Betterverse: Nonprofits in the Virtual World

So Long to the NPC, and Thanks for the Good Wishes!

Me with the TechSoup team at the Nonprofit Commons, plus Rhiannon and Zinnia, who will be community managing after I leave.

Last Friday, I facilitated my last Nonprofit Commons meeting as community manager.  It was a day for saying farewell to this chapter of my work, and thanking all of the people in the community who have made the position so enjoyable and worthwhile.  

Lots of nice things were said about me, so it's fortunate that avatars don't blush. Some of the sweetest comments:

Nany Kayo: thanks, Rik. You have been an inspiration.

In Kenzo: Honored by your work here, you have always made sure we are in capable hands and now is no exception :)

Rhiannon Chatnoir: Rik it is always a pleasure to see in action and work with you in virtual or real life

Glitteractica Cookie: CHEERS to you Rik! you ROCK

Jerry Buchko: Thanks again for all of your work on behalf of the community Rik! :D

Buffy Beale: Thanks for all you've done RIk, leading us each week and bringing in interesting speakers

All the best to Zinnia Zauber, interim community manager this summer, and Rhiannon Chatnoir, permanent community manager coming on board in the fall.  It makes it easier to leave knowing that there are awesome people taking the helm in my place.

Announcing My Departure as Community Manager of the Nonprofit Commons in SL

A little over a year ago, I gratefully accepted the position of Community Manager of the Nonprofit Commons, a community which I have long viewed as one of the best examples of how virtual worlds can benefit real lives and the real world we live in. As a longtime member, volunteer, organizer and friend of the NPC, being paid to support this unique space was an enormous privilege.

So it is with a heavy heart that I inform you all that this is my last week as Community Manager of the Nonprofit Commons.

As many of you know, I have a number of hats that I wear: virtual producer for Global Kids, founder and editor of this virtual worlds blog Betterverse.org, and digital learning educator at the California Academy of Sciences. My work responsibilities at my other positions are going to be ramping up very quickly in the next months, making my ability to effectively serve as NPC community manager impossible. So rather than short-change this community that I love, I am passing on the reins to others who can carry the mandate forward.

Avatar Charitable Trust in Second Life To Dissolve

Sad news from Lillie Radek: the Avatar Charitable Trust, which we wrote about late last year, has dissolved effective immediately. From Lillie via group notice:

It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the dissolution of the Avatar Charitable Trust (ACT).  With the May 7th resignation from ACT and departure from SL of my beloved partner, and our Executive Director, Chuk Edman, the remaining Trustees on May 20, 2012, voted unanimously to dissolve the Trust.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your incredible generosity, support of our vision, and your treasured friendships.

The ACT had some very laudable goals:

1. raise funds to be used to financially promote charitable endeavors for the arts, humanitarianism, education, and the general welfare of avatars in Second Life and people in real life, 
2. promote goodwill, personal fulfillment, and enjoyment among those in the Second Life community, 
3. promote non political, non sectarian, non discriminatory, and non violent causes for the good of us all, and 
4. improve the standard of our lives in the virtual world of Second Life.

At least they are going out with a nice gesture. The Trustees voted to make a "very large" final donation of all remaining funds to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in SL.  That's a classy exit.

Digital Storytelling Challenge Awards Party Tomorrow in Second Life and Facebook!

Are you coming to the awards ceremony for the winners of 3rd Annual TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge tomorrow?  Of course you are! RSVP now to join us on Wednesday, March 28 in San Francisco, in Second Life and on Facebook, when TechSoup will award and screen top photo and video entries. Folks will gather at the Aloft Nonprofit Commons Drive-in Theater starting at 7pm Pacific Time for the livestream of the event. Get there early to pick the finest ride to sit in!

If you don't know what the excitement is all about , check out the full playlist of 2012 TS DIGS videos on YouTube and gallery of photo sets on Flickr. Winners, chosen by a panel of expert judges and the community, will receive products from our donor partners Cisco, Adobe, Flickr Citrix, Sliderocket, Blazon,SurveyMonkey, and more.

• WHAT: Awards & Screening Party: TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge
• WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 7:00 p.m. Pacific time
• WHERE:  Livestreamed in Second Life at the Aloft Nonprofit Commons Drive-in Theater and on Facebook; In the real world at TechSoup Headquarters in San Francisco
• TAG: #TSDIGS

RSVP NOW!

Tell Your Nonprofit's Digital Story, Impress Your Friends, Win Prizes!

 

Does your nonprofit organization have an inspiring, funny, or heart-wrenching story to tell?  Are there digital tools that can help you tell your story better?  If you answered "yes" (and you should!), then TechSoup challenges your group to come up with a short digital story for the TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge.

TechSoup’s annual Digital Storytelling Challenge (also known as TSDigs), powered by Lights. Camera. Help., has launched for 2012. The Digital Storytelling Challenge combines professional instruction and friendly competition into a hands-on media-making project. Organizations participate in a series of short, interactive online trainings, apply that knowledge to create their digital story, then submit a one-minute video or five-picture slideshow to the TSDigs Challenge by February 29.

A panel of expert judges selects the very best entries to win terrific prizes consisting of tools and resources to take their digital storytelling to the next level. Organizations also keep and can use their digital story as a vital resource for promoting their work and connecting to constituents.

For nonprofits active in virtual worlds, 3D immersive worlds are such a compelling storytelling medium with rich images, video, and characters.  So get cracking on telling the digital story of your organization today!  Remember the deadline is February 29.

Then mark your calendars for March 28, 7 pm PT when TechSoup will be throwing an Awards Screening Party at TechSoup HQ in San Francisco and Live-Streaming in Nonprofit Commons in Second Life.

For all the juicy details, head to TSDigs.org.

