Guest Speaker

This week, we'll Skype in guest speaker Vanessa French (and possibly her business partner Casey Kincheloe) from Pivot Point Communications. Based in Alexandria, VA, Vanessa and her team provide marketing and branding strategy services, with a particular focus on social media. She started the company a few years ago (in the middle of a recession, no less) and it has become quite successful. Vanessa and I worked together, and I was always impressed by her passion and interest for all things PR-related.

Class, be sure to visit Vanessa's website, or follow her on Twitter at VanessaFrench. Be sure to come up with some questions about strategy, campaigns or job hunting. She's a great resource!

Last Event tonight!

Please join the class for dinner tonight at Fratelli's restaurant. Ten percent of all proceeds made between 6 and 8 p.m. will be donated to Safe Harbor. Fratelli's is located on 123 in Easley, behind the Ace Hardware. The class has been working hard to promote an event in the Easley community,so come eat Italian for a great cause!

Discussions for Class Today

We are now working through the book The Networked Nonprofit, by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine. The book discusses how nonprofits need to give up control of their organizations and make them truly networked, influenced by free agents, discussions, engagement, and full interactions with people around the world. Nonprofit's causes are often better spread through social media than traditional operations.

Students, as you write your blog posts today, please think about these questions, which we'll discuss in class tonight:

• What is the difference between posting and engaging? How do organizations listen?

• Regarding the Ladder of Engagement (pg. 69): Where are you with some of your favorite companies/nonprofits? What actions/campaigns have made you move up (or down) the ladder?

• In past internships you've had, were the companies Fortresses, Transactionals or Transparents?