[OKC] the power of the internet and a fundraising idea

Mon Mar 30 06:47:35 PDT 2009

This came out of discussion taking place on the Oklahoma Sustainability Network listserv. 

Perhaps something to think about after we’re past the madness of RRR for SOKC and Transition  Town … 

From: ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org [mailto:ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org] On Behalf Of Trey Parsons
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:59 PM
To: 'Sustainability Issues in Oklahoma'
Subject: Re: [ok-sus] Battlestar Galactica thread --YouTube Nonprofit Raises $10, 000 in One Day

Brian, I think you’re on the right track.  The best way for OSN to get the most bang for her buck is most likely in increasing the internet presence.  …well, other than grants, I guess.  But anyway, here’s a post from YouTube’s blog that might get a bee in someone’s bonnet.

Something to keep in mind- is that the majority of Oklahoman’s are going to need some coaching and prodding to get this state green.  Some videos to spread the wealth of OSN knowledge might be cool…  You know how we Okies love some television.  Hey, what about hooking up with OETA?  I have a friend that does production for Outdoor OK…  He’d be a good contact.

Just thinking out loud…  

Peace,

Trey Parsons

March 27, 2009  |  Posted by:Ramya Raghavan <mailto:editor at youtube.com>   |  Permalink <http://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=LD50xTsUNaw> 

YouTube Nonprofit Raises $10,000 in One Day Using Overlay Ads

This week, we launched a new "Call to Action" feature for YouTube's nonprofit partners, which allows them to use InVideo overlays to drive traffic to an off-YouTube web page, where they can collect signatures, email addresses, or even donations. Already, we're seeing nonprofit organizations use this new feature with great success. 

On Sunday, to commemorate World Water Day, we featured a video from charity:water <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEnlrE4iMBU>  on the YouTube homepage. The video included a Call to Action overlay that encouraged YouTube users to donate money to help build wells and provide clean, safe drinking water for those who don't have it. 

 <http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lPYfFCrsPcw/Sc0XX45Z8PI/AAAAAAAAAB8/JZYt-VncD7c/s1600-h/Picture+182.png> http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lPYfFCrsPcw/Sc0XX45Z8PI/AAAAAAAAAB8/JZYt-VncD7c/s320/Picture+182.png

The response from the YouTube community was overwhelming -- thanks to you, charity:water was able to raise over $10,000 in one day from the video. That's enough to build two brand-new wells in the Central African Republic and give over 150 people clean drinking water for 20 years! 

Feeling inspired? If you're a YouTube nonprofit partner, adding a Call to Action overlay is easy. Just go to "Edit Video" and fill out the fields in the section marked "Call to Action overlay." All you have to do is include a short headline, ad text, a destination url, and upload an optional image, and the overlay will appear whenever someone watches your video. 

If you're a nonprofit organization in the U.S. or U.K. who hasn't yet joined the YouTube Nonprofit Program, but would like to gain access to Call to Action and other special benefits, you can apply now at www.youtube.com/nonprofits. 

Yours,
Ramya Raghavan
YouTube Nonprofits & Activism 

From: ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org [mailto:ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org] On Behalf Of Brian Figgins
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 5:18 PM
To: cxg300 at sbcglobal.net; Sustainability Issues in Oklahoma
Subject: Re: [ok-sus] Battlestar Galactica thread

Chuck
You don't have to convince me that OSN is still needed.  My point is just we need figure out what we want to do before we talk about hiring staff or fund
raising outside of the conference.  Those aren't an end to themselves but a means to an end.

Now the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado sounds like a good organization for us to look at to see if that is what we want to emulate.

One future I can see for OSN is to become the Treehugger of Oklahoma.  We could have a robust website where people from around the state would be able to contribute articles and they would be published without any coding needed.  Sites like Treehugger are form driven.  No one builds a HTML page for each article, the website builds the page based on variables.  We could then have a RSS feed from the site.

This approach allow each chapter to easily place information on a regularly updated site.  Chapters would still have their own page but how often do most check other chapters websites.  I probably now more of what is going on environmentally speaking in California than in Tulsa.

It also gives us a goal to fund raise for too.  We may build in the ability for OSN members to vote for which issues the organization wants to support (a la MoveOn.org).

While we probably should want until a membership meeting to make a decision as an organization what direction we need to take, I think we should brainstorm via the listserve so that when we meet we will have well developed ideas that the group can make an informed decision on.

Let's keep the ideas going.

Thank you,

Brian

Chas Gross wrote: 

I think that you make a good point, Brian. Do we still need OSN?

