“I'd like to see several of the groups I'm participating with better using …the social media universe to publish and comment on each others issues, questions, requests and initiatives. … I'm sensing that we now have the technology and the critical mass of interest…” Curtis Scoville, Black Creek and Oyster River stewardship
In a video conversation I had with Curtis Scoville, about his involvement in stewardship activities (search: curtis scoville conservation), he makes this point: even those of us who don’t or can’t get our gumboots into a stream can still play a very important role. We can use the new media tools to connect the dots about why stewardship matters beyond the stream.
I agree. But first we need the leaders in the conservation and sustainability circles to communicate as leaders. Most of us don’t understand how, for example, smarter infrastructure spending relates to cleaner water, lower taxes, and quality of life. Tell us. And use the new tools to tell us, so we can share the knowledge. Not just for the newts, but for the sake of the qualities that all of us enjoy in our communities, even if we don’t see ourselves as conservationists.
Now is the time to create the news channel that matters to you.
Not everybody has replaced the morning paper with 15-20 minutes of Facebook over coffee. But more and more of us are. We are creating and consuming our own “news channels” with media like Facebook and YouTube.
The “live feed” of posts from friends, family, and acquaintances that we get on Facebook and Twitter is a snapshot about what matters to the folks who matter to us. Sometimes it’s dumb. Sometimes it’s cute. Whatever. It’s real. It’s also by and about the people we’re close to.
Traditional media (local papers, informal networks) are still dominant ways that information is shared in most of small towns and cities. But this is changing. If you’re passionate about an issue: get familiar with the new media tools.
It’s winter, 2011: a good time to spend a few minutes a week getting familiar. Take 15 minutes Monday morning, 15 minutes Wednesday at noon, and 15 minutes at the end of the day on Friday with the medium of choice. That’s what social media consultant Sean Kerrigan suggests to clients new to new media. Every 15 minutes you invest is an integral part of developing active, local online conversations about sustainability, conservation, and quality of life.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
This is the date of civic elections in communities across BC. The day we get to pick our Mayors, Councillors, regional district Directors, and school board Trustees. Wouldn’t it be grand if:
Connecting to quality of life
I like the fish in the stream. But most of us don’t fish. Most of us don’t identify ourselves as “environmentalists” or “conservationists.” Many of us have little or no connection to the beautiful green places beyond our neighbourhood. Does keeping a watershed intact makes a difference to what I or my child experience in the neighbourhood? Tell me how. Does it make taxpayer sense to “daylight” a creek? Tell me why. Does it make “quality of life” sense to not build a multi-million tax dollar bridge or roadway? Tell me why.
As leaders in your neighbourhood and community, you have tremendous social capital. People respect what you do, even if we think you’re nuts for spending your weekends in the creek rather than out shopping or on the golf course – or out dancing. Connect what you’re passionate about with what you see the rest of us being passionate about. It’s rarely obvious to us. We need you to lead, and to communicate.
How to join the conversation
Wherever it’s happening, if people are talking about things like: conservation, stewardship, land use, development, quality of life … count yourself in. Then invite others into that conversation.
That means: chiming in on... letters to the editor in the local papers. Some have good online forums and comments options. Use them. Let others know when you’ve posted something – in print or electronically. We’ll do our part in sharing the message.
Find the places where people are talking online. What are they in your region? Here are some examples from my region (Comox Valley):
A “get out the sustainability vote” challenge
Once you’ve figured out where you’re comfortable, and you’ve figured out how things work, start actively liking, comment - and sharinginformation and ideas that are important to you. Consider this small contribution to making a difference to the November 2011 civic election:
Let’s get the sustainability vote out in our communities. Step into your already acknowledged role and reputation as a respected community leader on sustainability issues. Use the new media tools. Tell us why the streams and woods and smarter choices about growth and development matter to the quality of our lives.
In a video conversation I had with Curtis Scoville, about his involvement in stewardship activities (search: curtis scoville conservation), he makes this point: even those of us who don’t or can’t get our gumboots into a stream can still play a very important role. We can use the new media tools to connect the dots about why stewardship matters beyond the stream.
I agree. But first we need the leaders in the conservation and sustainability circles to communicate as leaders. Most of us don’t understand how, for example, smarter infrastructure spending relates to cleaner water, lower taxes, and quality of life. Tell us. And use the new tools to tell us, so we can share the knowledge. Not just for the newts, but for the sake of the qualities that all of us enjoy in our communities, even if we don’t see ourselves as conservationists.
