reConnect - September 2009

Watch out for the new season of Get Involved launching October 4th on TVO. Our new profiles on social innovators and activists will be rolling out, along with a series of promos for our new web application and series Power of the Hour featuring you the volunteers. Thank you to everyone who came out for the open shoot and keep your eyes peeled on TVO to see yourself featured, or check them out online . Also, thank you to everyone who tuned into our 30 minute special this month on TVO. We appreciate your continued support!

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New Features

Power of the Hour - http://www.powerofthehour.ca

In an effort to support NGOs, businesses, groups and individuals dedicated to volunteerism, Get Involved is proud to launch Power of the Hour in partnership with Volunteer Canada and the Corporate Council on Volunteering. Power of the Hour will give everyone the chance to stand up and BE COUNTED, and pledge the POWER OF their volunteer HOURS. From Frankland Public School to Ryan’s Well Foundation, to Home Depot, this is an opportunity for Canadians to beat their breasts and proudly declare their contributions in a fun and engaging way.

This Month

Act:
September's Featured Challenge - Power of the Hour

Get Involved is challenging everyone - from businesses big and small, individuals, schools, and community groups - to stand up and be counted and pledge the power of their volunteer hours. Launching this fall, the Power of the Hour application can help engage employees, assist not-for-profit organizations in tracking volunteer hours and activities, and connect dedicated individuals with others who share their passion to Get Involved! Sign up at www.powerofthehour.ca and let us know how you are making a difference!

Watch:

Starting October 4th, TVO will be premiering a series of 25 new Get Involved documentary profiles showcasing a new generation of activists, innovators and entrepreneurs, all of whom have found unique ways to improve the world around them while adding dimension to their own lives. Featured stories include:

Environmentalist, corporate whistle-blower and Founder of ForestEthics TZEPORAH BERMAN: Upon returning home to B.C. one summer during university, she was moved to act when she realized she had no idea where she was. She resolved to spend the rest of her life campaigning businesses to adapt responsible and sustainable practices to help protect Canada’s remaining forests. Since then she has been able to protect over 7,000,000 acres of forest in B.C. and Chile.

Feminist and activist grandmother, CAROL HOLMES of Oomama’s, a member group of The Stephen Lewis Foundation’s “Grandmothers to Grandmothers” campaign. The group raises awareness and money for the thousands of destitute grandmothers in Africa who are often the only means of support for their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren.


Eleven year-old BILAAL RIJAN; social activist, U.N. Ambassador, author and motivational speaker. Motivated at the age of four to help raise funds to assist victims of an earthquake, Bilaal has since devoted most of his after-school hours to raising awareness of and money for children in need throughout the world.


Connect:

It's been a whirlwind of activity this month and there are so many amazing opportunities to connect and get involved! Looking for an excuse to get outdoors? Volunteer abroad at the Love Kids Orphanage Building project or jump on your bike to support Ottawa's Ride for Refugees. Interested in getting involved with promoting eHealth? Princess Margaret Hospital invites you to help patients with their new Computerized Distress Screening. Also, don't miss Volunteer Toronto's Fun Day at the Toronto Zoo on Tuesday, September 29 from 7:30am to 12 noon! Don't forget to post your skills to find the perfect volunteer match.

reConnect - August 2009

This is the perfect opportunity to promote your volunteers and your organization! Over the next two weeks we’re shooting a campaign for TVO to promote the power of volunteering. We want to celebrate committed volunteers from across Ontario who are passionate about their contributions. Nominate yourself or pick one of your most active volunteers to feature. If you are interested in taking part send us a message at gh@getinvolved.ca or DM us on Twitter at Twitter.com/GetInvolvedca. See below for more info on how you can #GetInvolved

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New Features

#GetInvolved Hashtag!

Last month GetInvolved.ca took the dive and joined Twitter. We've loved the opportunity to promote your causes and talents. To celebrate our new Twitter presence we've started a #GetInvolved hashtag. According to hashtags.org, "Hashtags are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. They’re like tags on Flickr, only added inline to your post." Every time you use #GetInvolved in your tweets we will retweet you and you enter for a chance to be featured on our new TVO campaign! See some examples below:

GreenROM: How to #GetInvolved? I #GetInvolved by communicating the importance of environmental conservation! http://www.getinvolved.ca
josue: How do you #GetInvolved? I #GetInvolved by working on the online presence of Manifesto Community Projects http://themanifesto.ca
sufc: @GetInvolvedca Speak Up for Change is looking for youth writers to contribute to our blog! http://bit.ly/Ribja #GetInvolved

This Month

Act:

August's Featured Challenge - THE GREAT PINE PURGE

Studies around the world show that in many cases where invasive alien species have not been controlled, native plants and animals are entirely eliminated from a region and the economic costs of trying to control and re-establish native populations are extremely prohibitive. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has been working hard to identify and control these types of unwanted visitors on our properties. Help out and join the fight!

Watch:

Get Involved features stories of everyday citizens passionate about social change. Season One of Get Involved has been airing throughout the summer on TVO. If you didn't get a chance to catch them be sure to watch out for our Get Involved half hour promo airing September 15th at 7pm. This special episode features 18 of the seasons' profiles rolled into one. Be sure to tune in and tap into the inspiration to see how you can get involved and give back!

Connect:

Interested in volunteering at your local farmers market? Want to raise eco-awareness in your school? Want to put your media skills to work for social change? Whatever your passion is, we have a match for you! Browse our offers and needs according to pillars to find the perfect volunteer opportunity. This month Manifesto Community Projects is looking for skilled trade volunteers. Check out how you can get involved today!

reConnect - July 2009

Recently we have started using Twitter, a micro-blogging tool that has made the news most recently as a popular online tool for social change. Follow us at Twitter.com/GetInvolvedca to get more information on how you can give back to your community, and don't forget to join our Facebook Group ! We're continuing to develop our site so please stay tune for new features coming soon. We always appreciate your feedback!

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New Features

Keep up to date with your favourite users and organizations!

With so much activity on GetInvolved.ca it sometimes can be hard to keep track of anything. Fear not, the follow feature is to the rescue. Following your favourite organizations and users is a great way to stay in the loop about what they're up to. Once you click the follow button their updates will post directly to your MyGi page.

Free advertising for Canadian NGOs!

If you are a non-profit looking to advertise your services GetInvolved.ca has free ads for Canadian NGOs. We offer banner ad space, as well as PSA spots as venues for supporting your cause. We currently feature ads from a variety of non-profits including Journalists for Human Rights, Share-IT, and Apathy is Boring. For full details about sizing and format please email us and get your organization featured today!

This Month

Act:

July's Featured Challenge - IT'S TIME TO EAT LOCAL!

Simply Change and Inspire Community from Nelson, BC challenges you to take advantage of the summer months and eat local! Each meal you make using local produce will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 0.5Kgs. Check out the challenge to learn more about how the 100 mile diet can transform your health and our environment.

Watch:

Season One of Get Involved is now available on YouTube for optimal full screen viewing, comments, sharing and embedding. Share your favourite Get Involved videos through your social networks and spread the inspiration! Embedding our content on your blogs is now easier than ever and we hope that you will take the time to post our content and reflect on the work of our featured agents for social change.

Connect:

Feeling like throwing yourself into a new project this summer? Check out Youth Assisting Youth, a non-profit charitable organization that provides a peer mentoring service to improve life prospects for at risk and newcomer children. YAY matches children aged 6-15 with trained and dedicated Youth Volunteers aged 16-29 who act as positive role models. Check out their profile on GetInvolved.ca, and be sure to browse our other organizations to see how you can Get Involved today!