Kyla took a bus tour in San Francisco where she saw famous sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Danielle Steele's house. She then visited Eden Information & Referral in Hayward, California, a nonprofit that operates a 211 service connecting people with community services. Kyla learned about their director Barbara and databases of social and housing services. At TechSoup, Kyla met with the customer service team and learned about their library program. Kyla attended conferences in Atlanta where she learned about using social media and games for social change. She also toured CNN headquarters before returning home.

1. Kyla’s trip to the USA

2. First Stop – Qantas ClubThanks to my Auntie Barb for the guest pass!

3. When I arrived in San Francisco it was raining 

4. So I went on a bus tour....and saw Danielle Steele's house...and the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausilito and the Presidio

5. ....then I had some dinner and went to sleep

6. I visited Eden Information &Referral in HaywardThe organisation operates a 211 service

7. What is 211? 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. In 2009, 2-1-1 services in the United States answered more than 16.2 million calls. Every hour of every day, hundreds of people need essential human services - they are looking for training, employment, food pantries, help for an aging parent, addiction prevention programs for their teenage children, affordable housing options, support groups and ways of becoming part of their community. 2-1-1 allows people to give help and to get help.

9. Meet Barbara – the Director of Eden I & R

11. There was a squirrel at Eden I & R!

12. Eden Information & Referral Has been operating for over 30 years Has an innovative Executive Director Produces ‘The Big Blue Book’ a directory of human services for the Alameda County This is sounding quite similar to Connecting Up Australia.....

13. Eden Information & Referral Call centre operates 24/7 The organisation has 2 main databases *Social services *Housing

14. Eden Information & Referral To supplement funding Eden I & R also does lots of vetting type services Managing all the different contracts is an administrative nightmare, but the income is essential for organisational sustainability

15. Eden Information & Referral Operate after hours phone service for local council Conduct initial phone screening to determine eligibility for programs such as food stamps & tax help Provide phone service for ‘Bank of Oakland’ program Provide client lists for charity programs like ‘toys for tots’

17. www.edenir.org

18. The Hayward Public Library was nearby so I called in and said hi!

21. At TechSoup I met with many members of the global team and gained an overview of how the customer service team works – it is very different to the operations at DonorTec. I also found about TechSoup for Libraries.

22. Met with Sarah Washburn, Library Program Manager Program started several years ago with a grant from the Gates Foundation Sarah has developed relationships with many librarians in the US Site has resources, library spotlights, webinars and monthly newsletter

23. Alcatraz

26. I went to Wal-Mart.....and I bought something

27. YumSeriously good cheesecake!

28. So some walking was required

29. and some more Community Information research

30. After my walk I headed off to Atlanta

31. Breakfast in Atlanta

32. #10ntc I joined a breakfast discussion “Social Media – personal & professional” Participants expressed fear at ideas expressed via social media haunting them in the future Discomfort at expressing political views online Blog posts used in court case

33. The trouble with Slacktivisim "the act of participating in obviously pointless activities as an expedient alternative to actually expending effort to fix a problem.“ Examples of cause-oriented slacktivism are numerous, from turning your Twitter profile photos green in solidarity with Iranian protesters to short-term boycotts such as the recent Earth Hour Mixed emotions about “slacktivism” Wendy Harman from US Red Cross spoke about how her attitude to social media and “slacktivism” transformed as she watched the Haiti response unfold

34. The Networked Nonprofit: Using Social Media to Power Social Networks for Change The book is coming soon! Networked Nonprofits are defined not by websites and software, but by the “networked” culture that they fully embrace

35. Seven Critical Qualities Of A Networked Nonprofit Transparent Value networks Comfort with tools Networked ecosystem Courageous Trusting Athletic

36. That's Not Funny: Using Humour in Online Communications I don’t get American humour! Presenter thought about writing a book titled “Nonprofit Humour” and someone asked him – ‘is that a pamphlet?’ Rules Be nice Be topical Give humour a go Don’t be mean!

37. The Real Housewives of Social Media Lesson 1 – America has ALOT of reality TV! (checkout any of the “real housewives of...” programs OMG!)

38. The Real Housewives of Social Media Social media needs to be part of your organisations communications strategy Collaborate with others in your sector Tools – monitor (REALLY important), be bold, add video, analyse (there are tools 4 this) Measurement – important to pick the right outcome to measure Identify influencers and get them first Reflect – if something didn’t work give it a Joyful funeral – then move on!

39. Tools What the hashtag – to promote #nptechau Twitalyzer – serious analytics for social media Viralheat – more analytics Tweetbeep – find out what people are saying about us on twitter And there are many more tools...eek!

40. Games For Change AsiBurak from gamesforchange.org gave a fantastic keynote about using gaming to spread awareness of social/political issues Checkout the website – all kinds of games for kids and adults The game ‘Peacemaker’, all about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was demonstrated. You can view a game preview at www.peacemakergame.com

41. After all that I was ready to relax at World of Coca Cola

42. Local goodness!

43. I also called in to the Atlanta Public Library Service

44. And took a stroll around the neighbourhood

46. Anyone need their shoes cleaned?

47. Before returning home I toured the headquarters of CNN