Now is the time to create the news channel that matters to you.
Not everybody has replaced the morning paper with 15-20 minutes of Facebook over coffee. But more and more of us are. We are creating and consuming our own “news channels” with media like Facebook and YouTube.
The “live feed” of posts from friends, family, and acquaintances that we get on Facebook and Twitter is a snapshot about what matters to the folks who matter to us. Sometimes it’s dumb. Sometimes it’s cute. Whatever. It’s real. It’s also by and about the people we’re close to.
Traditional media (local papers, informal networks) are still dominant ways that information is shared in most of small towns and cities. But this is changing. If you’re passionate about an issue: get familiar with the new media tools.
It’s winter, 2011: a good time to spend a few minutes a week getting familiar. Take 15 minutes Monday morning, 15 minutes Wednesday at noon, and 15 minutes at the end of the day on Friday with the medium of choice. That’s what social media consultant Sean Kerrigan suggests to clients new to new media. Every 15 minutes you invest is an integral part of developing active, local online conversations about sustainability, conservation, and quality of life.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
This is the date of civic elections in communities across BC. The day we get to pick our Mayors, Councillors, regional district Directors, and school board Trustees. Wouldn’t it be grand if:
- All of us who value the qualities of clean air, water, walkable communities, green jobs – were using our new media channels to question and support candidates?
- Sustainability topics were the debatable issues at leadership forums?
- People were connecting perennial election issues like public safety, taxes, and the needs of an aging population to things like better urban/suburban design, public transit, proper functioning streams and wetlands?
Connecting to quality of life
I like the fish in the stream. But most of us don’t fish. Most of us don’t identify ourselves as “environmentalists” or “conservationists.” Many of us have little or no connection to the beautiful green places beyond our neighbourhood. Does keeping a watershed intact makes a difference to what I or my child experience in the neighbourhood? Tell me how. Does it make taxpayer sense to “daylight” a creek? Tell me why. Does it make “quality of life” sense to not build a multi-million tax dollar bridge or roadway? Tell me why.
As leaders in your neighbourhood and community, you have tremendous social capital. People respect what you do, even if we think you’re nuts for spending your weekends in the creek rather than out shopping or on the golf course – or out dancing. Connect what you’re passionate about with what you see the rest of us being passionate about. It’s rarely obvious to us. We need you to lead, and to communicate.
How to join the conversation
Wherever it’s happening, if people are talking about things like: conservation, stewardship, land use, development, quality of life … count yourself in. Then invite others into that conversation.
That means: chiming in on... letters to the editor in the local papers. Some have good online forums and comments options. Use them. Let others know when you’ve posted something – in print or electronically. We’ll do our part in sharing the message.
Find the places where people are talking online. What are they in your region? Here are some examples from my region (Comox Valley):
- The Comox Valley Land Trust is on Facebook, Twitter, as a webpage with a blog, and with a YouTube channel (start at www.CVLandTrust.ca)
- TideChange is a news portal for stewardship and sustainability matters (www.TideChange.ca);
- the CVConservation Strategy is active on Facebook and on YouTube (start at www.CVConservationStrategy.ca);
- Comox architect Tom Dishlevoy has a wealth of insight and ideas on his blog, on Facebook, and Twitter (search Tom Dishlevoy);
- the “sustainability” channel at CV2050 is active as a blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook (start at www.CV2050.com).
A “get out the sustainability vote” challenge
Once you’ve figured out where you’re comfortable, and you’ve figured out how things work, start actively liking, comment - and sharinginformation and ideas that are important to you. Consider this small contribution to making a difference to the November 2011 civic election:
- Commit to finding and sharing 3 pieces of local, sustainability and/or conservation-related material per week;
- Share with people inside your usual sustainability / conservation circle;
- Create a personal list that grows by 3 people per week outside your usual sustainability/conservation circle (your kids, parents, cousins, squash or soccer team, etc), and share with them.
Let’s get the sustainability vote out in our communities. Step into your already acknowledged role and reputation as a respected community leader on sustainability issues. Use the new media tools. Tell us why the streams and woods and smarter choices about growth and development matter to the quality of our lives.
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