Second Life Residents Discuss Implications of SOPA / PIPA on Virtual Worlds, Free Expression

Last Friday, January 20, at the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, we had a great conversation about the proposed SOPA / PIPA legislation that would impose stiff penalties on websites and internet services that posted links to alleged copyrighted content. About 45 avatars crowded into the NPC amphitheater to share their views on bills before the US Congress, and the potential impact on the internet, free expression, and virtual worlds.

Thanks to the 45 avatars who came to participate!

Here's a summary of the some of the key points and links for further information and commentary.

Come to My Talk on the 2011 Year-in-Review at the Nonprofit Commons This Friday December 30!

This Friday, December 30, I will be giving my 2011 "Year-in-Review" talk for the Nonprofit Commons community in Second Life.  I'll talk about some of the highlights of 2011, as well as some of the significant challenges, facing virtual worlds and the nonprofit community.  Afterwards, we'll discuss what are your own personal highlights from the year and wishes for 2012.

Then I'll pass out some virtual bubbly and we'll toast to the New Year! 

Please join me on Friday December 30, starting at 8:30am PT, at the Nonprofit Commons amphitheater. I'll save a glass for you.

Celebrate the Holidays at the Nonprofit Commons December 11-17

I am passing along this notice about the "Wishes Granted" Winter Festival happening at the Nonprofit Commons starting on Sunday December 11, featuring music , dancing, a snow globe building contest and snow ball rights. Looks like fun!....

Please join us at the Nonprofit Commons for "Wishes Granted: Stories of Positive Impact" Winter Festival from December 11 - 17.

In a snow covered setting, visitors will discover huge books that tell real life fairy tales. Those stories are about how nonprofit organizations have had an encouraging and constructive influence on the lives of others. Inside the “fairy tale” books will be insightful stories on notecards, landmarks, and gifts from the unique nonprofits. Discover there is an opportunity, as individuals and as a community, to impact the lives of people who join us in the virtual world and those we support in the physical world every day, many of whom do not even log in to Second Life. Grab a wand and make magic happen!

Check out all the fun events below:

Sunday, December 11, 2011     2:00-4:00 PM SLT

Opening Social Party with music provided by Avantgarde Frequency at the Nonprofit Commons Community Area on Aloft (teleport link)

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011    7:00-9:00 PM SLT

Wharf Ratz Tuesday Night Extraordinary Dance Extravaganza at Wharf Ratz on Aloft (teleport link)

 

Thursday, December 15, 2011   5:00-7:00 PM SLT

"Magic Wings and Wands" CommonGround at the Nonprofit Commons Community Area on Aloft with DJ DyVerse Steele (teleport link)

 

Saturday, December 17, 2011   10 AM-1 PM SLT

Snow Globe Building Contest, entries are limited so please be sure to arrive early at the Nonprofit Common Community Area on Aloft (teleport link)

 

Saturday, December 17, 2011    6:00-8:00pm SLT

Dance with Live Music at the Nonprofit Commons Community Area on Aloft (teleport link)

 

In this winter wonderland, among the books, you will find ice skating and gifts. Throughout the week we will be having random activities including snowball fights and dog sled races. Please watch for notices and IMs inworld, and join the Google Group to be kept aware of all events throughout the week. We hope to see many of you at the events and wish each of you.

Happy Holidays from the Wishes Granted Team! Zinnia, Parhelion, Buffy, and Brena

Online Community MeetUp with TechSoup Team Tomorrow, December 7 in SF and Second Life!

Tomorrow, December 7, is the next Online Community Meetup, a monthly gathering that happens both at the San Francisco offices of TechSoup Global and in Second Life. This month we are featuring, well, ourselves! That's right, the online community and social media team at TechSoup will be revealing some of their secrets to promote deeper and stronger community engagement through our various activities.  It's a rare opportunity to hear from our stellar social media staff, including:

• Susan Tenby, Online Community Director
• Evonne Heyning, Interactive Producer
• Rik Panganiban, Nonprofit Commons Online Community Manager
• Michael DeLong, Online Community Manager
• Kristy Graves, Social Media & Online Community Team
• and Ale Bezdikian, Online Community Coordinator

You don't want to miss this one!

That's tomorrow, December 7, starting at 7pm PT.  In San Francisco it will take place at TechSoup Global 525 Brannan Street while in Second Life it will be at the Plush Nonprofit Commons amphitheater at this teleport link.

See you then!

[Image by Susan Chavez.]

 

Learn about Minecraft in the Classroom at Nonprofit Commons tomorrow November 11

This Friday, November 11, the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life welcomes Lucas Gillispie to talk about his working bringing the sandbox game Minecraft into the classroom. Starting at 8:30am PST, come to the Plush Nonprofit Commons amphitheater (teleport link) for this interesting discussion on gaming and education, as well as announcements and news relevant to nonprofits and virtual worlds. 

About Minecraft in School:

Lucas Gillispie is an Instructional Technology Coordinator for Pender County Schools in North Carolina. An educator for over a decade, Lucas is involved in several game-based learning projects in his district including the use of World of Warcraft to teach language arts, mobile gaming using iPads and most recently, using the independently developed building game, Minecraft.

Learners in Pender County Schools are tapping into creativity using Minecraft, a multiplayer, Lego-like sandbox game that allows players to easily explore the limits of their imagination. Fifth grade students from Topsail Elementary have been using the game as a foundation for discussing the elements of a functional civilization. Along the way, students are benefiting from a hidden curriculum in which they're developing teamwork, leadership, and digital citizenship in an engaging and relevant game world.

Lucas's website is http://edurealms.com and you can be follow him at @PCSTech on Twitter.

 

Nonprofit Commons

Take a horse-drawn carriage tour of Nonprofit Commons, an area that contains more than 150 nonprofit and social benefit organizations in Second Life.

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