Department of Defense issues social media policy

It was bound to happen sooner or later. The Department of Defense has issued a memorandum outlining policies for the use of social media. The Coast Guard is still evaluating this memo and how social media may be integrated into our daily operations. Regardless of the evolving situation with DoD, the Coast Guard remains proactive in the social media realm. Just look at the new social media tab on the Coast Guard home page.

We won't waste time speculating on what Coast Guard members may be able to do with social media. We'll let headquarters look at the balance between our security, operational, and outreach needs to come to a decision we all can live with.

Photo credit: Matt Hamm

Are you Buzzing?

There is certainly no shortage of opinions on the new Google Buzz. A Twitter search brings up a multitude of opinions and suggestions on its use. Everyone from the Wall Street Journal's Mossberg Solution to Chris Brogan have opined about this new feature.

One of the drawbacks of new media is keeping up with all the changes.

Are you successfully using Google Buzz? How do you incorporate it into your daily routine?


Photo credit : Fotolia

Code Of Conduct (Content?)

It's hard to believe but planning has begun for podcampUSCG 2010! Yup, we will be coming back to the United States Coast Guard Innovation Expo 2010 in Tampa, Florida!

In the meantime the wiki set up after our 2009 event is still kicking. Have you checked out the discussion on a blogger code of conduct? I like to take the code one step further and suggest it be a code of conduct/content.

Jason Falls has a great post up today about social media policy. I wanted to share it because I believe it adds value to the discussion.

What do you think about social media policy?

Photo credit: USCG photo by Beverly Howard

How Do You Fit In Social Media

All the buzz created by social, or new, media certainly doesn't seem to be dying down. And as Google announced it is featuring realtime search from other social media sites the likelihood of the social media fad passing us by seems more and more distant.

So how do you balance getting your job done and managing all these social media sites? Check out Chris Brogan's recent post on prioritizing social media efforts for some good common sense ideas on how to fit it all in.

How do you manage your social media time?

Photo credit: graymalkn

One more Rock Star to THANK!

We mustn't forget to thank Ben Strong for his leadership and inspiration. Whether it was from Russia, China, Denmark, or his car - he never let the team down and played a big part in making sure the event was a success. For those who do not know him - he is a gem - an idea machine! As quickly as the ideas come - it is swiftly followed by action! Thank you Ben!!!

Thank You Rockstars!

PodcampUSCG would never have gotten off the ground without the help of Katie Hood, Peter Stinson, Paul Roszkowski, and Ryan Erickson.

Daren Lewis, an Auxiliary member from Portland, provided the recording and technical blog support as well as presenting. Barbara Patton created the rockin' podcampUSCG logo.

Peter Mello from Sea Fever Consulting and Curtis "Blogger Bob" Burns from the TSA provided excellent presentations while Dan Taylor set up the podcamUSCG wiki.

Hugh Griffiths, from the United States Coast Guard Innovation Council, provided guidance and encouraged us.

The most important people to recognize, however, are the participants of the first military podcamp, the first podcampUSCG. You are plank owners in something very special. You are rockstars! Without your participation this event would not have been possible.

Thank you for helping make this unconventional way of sharing information a success. We have proven uniform and civilian, contractor and government employee, auxiliary and active duty, security and social can coexist, collaborate, and use these new tools to share the Coast Guard story.

Thank you, Benjamin Strong- co-founder of podcampUSCG


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thank You Verizon

Image via Wikipedia

One of the important features of any podcamp is the ability of the participants to tweet, blog, and access the internet to share the story of podcamp. Fortunately Verizon Wireless lent us several new mifi devices. These handy little boxes, no bigger than the size of several credit cards stacked on top of each other, provide mobile broadband service for up to 5 wireless devices.

PodcampUSCG used 6 of these gadgets to ensure each participant had mobile broadband service. They were easy to use, provided almost interrupted service (during the 8 hour podcast only two people were "bumped" off), and did not interfere with each other. Were they any drawbacks to the devices? Battery life. The devices lasted about 2 1/2 hours before they needed to be charged.

Ms. Nieama Booker, Federal Government Accounts Manager, lent us the devices which helped podcampUSCG be successful. Thanks Nieama and thank you Verizon.