Social Media Club Wiki - PWD is media / Brisbane

CONVENOR

Social Media Club Brisbane launched on Friday, 11th July.

Background

For information on Social Media Club see the website http://www.socialmediaclub.com

Notes of the ad hoc thought-sharing group that met over coffee on June 5, 2008, from which meeting the decision was taken to proceed with establishing SMC Brisbane. Apart from the encouraging offers of practical support, the ideas here are just that, ideas, not binding. If you would like to participate in forming and shaping the new SMC Brisbane, now would be a good time to hop in, put your hand up, your shoulder to the wheel etc etc.

There was a fair bit of discussion about the group's purpose and aims. The list of possibilities included:

· social networking – as in meeting with people with some common interests

· technology presentation/discussion, including evangelism for social media in government, education, business...

· imparting knowledge to the novice user (the actual word used was "naive" but my feeling is that, taken out of context, the word would need some explaining)

· surfacing clever ideas which could become business opportunities

· highlighting/demonstrating the potential of social media tools

· providing examples of how people can be genuinely engaged with these tools

· encouraging local developer talent and also providing some wise advice

There was general agreement on a goal of attracting non-geeks, people interested in how they can use social media in practical ways. De-geekify social media.

Interest also in helping with understanding of legal and other constraints. What are the hazards and how do you protect yourself? As in, not being fired or sued for what you put on MySpace or Facebook on in a blog post.

Is there a risk of duplicating what other groups/gatherings provide? Examples are BarCamp. Media & Communication Scholars (MACS) and First Tuesday. It was decided that SMC Brisbane would be complementary to other, existing groups.

CCII Research

Elliott Bledsoe told the group that the ARC Centre for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) is interested in the SMC Brisbane concept in the context of CCI’s research program and would like to be associated with and support the group’s activities.

Time and Frequency of Meetings Monthly meetings, on weekdays, agreed. No simple solution on whether to meet during the day or evening. Some people have so many commitments at night they will want gatherings during the regular working day, late afternoon, say 4 pm start. Others in regular jobs will not be able to get to those sessions and need something from 6 pm on. Proposed we have an alternating system to accommodate both: assuming monthly gatherings, that would be one month daytime, one month evening.

Communication platform There is a wiki for the group. Also, Des Walsh has a WordFrame site (www.wordframe.com) and could set up a group on that.

Venues Several possibilities:

· SJK Consulting (Stephen Kelly) have offered meeting premises

· Peter Black has indicated it should be possible to provide space at QUT.

· State Library has spaces that can be booked

· Coffee shops such as Coffee Club, Toowong

· Hotel foyers – Sofitel, Stamford Plaza, Hilton

Style of event

Some thought if there were formal presentations they should be very brief.

Gold Coast

Noted that there were several people on the Gold Coast interested. If meetings are in Brisbane, State Library as venue would help GC people, because of proximity to train. Possibility for having some events on the Gold Coast. We are talking with some people on the Gold Coast about whether it makes sense to establish a separate SMC there: watch this space.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

We have some people putting it together - they need to be asked if we can call them "committee members": volunteers welcome!

Spread the word to everyone you know who is interested in social media.

Des Walsh

www.deswalsh.com

Business coach & social media strategist

07 5536 5658 0413 089 355

deswalsh(at)gmail(dot)com