Do You Have an Inspiring Weblog Story to Share?

Hi Lee,

I have been collecting some blogging stories in my wiki at:
http://www.zylstra.org/extra/wikka.php?wakka=BlogStories

The stories link to their originators so you can get in touch with them for more 'meat'.

best,
Ton

Lee,
Here's my story.
I was asked to give a presentation on servant leadership to a student leaders group at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. When I found out that only about 6-10 students would be there, the size of this organization, I said, "We can do better!"
So, I did two things. One I attended the Student Organizatonal Council the week prior to the presenation, and I spoke to them about Filling The Seats for my presentation. The morning of this meeting with the SOC, I decided I needed a way to stay in touch, to encourage, inform, maintain focus for these students over the course of the next week, with the expection that they would do two things. Bring a friend and bring a freshman or sophmore who most likely will be the next leader of the organization. Secondly, to email everyone who respects their opinion inviting them to attend the presentation. So, I put together a blog for the event. Here's a link that points to the 22 postings I made during the week -http://edbrenegar.typepad.com/universityofwom/2005/03/fill_the_seats__2.html

Results: 14 people showed up. Better than they expected, less than what I had hoped. But no one really knew me, so there was no real prior commitment to me or this group. The other result surfaced out for both students and administrators a need for more attention to helping build greater particiation in campus organizations. This is true at every school I know. So, I morphed my Fill The Seats micro-blog into a blog that focuses on helping any organization use WOM,Viral and Buzz marketing techniques in conjunction with blogs to strengthen the community life of their organizations.
It has been an interesting experiment that is not over. I meet with two administrators at UNCA this coming week to discuss further how we can address the needs that were surfaced out in our little project.
I'll be posting updates at the University of Word 0f Mouth. Stay tuned.

A story that is just beginning . . .

I've been blogging for a while, and decided to give a Wiki a try this weekend. I was amazed at how easy it was and excited about the potential uses in our community development project known as Community Connections. We are searching for ways to use technology to connect people with varying levels of interest and commitment in our community action efforts. We use our original blog to keep people informed about weekly discussions even when they can't make the meeting and to pique people's interest and encourage their participation in action opportunities.

We are at the stage now of trying to get people to actually use the technology to stay informed and to connect back with us. Every time someone says 'I read about it in the blog' or 'I printed my own meeting agenda from the web site', I get a big grin on my face. Once they try it, they get it.

Our new Wiki/Blog at jotspot.com includes informational Wiki pages on the areas of community interest identified through an Appreciative Inquiry process last summer and fall. On each area page, users can find the Action Project Blog links to dig further into what is going on in the Community Connections network. I'm introducing the jotspot page to the network, which includes over 100 people in our small town, through our email and snail mail newsletter, or 'Quick Note' this month. We'll see whether we can get some comments and communication that will move the projects forward during the next few months.