined that Facebook will serve as our “hub” which connects to, and grabs content from, our other tools. Viagra alternatives

  Our blog updates to our Timeraiser and Civic Footprint Facebook pages, users can view our Tweets and LinkedIn group through Facebook and the blog, and watch our Youtube videos right in Facebook.  It’s all connected.

  Now that we know how each of the tools fit together, it’s time to begin building valuable content.  Once we’ve established ourselves in these tools, we’ ll begin to measure their success. Purchase viagra

  We have written detailed strategies for each social media tool; we’d love for you to check them out and let us know your thoughts.  You can find our detailed strategies in our Brand viagra ” href=”http://it.timeraiser.ca/”>Technology and Operations Portal. Viagra levitra In the coming weeks we’ll be blogging about some of our specific strategies with each tool – stay tuned for a Twitter posting schedule, coming soon. Levitra pas cher Online levitra
  
  What does your Social Media Strategy look like?  What are your thoughts on our approach?  Drop us a line Viagra sin receta and let us know what you think. Levitra pill