Comments on: Surprising Partners: Adding Blogs to an Existing Non-Profit Community

By: Gail Ann Williams

Gail Ann Williams — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 21:03:22 +0000

Lee and Nancy, yours is is a remarkable accomplishment in evolving a design with the consent and desires of your SHARE community members and the March of Dimes staff. It really helps that the conversations mean so much to the participants, and that you so clearly understand that. Less obvious but at least as important is that you yourselves understand the different ways people interact in forum and blog space, and can envision how a group might extend their reach by using both sets of tools coherently. Way to blaze a valuable trail!

By: Brewed Fresh Daily » EcoCity Brown Bag Lunch follow up

Brewed Fresh Daily » EcoCity Brown Bag Lunch follow up — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:03:56 +0000

[…] The bonus link for those participants that visit: Global PR Blog Week article on blogging and non-profits. […]

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 03:15:34 +0000

I just believe that this type of blogging works really well especially in the non-profit sector of PR. It is great to see that mothers and people are so affected by this Share program. To be honest, it is something I have not heard of before today and believe that the success is outstanding. The inspiration has obviously touched many people’s live. Good job!

By: Nancy White

Nancy White — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:07:37 +0000

Josh, you hit at the heart of the community’s success - it offers a key supportive function for families who are going through a terribly difficult and uncertain experience. Share gives them company on the journey and a “set of ears” that reallly understands what they are going through.

Last week five of the Share moms were at the March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference. Their natural and effective leadership showed up in every session. Their support for the March of Dimes fundraising events came FROM the mission, not the other way around.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 03:44:32 +0000

This is of particular interest to me mainly because it deals with the non-profit sector. There are always ways to improve organizations and by creating the Share site I am convinced that this helps many people. 6000 members is a good number of people and puts a great face on the March of Dimes. I still feel, however, that more people have probably viewed this site through word of mouth and various other outlets and not become members. The March of Dimes is a well-respected community and they have established themselves as the leader in this particular area. I feel that through this Share site, families are able to share their stories. At the same time it helps the families to heal with the struggles they are going through. Every now and then hearing a success story can just brighten someone’s day regardless if that person has anything to do with the March of Dimes.

The stories on the site are so touching and I submit they should be posted at the hospitals. Every new mother and father needs encouragement when their might be complications with the pregancy or the baby might be in trouble. Getting community exposure is most important. When you mentioned about the members wanting to have more contact with the March of Dimes representatives and to help the organization achieve its mission, I knew instantly that this was a project that will continue to be a success. It not only created a forum to let out emotions and hear inspirational stories, but it also created a sense of family, something the members want to have. They become a family because it is the baby and the heartfelt story that connects everyone. Not just mother and father anymore, but a whole community essentially is becoming a family, pulling and standing behind the children. Great post!

By: Fundraising Technology

Fundraising Technology — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 07:50:55 +0000

Global PR Blog Week 2.0

Whilst I was in France enjoying their wine over the last two weeks, a virtual group of people have been busy preparing Global PR Blog Week 2.0, which starts today. The site contains a detailed programme, and non-profit blogging features

By: Lee LeFever

Lee LeFever — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:08:27 +0000

Thanks Joe! In working with the organization early on, it was impressive to see just how much they did get it. I was impressed by the vision they had for the best ways to handle the sometimes-prickly world of online communities. I hope that the Share site will serve as inspiration for many others who have similar goals.

By: Nancy White

Nancy White — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 18:21:40 +0000

Thanks, Joe. And I believe you are right - helping people “feel” at a gut level that their voice can count is incredibly powerful.

Right now looking at Post-Katrina rebuilding, I think this power of civic and personal engagement is essential. From our immediate responses of giving (as have the Moms on Share, mobilizing hundreds of family support kits for parents with kids in the NICU and new families — severely tested by Katrina), to efforts to support communities in rebuilding on their own visions — this power of voice and engagement is the best resource we have.

The capacity to inspire is not to be underestimated!

By: Joe Trippi

Joe Trippi — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:08:14 +0000

Reading that the Dean Campaign in any way inspired your efforts is a testament to how the campaign helped to create civic engagement beyond the world of politics. The March of Dimes “gets it” and we all need to spread the word about what you are doing.