|
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 3, 2009) - From
fundraising to volunteering, troop-support groups are taking full
advantage of social networking Web sites to reach out and gather
support for troops at home and abroad.
"We created three MySpace pages a few years back and a Facebook
page this year," Andi Grant, president and founder of Give2TheTroops, said. "We update our pages
daily, running current events, group news and photos. These Web
sites have helped us quite a bit in gathering support and
organizing."
Operation Gratitude, a California based troop-support group, has
long believed social Web sites are a "great" tool for keeping in
touch with supporters and sharing troop information. On its
official Web site, Operation Gratitude urges all visitors to join
the group's Facebook "cause" page and invite more of their Facebook
friends to join as well.
"Our Facebook page was set up a month ago," Carolyn Blashek,
president of Operation Gratitude, said. "The 'cause' page was set
up about two years ago. We have seen an increase in volunteers and
supporters through our Facebook networking. We started using
Twitter about a month ago. The two have provided a mechanism for us
to publish updates easily and recruit volunteers. I can honestly
say keeping up with the two has enhanced our efforts, but also
caused more work!"
Leaders of both groups agree social networking sites have
allowed them to "get the word out" more quickly about different
activities and events because of the high volume of traffic on
these Web sites. It also allows for online conversations with
prospective volunteers and supporters through chat rooms and
forums, and direct supporters back to their official Web sites to
collect funds for troop-support activities.
"By utilizing these Web sites, we have been able to introduce
more people to who we are - our goals, our mission and why we do
what we do," Blashek said. "We've also received a lot of positive
feedback and ideas from supporters who didn't know we existed."
Grant, whose troop-support group is based in Connecticut,
acknowledged some possible drawbacks to social networking.
"You need to have the time to maintain the Web site, answer
questions and monitor responses and comments," Grant said. "There
is plenty of competition out there, so if you don't have designated
people updating and monitoring your page, it can have adverse
effects."
Grant said she had to delete inappropriate remarks and, on
occasion, links to other causes which other supporters wanted her
group to endorse. "Bottom line - you have to patrol it often," she
said.
While both leaders recommend social networking Web sites to
other troop-support groups, they still value the success of their
official Web sites.
"It's still too early to tell in comparing our Facebook page
with our Web site," Blaschek said. "Our Web site is still a vital
part of who we are. I would definitely recommend these other social
networking sites to other groups. The more people know what you do,
as it relates to supporting the troops, the better. I look at this
as just another way of communicating with supporters."
|
