We don't do a lot of podcasting around here at NTEN. (Maybe that should be one of the things we experiment more with in 2009, in accordance with Holly Ross's resolutions.)

Luckily, Sarah Durham at Big Duck has an excellent podcasting series, the Nonprofit Jungle. You should really check these out for both their helpful nonprofit communications content and as example of how to put together great podcasts.

Sarah just interviewed NTEN's Executive Director, Holly Ross, about the Social Media for Nonprofits curriculum project, We Are Media. Take a listen here to find out more about:

• What the We Are Media project is;
• General tips and strategies for your nonprofit and Web 2.0;
• How Holly got started in nptech in the first place.

Flickr Photo: Jasmic

It's pretty much a given that the coming months will be difficult for the nonprofit sector. I can't predict how bad things will get or how long the downturn will last, but I do know that our organizations will be called upon to serve more, with fewer resources, for the foreseeable future.

The good news is that the thoughtful, well-researched way you put technology strategies and tools to work is going to help your organization get beyond "weathering the storm", ensuring it thrives during this crisis.

Now is our opportunity, as a sector, to define how the thoughtful use of technology can extend tight budgets by creating efficiencies, diversifying funding sources, and delivering programs in new ways to reach more people.

NTEN members: you're in the perfect position to make it happen. Your membership ensures you'll be able to pinpoint the most effective technology approach and make the right decisions on platforms and tools through:

Have you been looking for that special someone to rock your technology world? Have you been hoping to do it for a very affordable rate? The CTC VISTA Project just opened their annual application cycle, so look no further!

The CTC VISTA Project builds the capacity of nonprofit organizations using media and technology to strengthen communities. ANY organization using media and technology can apply for a full-time, on-site VISTA intern.

So, submit your proposal. If it's accepted, you and the CTC VISTA Project will work together to recruit an AmeriCorps*VISTA member to work with your organization for one year. NTEN did it. We liked our intern so much, we hired him! (Hey Karl!)

Check out the details of the program, and make sure you apply before April 1; early applications will receive priority. Have questions? Email info@ctcvista.org.

First, Change.org's new site design earned them a top spot in DesignM.ag's 40 Most Inspirational Site Designs. Now, they're smack-dab in the middle of the Ideas for Change contest, which they're running with the Case Foundation.

Inspired by the President-Elect's call for citizens to share their ideas for creating change, the contest drew nearly 8,000 ideas for change from community members. From now until January 15, you can vote on those ideas.

On January 16, Change.org and the Case Foundation will announce the top ten ideas, and:

Flickr Photo by lumaxartThe web is abuzz with resolutions for 2009 -- NTEN included! We'd like to help you put a little action behind the words, with the NTEN Technology Leadership Series.

Holly's first resolution is To Use Technology to Work "Smarter". This is exactly what John Kenyon will focus on teaching nonprofit leaders in the Leadership Series.

And it goes in hand with resolution number 2, Experiment with Technology, as well: successful nonprofit leaders know how to use technology to their advantage -- managing technology work for their organizations, not the other way around. This webinar series will give you the information and skills you need to become a technology leader.

You'll also be able to work with us on number 3, Share Your Successes (and Failures) through an accompanying online discussion group, where we'll work together and share our experiences throughout the series.

The opportunity starts this Thursday, January 8. John Kenyon will host this series of 7 webinars with special guest speakers Robert Weiner, Eric Leland, and Beth Kanter.

> Learn more, be true to your resolutions, and sign up today!

In November, I was lucky enough to sit on a panel on text messaging for advocacy at the Convio Summit. My co-panelists, Matt Wilson from Mobile Commons and Kristin Kich of NARAL Pro Choice America both had some great case studies about using mobile to build lists and generate actions.
There were lots of great questions during the session, including the very appropriate one about just who is texting anyway. Much like social media, there's an assumption out there that the only people who are texting are kids. That was probably true as recently as 2006/07. But it's not anymore!
Nielson Mobile has just released statistics that indicate that EVERYONE is now texting. In the last quarter of 2007, the number of text messages consumers sent outpaced the number of calls they make and receive. According to 160Characters, the number of text messages has been steadily increasing:
Qtr 3, 2007: 226 calls / 193 texts
Qtr 4, 2007: 213 calls / 218 texts
Qtr 1, 2008: 207 calls / 288 texts
Qtr 2, 2008: 204 calls / 357 texts
Of course, it's still heavily skewed towards the kids. Teens age 13-17 send and receive an average of 1,742 text per month, compared to "just" 231 calls. But the dominance of text messages is clear in several age categories:
All Subs: 204 calls / 357 texts
12 & Under: 137 calls / 428 texts
Ages 13-17: 231 calls / 1742 texts
Ages 18-24: 265 calls / 790 texts
Ages 25-34: 239 calls / 331 texts
Ages 35-44: 223 calls / 236 texts
Ages 45-54: 193 calls / 128 texts
Ages 55-64: 145 calls / 38 texts
Ages 65+: 99 calls / 14 texts
So if you've been thinking that text messaging wasn't a good way to reach to your audience, you may want to think again. The President-Elect doesn't have a mobile strategy for nothing.

I am a child of a certain time and place, a time and place where "dude" and "awesome" were considered perfectly acceptable words. I've weaned myself of "dude" -- except in reference to The Dude, of course -- but I can't kick my "awesome" habit.

Fortunately, neither can the vlogbrothers. This week, they're launching the second Project for Awesome, in association with YouTube. Your challenge? Make a video asking your friends, colleagues, college roommates, and people on the street to support a cause you care about. The brothers will be guest-editing the YouTube homepage to feature their favorite submissions, and your video could be among them.

Flickr Photo: DunechaserI'm shovelling my way out of both snow and email this week.

The snow part has been humorous (because Portlanders don't do snow). The email in-box project has also been surprisingly fun: I found quite a few tidbits -- or this n'at, as Pittsurghers would say -- worth sharing.

Here are some of the things I came across that you might also enjoy:

You may have read about my intense love of all things bacon. I talk about it some(all the)times. Imagine my great joy upon learning that Reddit is hosting a fantastic resource to connect volunteers of all stripes with organizations that need them this holiday season -- and those volunteers could win some BACON!

The Feed a Need project is pretty simple. If you're interested in volunteering, just fill out the form to be entered into the database of awesome. If you are a nonprofit, you can add yourself to the list of orgs that volunteers can serve.

By volunteering 2 hours before Feb 14, 2009, you'll be entered to win some fabulous prizes (including bacon).

The only part I can't get behind is that a robot will choose the prize winners: