NPower in the News: The Charlotte Observer

Nonprofits get a lesson in using social media
The Charlotte Observer
By Tonya Jameson

Mike Gannotti of Microsoft speaks during Wednesday's NPower workshop to teach nonprofits about social media. “You can be a part of the conversation and guide it,” he said.

A woman scribbled notes on a legal pad. Beside her a man typed on his mini laptop. Across the aisle, another woman recorded with a small video camera.

All three took part in “Strike Up an Online Conversation,” a social media forum for nonprofits Wednesday. Their different note-taking methods highlighted the technology divide challenging many businesses and nonprofits. Some organizations are wired up and ready to go and others aren't plugged in.

“I don't know anything about it,” said Dona Patterson of Family Outreach and Counseling Center.

Organizers of Wednesday's forum offered a little advice for everyone. They spent two hours trying to persuade the wary to use sites such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate their message. They gave current users tips on how to communicate even better.

The take-home message: Guide the conversation.  “You can be a part of the conversation and guide it or be a victim of it,” said Michael Gannotti, Microsoft's business productivity technology specialist.

The forum, held at the Microsoft Campus, was part of NPower's Project Ignite initiative, which provides information technology services to nonprofits. At least 141 people representing 80 organizations, from human services agencies to churches, throughout the area attended. Judy Ranson, a Hope Haven board member, doesn't have a Twitter or Facebook page. Melissa Thompson of Hope Haven brought Ranson to show her the importance of having a strong presence on Facebook.  By the end of Wednesday's forum, Ranson had elbowed Thompson numerous times to ask if Hope Haven was using platforms such as Constant Contact e-mail newsletters, Facebook or Twitter.