The Event

Last night Francine Hardaway launched the Social Media Club's Pheonix Chapter (announcement).

It was a very engaging bunch of people. A combination of Public Relations, Marketers, Technologists and Designers all coming toghether around the idea of "Social Media". I really enjoyed it, even though I had to arrive a little late and leave a little early.

The stimulus

Everyone participated in a lively discussion around the ideas of

• What is the Social Media Club Phoenix Chapter going to be about?
• How do we want our meetings to go?

As we're just getting started and I'm not even vaguely related to the idea of being a spokesperson for the group,, I'm not going to share any of the suggested answers to those questions here.

Ed Nusbaum Summed it up best, by suggesting that we shouldn't try too hard to decide exactly what the answers to these questions are, but should rather let it develop organically.]

Returning to the Foundation for Blind Children today, I got the tentative thumbs up from Francine that she will host the next meeting here. I figured I should go ask for Chris Tompkins for permission.

Of course he was glad to hear that the group would be using the facility. When I explained the event to Chris Tompkins (the Executive Director) he asked me if I could put together a visual presentation of what the heck Social Media was and why it mattered. I've been pestering everyone at the Foundation to start thinking of their web presence as a conversation. Naturally that's caused some raised eyebrows and confusion.

The response

Why Social Media Works

So imagine my joy when I contemplated the task before me. I have just been asked to create a document that explains why Social Media matters. It's related to an event we are hosting. I have to create the document above. Oh, and do it visually! Heck yes.. I live for this.

Please let me know what you think of it. I could easily expand it to an entire section on the website.. and will if there's interest in it.