The CU8 conference, organised by Community Information Strategies Australia (CISA) and supported by the Commonwealth Dept Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Queensland Government was held over two very full days, plus the conference dinner where the Community ICT awards were presented for online innovative ideas benefitting the non-profit community sector.
Wow! Are there some great projects out there! And so many people who care about the future of communities and have the knowhow and determination to improve lives using online tools.
Web 2.0 (the 'Social Web') has endless possibilities for non-profit and charity organisations, and online fundraising is only the beginning. I learned about twittering, blogging, tagging, wikis, widgets, avatars, and millennials (those who've only ever known the digital age); and came away exhausted, ready for three days in a rainforest without a single man-made object in sight!
Richard Neville, whom many of us remember as a revolutionary from the 60s and 70s, gave a wonderful presentation on the past, present and future, which is all really the same thing!
Karma Currency is something you will hear a lot about in the near future - Ashley Rosshandler, the driving force behind the idea, won an award for his foundation, which is Australia's first online charity gift voucher system. The idea is that instead of giving gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day or anniversaries, you give a charity gift voucher, and the recipient can then choose her own cause from the many on offer on the site. Everyday Hero, another online fundraising organisation, says you can raise $100,000 online in 30 days! Possibilities for Dragons Abreast, which I will investigate.
There were so many interesting workshops to attend that I wish I could have gone to them all: Bridging the Digital Divide (not just about the lack of broadband in regional Australia, but also about seniors, the disabled and others who are being left behind in this digital revolution), award winning project Wangka Maya, a grassroots organisation which aims to preserve Aboriginal languages, approaching the challenge by using their true resources - the speakers of the languages - and not the usual approach, which is via anthropologists, linguists and academics; the Young People Connected project, which gives young, mainly homeless, people mobile phones to keep them connected with services and with each other. And so many more!
The not-for-profit sector generates 5% of Australia's GDP, so we are a force to be reckoned with, but need to work collaboratively to achieve our aims. "Aggregate" are they say, which is why 35 DAA groups across Australia as one related organisation is worth more than 35 individual groups all struggling towards the same goal : bringing the magic of dragonboating to breast cancer survivors, and raising awareness of breast cancer in the community in general.
If you are interested in the content and outcomes of the conference, go to http://www.connectingup.org/ - full report later! I have to go to my real work now (is that my real work, or is it just what helps me pay for my paddling gear???)
Jan
Wow! Are there some great projects out there! And so many people who care about the future of communities and have the knowhow and determination to improve lives using online tools.
Web 2.0 (the 'Social Web') has endless possibilities for non-profit and charity organisations, and online fundraising is only the beginning. I learned about twittering, blogging, tagging, wikis, widgets, avatars, and millennials (those who've only ever known the digital age); and came away exhausted, ready for three days in a rainforest without a single man-made object in sight!
Richard Neville, whom many of us remember as a revolutionary from the 60s and 70s, gave a wonderful presentation on the past, present and future, which is all really the same thing!
Karma Currency is something you will hear a lot about in the near future - Ashley Rosshandler, the driving force behind the idea, won an award for his foundation, which is Australia's first online charity gift voucher system. The idea is that instead of giving gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day or anniversaries, you give a charity gift voucher, and the recipient can then choose her own cause from the many on offer on the site. Everyday Hero, another online fundraising organisation, says you can raise $100,000 online in 30 days! Possibilities for Dragons Abreast, which I will investigate.
There were so many interesting workshops to attend that I wish I could have gone to them all: Bridging the Digital Divide (not just about the lack of broadband in regional Australia, but also about seniors, the disabled and others who are being left behind in this digital revolution), award winning project Wangka Maya, a grassroots organisation which aims to preserve Aboriginal languages, approaching the challenge by using their true resources - the speakers of the languages - and not the usual approach, which is via anthropologists, linguists and academics; the Young People Connected project, which gives young, mainly homeless, people mobile phones to keep them connected with services and with each other. And so many more!
The not-for-profit sector generates 5% of Australia's GDP, so we are a force to be reckoned with, but need to work collaboratively to achieve our aims. "Aggregate" are they say, which is why 35 DAA groups across Australia as one related organisation is worth more than 35 individual groups all struggling towards the same goal : bringing the magic of dragonboating to breast cancer survivors, and raising awareness of breast cancer in the community in general.
If you are interested in the content and outcomes of the conference, go to http://www.connectingup.org/ - full report later! I have to go to my real work now (is that my real work, or is it just what helps me pay for my paddling gear???)
Jan
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2 comments:
Hi Jan
Great that you were able to make it to CU08 and to get so much out of it. We look forward to seeing your Web 2.0 progress and to getting an update next year.
Cheers
Doug Jacquier
CEO CISA Inc
Organisers of CU08
This is really interesting and it's great that Jan has been able to learn so much for the benefit of all Dragons Abreasat members.
Michelle
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