Michael Stein: Internet Strategy for the Nonprofit Sector

Surfrider Foundation maps its online and offline activists

I was interested to read this blog post by Beth Kanter from April 2009 which describes her meeting with Chad Nelson, the Environmental Director at the Surfrider Foundation.  Chad describes the Foundation's efforts to map online and offline activists, and how they strive to move people through the ladder of engagement.  You can watch the video as Chad speaks and also read Beth's reflections on social networks.  This piece made me reflect on how organizations measure the number of engaged supporters.  When I work with organizations and clients, I'm constantly interested in gathering metrics from various sources, and then finding ways to understand how valuable these metrics might be to discern communications and fundraising trends.  I've become very dependent on Google Analytics and email metrics, but this presentation on Surfrider Foundation reminds me that many important metrics come from other real-world sources, and we need to think of ways of reflect those within the context of measuring things online.

Read more about how Surfrider Foundation maps its activists

I renewed my annual membership with the Pedro Point Surf Club

I just renewed my annual membership with the Pedro Point Surf Club in Pacifica, California.  Now in its 22nd year, the club continues to be a positive force in the local community.  Over the past two years the club has contributed more than $6,000 to beach and community non-profits.  The majority of their donations went to Ride-a-Wave Foundation, Pacifica Beach Coalition, Pacifica State Beach Water Testing Program, Pacifica Resource Center, and Surfrider Foundation of San Mateo County.  In 2006-07 the club also provided numerous scholarships for Greg and Amy Gubser's Surf Camp Pacifica, which teaches children about water safety and how to surf.

In addition, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the club provided significant input to the City of Pacifica concerning the Pacifica State Beach Plan.  They influenced everything from the bathroom restoration to the overall design and its impact on the beach.  Without the Pedro Point Surf Club's involvement, Pacifica State Beach would look quite different.  And the city listened to the club as a recognition of the stature and membership of the surf club.

This coming year is packed with lots of fun events: friendly intraclub contests, family picnics, surfaris, and surf festivals up and down the coast. Check out the events calendar and club news online at www.surfpedropoint.org

San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, Feb 20-22

The 6th San Francisco Ocean Film Festival will be later this week, beginning with an Opening party Thursday (2/19) evening at the Aquarium of the Bay, and then films on Friday-Sunday (2/20-22) at Fort Mason's Cowell Theater.  Films are $10/program - a Festival pass, good for all 9 programs, is $60.  A VIP Pass is $110 and includes the Opening Party.  If you haven't ever attended, give the Festival a look, since it is more than just films and includes filmmakers, Q & A, a silent auction & benefit drawing, and non-profit exhibitors. Festival films cover the landscape of ocean related subjects including science, culture, and sports.

Tickets, film schedules, and film descriptions are available at http://oceanfilmfest.org.