Inauguration 2009: Making Up David Cantero

Although I had originally planned to enjoy a nice long weekend with my husband and baby by the warmth of our fireplace, I instead had the good fortune to participate in the 2009 Inauguration by working as a makeup artist for David Cantero, reporter for Televisión Española.

There are more photos to come, but here are several from my phone that I had a chance to upload.

Fortune Cookie Forshadows Changes

Several weeks ago, I cracked open a fortune cookie and my fortune was this: "There is no education like adversity."

It didn't take long for me to forget about the fortune and put it to the side.

Last week I decided it was time for me to invest some effort and energy into making my home office a little more "me" and so I began rearranging and decorating, taking my husband's lighthouse collection out of the room and bringing my daughter's stained glass lamp into the room. I even purchased a fun framed bulletin board to put on the wall. As I was putting everything together, I ran across the old fortune and I pinned it to the bulletin board thinking it was true enough and a good reminder of how to look at uncomfortable situations.

Yesterday and today I had an unfortunate "educational" series of exchanges with a person whom I used to call a friend. At least part of the problem stemmed from the other person not understanding how a platform like Twitter works.

I share this with you so that you may benefit from my experience.

This is what I have learned:

1. If you are active within social media, there could be misunderstandings from people who haven't acquainted themselves with the technology yet.
2. Direct conversation is best when trying to overcome misunderstandings.
3. We are not living in an age when everyone is knowledgeable about popular modes of communication. Don't assume!
4. Ask before accusing
5. People usually strike out when they feel cornered or trapped. Look for causes beyond the immediate for an explanation of why someone is striking out at you and try to be empathetic.

I'm not sure what will happen next with this situation, but I am trying to be reasonable and calm. Are you curious about your own fate? Click on the online fortune cookie...if you dare!

TwtApps Offers Beautiful Simplicity: Twtcard, Twtpoll, and Twtvite

How often have you wanted to ask your followers on Twitter or your friends on Facebook their opinions on a topic? If you are anything like me, this has happened a lot and being able to reach out and talk to a large number of people at one time is one of the boons and busts of social media. The "social" part is clearly critical, but how do you collect all the opinions in one place? Hello hello twtpoll! twtpoll allows you to poll your connections and check on the progress in one place!

Mashable shared two other Twitter apps that look interesting...might be worth checking out!

TwtApps Offers Beautiful Simplicity: Twtcard, Twtpoll, and Twtvite

Discovery's Science Channel is Looking for a Few Good Geeks

Ooh...I'm thinking of a few people who I know would be *perfect* for this!

Three Things You Can Do Today to Be Better at Working with Members

1. Attend the free Component Relations Virtual Lunch at noon eastern on “Working with Toxic Chapter Execs” - Register here: http://tinyurl.com/5nmpv5
2. Phone 218-936-7979 (Access code *189780)
3. Read Frank Fortin’s post on the new requirements for communications in associations URL: http://frankfortin.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/what-we-need-to-know/
4. Read “Get One New Idea Going” on Acronym http://blogs.asaecenter.org/Acronym/

Bonus Points: Send me your best ways to promote and reward your volunteers and leaders (send to klital@osa.org).

On My Desk

You have a Picture Mail from kikicoffman@pm.sprint.com

Message: Options View Picture Print at Retail Reply to Sender Reply to All Forward Send and receive Pictures and Videos through Picture MailSM. For more information go to www.sprint.com/picturemail.

Please be aware your friends can forward your picture, video, and album share invitations to others or post the unique Web link to your share invitation on any number of sources (e.g. blogs), through which others could also gain access to your online photos. If you have private or sensitive photos you are sharing, please share them only with those you trust.

© 2008 Sprint. All rights reserved.

Posting to my blog from my phone seems too dangerous. Kind of like drunk dialing...

At any rate, this is a test. It is only a test.

My Five Favorite People to Follow on Twitter (& Why)

Playing “Blog-Tag” is a new favorite pastime for me and recently the ever expanding game of tag has evolved into people listing their favorite people to follow on Twitter. In keeping with that I've decided to list five of the most helpful Twitterers I know.

Here they are:

@ChrisBrogan
It almost goes without saying, but Chris Brogan probably has the most consistent, helpful information about social media out there. He like to share what he knows and he is privy to lots of great links that he shares with everyone. I think everyone should follow him on Twitter.
In addition, he is a really nice guy.

