The Bulletin -- November 18, 2009 (#1017)

DO YOU “TWEET”? HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR FACEBOOK WALL? RICK LEIBOWITZ, DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH COUNTRY SALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, TELLS THE CLUB WHAT THE HYPE IS ALL ABOUT AND EXPLAINS THE CHANGING FACE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING.

Program: Rick Leibowitz; Changing World of Social Networking

Almost five million people ‘tweet’ on Twitter and over 200 million have Facebook accounts. Are you LinkedIn?

Rick Leibowitz, director of the North Country Small Business Development Center at SUNY Plattsburgh, explained it makes sense for a business to tap into high volume social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Not familiar with Twitter? Simply put, its a micro-blogging site that allows 140 characters to post messages known as “tweets”. “Tweople” choose to follow specific blogs and are able to get by-the-minute updates. It answers the question: “What are you doing today?” This, in a sense, answers the question, “What is important to you?”

Rick explains, “Sites like Twitter are very personality driven. As a business owner, you are selling to people, and people often make purchasing decisions based on emotion, not logic.” He says that people do business with a specific group because they value what is offered. They feel emotionally connected to the people and feel they are getting a product they can value.

Facebook is a social networking tool designed to make connections. Why Facebook? Because it is where the customers are. People go to Facebook more often than they check their email. Like Twitter, Facebook is a free site that allows you to set up webpages and create groups (i.e., there is a Rotary International Facebook page with millions of users). Interestingly, Facebook is owned by Google, and therefore, when businesses create Facebook accounts, they become linked to Google’s search engine.

LinkedIn is a more professional networking site. It provides opportunities to connect with colleagues and share expertise. One of its great features is the space it allows for posting resumes or recommendations. Potential employers can view these as part of an interview process. For businesses, LinkedIn has passive marketing opportunities. More than anything it allows business professionals to get and stay connected and share resources.

Businesses that encourage or allow the usage of social networking sites need to be vigilant about how much time is devoted to them. Monitoring what employees post on behalf of the business is also critical, as these sites can be viewed as one of the public faces of the business. Last, knowing how to use the site and its features is important. Many of the sites offer “open walls” or message boards to which the public can post what they wish. Disabling some of these features might be critical to maintaining the business’s desired image.

This Week:

• Bill Gray, District Governor Nominee: “I want to follow up with what Bonnie said. A lot of you are a long way from the end of your life, and $1,000 isn’t going to be very much 20 or 30 years from now. If you’re willing to add a zero to that, you can become a member of the bequest society. The money is really the foundation of the Foundation and will allow us to continue our wonderful programs.”
• President Bonnie and Bill Gray exchanged banners from each others’ clubs.
• An updated calendar has been placed at the door on your way out. Please take one and be reminded of upcoming dates.
• The Sunrise Club has invited our club to join them at their annual Christmas party. It will be held at the Barracks Golf Course on Monday, Dec. 7 for $35. If you are interested, see Bonnie to RSVP.
• Kiwanians will be visiting our club, Wed., Nov. 25.
• First Thursday at Irises on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m.

Visiting Rotarians: Bill Gray (Kingston)

Guests: David Bray (Bob Parks), Keri Mack (Rick Leibowitz), Peter Grosskopf (John Seiden), Courtney Chandler (Brian Hammond), David Kimmel (Ellen Bouchard).

Bonnie’s Bucks:

• Bill Gray said all Rotarians could participate in his Kingston club’s on-line auction at www.ckrotaryaucti- on .org
  Committee Moments:

Foundation Committee: What do these people have in common: Elle Berger, Bonnie Black, Rod Glitz, Don Green, Phil Green, Brian Hammond, Marty Mannix, Chuck Paepke, Stan Ransom, Bill Rowe, Tony Searing and Barb Straw? Each of them are benefactors whereby upon their death the Rotary Foundation gets $1,000. The goal is to increase from 16 people to 21 people, and this is a wonderful way to “pay it forward”.

Announcements:

• Stan Ransom would like to get those interested in the Holiday Party at Lake Forest (Dec. 16) together for a few minutes after today’s meeting. Also, the Plattsburgh and Peru libraries were getting together local author Julia Spencer-Fleming to be the speaker this Friday/Saturday. She is unwell and has had to reschedule.
• Ellie Murray thanked Brett Anderson and his wife, Clara, who helped her push her car when it rolled out of its parking spot today in the Elk’s parking lot.
• Chuck Paepke announced this Saturday at Peabody’s at noon for the 29th annual Michigan vs. Ohio State football game. Go Blue.
• Jody Carpenter’s 8th grade daughter will be traveling to Tampa with her husband and her Nordic team. She was the leading scorer.
• John Bernardi was at Cumberland 12 last night where he saw a premier of the historical movie called “Dead Reckoning”. Thanks to WCFE—we should be proud of all they do for our community.
• Peter Cadieux announced New Member Orientation at 8am at West Bay Plaza this Friday (Nov. 20).
• Corn Forrence thanked everyone for signing up for bell ringing. Next Wednesday she will remind everyone of their times.
• It has been a year and a day that Past President Tony Searing had an operation on his cancer and is still cancer free. He wanted to remind everyone to go get checked.

Trivia: Why is Dec. 2nd important to the club? Rick Leibowitz answered correctly. Itzhak Perlman will perform a benefit concert to raise money for Polio Plus.

Happy Birthday Kyle Brister!

50/50: The pot is $1076, and Kevin Kileen drew the 2 of Diamonds .

Another Candle Burning For: Don Moore (11/22).

Did You Know...? French Rotarians are hoping to raise more than US$1 Million for brain research during a premiere of the Disney movie A Christmas Carol on November 17 in 350 theaters across France.