2009 – We will prosper!

This is the last scheduled post on BCN until the New Year – 2009. However, if readers want to submit material about those voluntary organisations that step-up, rather than wind down,their efforts over the ‘holiday’ period, then please do – BCN will endeavour to include it!

We hope that you have found BCN interesting and informative since its launch on July 1^st. If you have, then please look at ‘tipping’ the site below. Your pennies donated through PayPal will help us to continue bringing the BCN family to your PCs and laptops. The BCN Family (see right hand column) is looking for sponsors and partners to help develop its services – if your organisation wants to be involved with helping spread new social media then get in touch.

BCN aims to bring the benefits of free and open source software to the voluntary sector in Blackpool – however, it is understood that professional help is sometimes required to kick-start a new project. So if you seek professional support to develop your own social media, blogging, online collaboration or Twitter solutions – then get in touch by emailing smrweb@gmx.com or leaving a comment.

Finally – while we might be taking a break from serious commentary on this website – we do intend to carry on more light-hearted and fun blogging over on Just for the Weekend – come and join us and help shape this new Blog.

Finally – a New Year resolution:

Though times may get hard – and harder – in 2009, through our collective action and mutual support we will prosper. Human spirit and kindness will be our wealth!

Love Ray Duffill

The Newsletter that Writes Itself

The Newsletter that Writes Itself is the name given to a project that aims to produce the next issue of BCN (Blackpool Community News) using social media tools. Wikipedia is the online encyclopedia that writes itself – this project aims to do the same for BCN.

The project aims to encourage ANYONE who is interested, to be able to contribute and take part in the production of the next newsletter – and by Monday 15th December!

Volunteer Online Citizen Correspondents

BCN (Blackpool Community News) is searching for volunteers; i.e. computer-savvy individuals to act as online citizen correspondents for this and associated websites (ICT & Coms, 3rd Sector Jobs, Blogging Blackpool, BCN X-tra).

To be considered here’s what you need:

• An unhealthy interest in the well-being of the voluntary, community and faith sector in the town, but also regionally and nationally – you will recognise and appreciate the valuable role that the sector plays in civil society.
• An ability to quickly pick up new ways to use the internet, software, and technology - BCN is an online service after-all!
• Writing skills – Can you write short, snappy pieces that have your readers needs, ethos and views firmly in mind? In particular BCN needs more news and researched articles on health, youth and environmental issues.
• Bags of enthusiasm - BCN blogs news and information services to hundreds of readers every week, but aims to reach thousands! Imagination is needed to ensure that Social Media tools reach and bring real benefits to people. Blogging has gone mainstream in the US (see Technorati for their top 100 blogs) and the UK is set to follow. Be in at the start of something new!

Here’s what you’ll get:

• No money! - but the excitement of bringing information to those who can best use it to make a difference!
• Experience: Through BCN and its family of web initiatives you will pick up technical and life-skills that will prepare you for the digital future! A special ‘BCN – Behind the Scenes’ website has been established exclusively for BCN correspondents to share their learning experience and try out new ideas before ‘going public’.
• Exposure: If you’re interested in doing what we do, then BCN is an excellent place to get started.

Still interested in joining this adventure? Send an email to blackpoolcommunitynews@gmx.com saying why you’d like to get involved. And please do include any URLs to Blogs, websites or work you’ve done online.

REMINDER: Join the Team at Blackpool Community News!

BCN (Blackpool Community News) and this website want YOUR help! Would you like to help us gather news, write reports, take photos, edit, design and produce both the printed and the online versions, distribute the newsletter? If you can help in any way with BCN development, we would like to hear from you!

BCN is holding a special meeting on Tuesday 12th August 11am – 1pm at the 39 Springfield Road offices for all those supporters of the newsletter who would like to play a role in its further development.

We still have places available for this workshop please ring 01253 749657 or e-mail blackpoolcommunitynews@gmx.com if you would like to attend.

Don’t forget to take the Blackpool Community News Survey – What would you like to see in future issues?

Click Here to take survey

What do you think about Blackpool Community News?

Blackpool SURF is keen to get your views on the newsletter and this interactive version.  Your ideas and suggestions can help us develop it. We also seek volunteers to act as ‘news-hounds’ to help us gather and collect news, articles and features of interest to voluntary, community and faith groups in Blackpool – and help us write them up to good print and web page copy.

If you can help us design the newsletter – or have ideas then leave a comment.