@NewspaperGrl
I don’t even know her, but I like her style. She sometimes posts links to reports and information about new media that I find useful.

@CynthiaDAmour
This woman is a great presenter and she is full of ideas. Cynthia is a valuable resource if you are engaged in some kind of volunteer management. Quite experienced, she can connect you with webinars and all kinds of information that will help you out with improving your communication with groups.

@briansolis
Another fantastic resource for good links to information about social media out there…

@maddiegrant
Maddie is dynamic and fun…she will post updates that are linked to her blog and her focus is on social media and associations. What I like about Maddie’s posts is that she will remind people in real time that something, like an online chat, is going to start in 5-10 minutes. Very helpful to have reminders about free informative chats!

There are many, many others who I follow and who I choose to receive their updates on my phone, but the names I listed are my favorites who also happen to be quite helpful to me.

Do you have suggestions for me? Please feel free to post them here!

Five things about me

Maybe you have already met Cynthia D’Amour, or know of her through her blog or books...she’s the person who tagged me for a fun round of the “five things you don’t know about me” game.

I feel so special! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …here we go.

1. I have been on Good Morning America and 60 Minutes

• Was on GMA last week for a story on families and the holidays
• Was on 60 Minutes about 10 years ago as a Slam Poet performing in Chicago
• Also was on a brief VH1 show called “Motor Mouth” when I secretly set my friend up to sing in a car

2. My first name is not a nickname and the 2nd “K” is really supposed to be capitalized

• It is no joke – that’s how it is on my birth certificate
• My middle name rhymes with my sister’s middle name
• The number of times someone has asked about Elton John and Kiki Dee’s “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” song is ridiculous.
  

3. I am from a small town and used to dance for cattle because I had zero neighbor kids to play with.

• My favorite albums were Xanadu and a Jackson 5 compilation.
• I used to think Michael Jackson’s tour bus would break down and he would be forced to walk through the woods behind my house so he’d accidentally come across me dancing and would be amazed by my talent.
• I didn’t always stop dancing when cars drove by the house next to the fields.
  

4. Books were the only items my dad would allow me without limitation when I was a kid.

• I had the largest collection of books of anyone I knew.
• I have a large range of tastes.
• I rarely went outside (except to dance for some cows).

5. My high school art teacher taught me how to play basic chords on guitar.

• He also gave me a guitar he had restored.
• I also play piano - took lessons for years...
• I wish I played both better than I do.
  

Now…ha ha! ...I get to challenge five more people to share.

Here are my five:
Kylee Coffman – My sister in crime and a Mortified champ.
Sarah Grace McCandless – Author, blogger, and Cupcake Master.
Clay Dunn – Expert on all things food and literature-related. Clay and Zach are bloggers for The Bitten Word.
Zach Patton – Top Chef and guru on DC happenings. http://www.thebittenword.com
Jolene Siana – Author and NYC tour guide extraordinaire!

Don’t let me down!

Dear Diary - I hate Sharepoint!

Dear Diary,

Things were going so well. The all-staff was full of colleagues ready for the meeting to start so they could get to the promised lunch waiting for them just outside the conference room doors.

The PowerPoint presentations were loaded up and the review of events at the annual meeting began. I got up and did my super-charged presentation about chapters and sections making sure to include information about how I'd effective used Twitter and Collective X to organize the attendees before, during, and after the meeting. I think I did okay!

People smiled as I sat down and almost every presentation afterward mentioned the student chapters I work with....which made me smile.

Then, just before the meeting ended, William Jack Henry* stood up and began his presentation with a nod to me referring to how much time I took presenting and then verbally poked at my successful communication platform (Collective X) saying that he preferred to use Sharepoint as it was geared for people over twelve-years-old. Ouch! (Of course, he *does* have a different sort of dry sense of humor, so I suppose I need to be a little bit more thick-skinned.) Still, I hate Sharepoint, so I am the slightest bit bitter.


Trying to let it go...but I might just have to eat some chocolate to get over it.

Top 3 Reasons I Hate Sharepoint:

1. Too many clicks to do anything
2. Takes the "fun" out of "functional"
3. Does not encourage interaction

Ugh.