Well, you would not be reading this post if not for OSN, which pays for the listserv. I do not think that the DSM rules would have gotten public participation like it did if not for OSN. Where would the firm position to build Red Rock only if needed and if it was to be built, to firmly request that it be built with as little pollution as was possible if it was not for OSN? Would some other organization have stepped into the void, and taken the leadership roles which OSN members have taken? Maybe so, but to quote Bobby Kennedy, “If not us, who?” Ok, that was just part of the quote, but it is the relevant part, for this discussion. 

Given the inspiration which OSN brought to the establishment of SNOW, or at least to the several people who did found SNOW, there would be no Chapter in Bartlesville. No push to save the only local recycling center, about to close because of mounting losses. No cleanup of the Caney River. No effort to promote recycling at Sunfest, a local but smaller version of Mayfest in Tulsa. I cannot speak for other Chapters, but OSN does have a purpose. And, I think that purpose exists in conjunction with the individual Chapters. 

To deal with the obvious perception that OSN is pulling resources away from the local Chapters, I know of no example which supports this perception. OSN exists as a statewide organization to enable the Chapters to have the communication and benefit of the numbers which we have when we need those numbers. The Community Foods grant which supports the Buy Fresh, Buy Local efforts, in part, was made possible because of the statewide organization. The history of OSN helped make the Clean Energy program effective. Perhaps each of the four coal fired plants which have not been built after permits were submitted still would not have been built even if OSN were not around to provide the people, research, facts and hard work to help keep Oklahoma a desirable place to live, and to advocate on behalf of clean energy. We will never know. And, we will never know because of the hard work which was done by members of the OSN. 

When I look at the amazing results of the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado and an offshoot of their organization, the Colorado Alliance for Sustainable Business Associations, I see what Oklahoma has just over the horizon. An email from CASBA to its members, if forwarded to the individuals who belong to the related organizations, will reach 10,000 members, mostly involved professionals. To look at Colorado’s legislation, one would think that it was run by the Colorado Alliance. >From building standards, to support for individual rights, to environmental leadership, the Alliance has been at the forefront. Of course, they need their 20+ employees, many part time, to keep their efforts going, and have a pretty good head start on Oklahoma. Take a look at their website - I think it will inspire you as well.

 <http://www.allianceforcolorado.org/> http://www.allianceforcolorado.org/

Please do not take what I say wrong. I put in a lot of hard work to help establish SNOW and build its membership. OSN is not going to go to Bartlesville and start a Farmer’s Market. But SNOW members by ourselves cannot go to the Corporation Commission and have an effective voice like the OSN does. 

I have proposed looking at the type of organizational changes OSN needs to adapt to the growth from a listserv-based organization to one with nine Chapters across Oklahoma. I do not think that everyone has the time to just jump from a long weekend at the Conference to another to talk about where we go from here. Most of us have to earn a living, and being sustainable, have other duties in our varied lives. This is why I suggested a membership meeting for October as opposed to right now. I think that this discussion like we are having related to how the combined efforts can be integrated to have a better Oklahoma, with cleaner air, cleaner water, and an overall better lifestyle is a big part of the evolution of the OSN.  

I hope that everyone will continue to participate, and continue this discussion. 

Chuck Gross

bfiggins at cox.net bfiggins at cox.net  <mailto:ok-sus%40lists.oksustainability.org?Subject=%5Bok-sus%5D%20OSN%20and%20Battlestar%20Galactica&In-Reply-To=01e801c9af15%244ccae870%24e660b950%24%40net> 
Fri Mar 27 14:49:09 PDT 2009 

Shauna, You make a fair point that OSN should not pull resources away from any of the chapters. The local chapters have the greatest influence at the local level. I know that when I first spoke to the city council in Mustang. They wanted to know if I lived in Mustang. They would not have put near as much consideration if I was an outsider. I would be way less effective lobbying the OKC City Council just as you would be less effective lobbying Mustang. But is there a role for an organization to work at a state wide level? The work that Harlan has done on Demand Side Management with the State Corporation Commission may have been more difficult if it was conducted by a local chapter. During the conference, the topic of making more efficient building codes came up. The biggest issue was the towns were afraid that strengthening their building code would drive development to the next town. A state wide approach might be an attractive way to tackle this issue. The local chapters are were most of the action is at. Local advacacy is more effective on local issue and everyone knows that there is alot of those. Many of them are the low hanging fruit that we can tackle quickly while developing the resouces we need to tackle larger issues. But do we still need OSN? If so, what should it's purpose be? 

  _____  

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