Bigger Than Ever - Twestival Local 2009 comes to Southwest Florida Global Twitter-Based Charity Event Returns with Local Twist

1. NEWS
16 august 09
Less than one month to go before the first Twestival Local kicks off!
One of the requirements for selecting your 1) If we gave you $5000 (replace with your
A few Lessons learned for cause is to reach out to your community for fundraising goal) what would you do
selecting your local cause input on the decision. This does not mean you specifically with the money? Is there a
have to do a ‘vote’. In fact, we advise that project or purchase that can be promoted
Let’s be clear. What we are creating with you utilize your free UserVoice account or to communicate the fundraising goal
Twestival Local has never been done before. other online polls to get ‘nominations’ only. clearly?
This means there is no perfect process for These online services are a fantastic way to
shortlist causes your community supports, but 2) What are other ways we can impact your
selecting a cause for your Twestival Local,
they can be easily manipulated and you may organization? Does the cause need social
especially as time is of the essence. However,
not end up with an accurate total. You media training or a website for example.
with over 50 cities’ causes now officially
approved by Causecast, we have identified a definitely want to get your community behind It has been impressive to watch as all of you
few best practices to consider. the cause and a request for submissions will take steps to ensure your Twestival Local is
create awareness for these causes. You may selecting a great cause in your community. It
The basic guidelines are listed on the website, also come across a great not-for-profit that is a difficult time for not-for-profits, so please
but it remains somewhat flexible as we you otherwise might have overlooked. be considerate and communicate your
recognize that each city is different. The
Once you have a shortlist of causes, it is process clearly. Consider offering volunteer
cause must be a registered not-for-profit and
suggested to sit down with your core support to the runners-up as consolation.
operate efficiently. We also do not permit
organizing team and make a decision on the Once you have selected your cause please
causes itself to lead Twestival events. They can
participate as volunteers, but decisions should final recipient after asking yourself and ensure you submit it for official approval on
causes the following questions: the website via ‘submit cause selection’ link.
be independent and as an external team.
Twestival Washington Twestival Bogota Twestival Hong Kong
Cause: Miriam’s Kitchen Cause: Fundación Nuestros Chiquis Cause: The Foreign Correspondents’
Fundraising Goal: $10,000 Fundraising Goal: $2,500 Club Charity Fund
The fundraising efforts will lead Aim to make needed repairs to a Fundraising Goal: $3,000
directly to the launch of an evening house for abandoned children whose This cause was selected to bridge the
food program. $20 = 12 meals for parents are drug addicts. Girls house: gap between English and Mandarin
the homeless. improve the condition of the kitchen and reflect their bilingual event. The
The team also plans to work with the and patio. Boys house: change the money will be used to finance the
cause on their social media strategy floor of the second level of the house Language Training Program, which
and introduce them to community from wood to tiles. They are also provides opportunities for Hong
leaders by inviting them to the event. involving the children in the event. Kong's underprivileged children.

2. Organizer
Checklist
A few important things
to get done first.
1. Put your city on the map
Twestival recently integrated a more
dynamic map, so you may have
noticed that your city no longer has a
pink dot. We have not added all of
the cities manually because we need it
to be accurate. You can look under
the‘organizer tools’ section on the
website for instructions, or email
support@twestival.com for help.
2. Write your first blog post
It is crucial that you update your
Twestival.com blog with a post as this
is how sponsors, volunteers and
Put the spotlight on your city Fundraising & Sponsorship potential donors or attendees will find
A few cities, including Stockholm and Seattle One big question is how best to process your event.
have already started to tell their stories with donations and sponsorships. The answer
video posts. In addition to vetting, we are varies from country to country, so it is 3. Set up a Twitter account
also working with Causecast to take your important to have a conversation with your Each city must establish a Twitter
video footage and create an official mashup selected not-for-profit about this . As the cause account for their city and follow
for Twestival Local which will be played on is the recipient of the event fundraising and @twestivalteam for updates.
various media not the organizer, there are restrictions on
sites. This video what they are able to issue. Twestival is not a 4. Reach out for volunteers
is going to be registered business or not-for-profit; it is a
Please open your arms to additional
pretty powerful, global initiative run by volunteers and
volunteers that come through the
so we hope we therefore not in a position to issue tax
can find a way receipts. Please contact your Regional website or Twitter. There is a role for
to get video Coordinator if you have additional questions. everyone.
clips from Sponsorship can go to pay for things directly
everyone. Full rather than changing hands. It is important to 5. Select your cause recipient
instructions can keep a transparent record of all transactions. This is the most important element of
be found on the website in the ‘organizer your event, so give it some careful
tools’ section. Take a few minutes to capture thought. Please ask for guidance.
some footage of what your city is doing in the
next two weeks and submit them or tag them Regional Coordinators
Twestival Local for us to find. If you have any
creative ideas for the video, please let us @TwestivalAfrica
know! We will also be announcing a @TwestivalAsia
competition later in the week for the city with @TwestivalCanada
the best produced video from their event. @TwestivalIndia
@TwestivalLatin
We are here to help @TwestivalME
@TwestivalUK
There are teams of experts in the areas of @TwestivalUS
fundraising, PR, event management and
Twestival has partnered again with
regional coordinators in place to help you
with any questions or issues you may have. It Support Teams Live Earth for Twestival Local. The
team at Live Earth will be collecting
is important to us that you get the most of
your experience with Twestival Local. @TwestivalTeam Global your videos and images that you
Wherever possible, we will be leveraging Fundraising post online and tag #twestival or
global and regional partnerships to assist Event management #twestivallocal. They will also be
your event with sponsorship opportunities. Public Relations working closely with the cities who
selected environment-related causes.
Please read through and keep updated with
Twestival.com/organizer-tools/
the information on the Twestival website;
FAQ, Fundraising and Organizer Tools.

3. Personalize your city logo.
Download the media pack
and inspire a local designer
to get creative.
twestival.com/media
Collaborate Better Publishing a Book Twestival Definition
We are excited to announce that Twitter
with GoToMeeting We are thrilled to announce a
partnership with Blurb.com to produce Inc. has approved for Twestival to
the first Official Twestival book! What receive its own ‘definition’ on the official
We are very lucky to be partnering with
this means is that your city and local Twitter website. Definitions are located
Citrix Online and particularly their
cause will be profiled in print and below the number of followers on
fantastic GoToMeeting online tools for
images on a page in the book. Each individual pages. It’s a great opportunity
Twestival Local. Citrix Online has made
organzing team will be sent one free to reach out to the Twitter community
a generous contribution to charity: water
copy of the 240 page, 7x7” book and it and let them know about your events!
and Twestival Local to ensure the vision
is up to them to give this to their cause, a
continues through to 2010 for our They will also be working closely with
sponsor, or keep within the team. Books
Twestival Global. the cities who selected environmental
will be on sale from the end of
causes.
The best news of all is that Citrix Online September and Blurb is kindly donating
is providing one free licence of its $1 from every book. 100% of the profits
GoToMeeting to each Twestival Local will be going to charity: water (our 2009
lead organizer (value $600) !!! You will global cause recipient).
be able to work collaboratively from any
remote location. We will be rolling this We are currently putting together a
global editorial team to work with your
Event Live Blogging
out on Monday to the first batch of cities,
team to share those fantastic stories of 10-13 September are going to be an
so expect to hear from us very soon.
how you worked with your cause. exciting few days of live events.
Please tweet @GoToMeeting to thank
them for their support to organizers. We are partnering with ScribbleLive.com
to offer you something special for your
Twestival Local. Organizers will be able
to project a live blogging and tweeting
platform onto event walls, and it will be
available for online viewing.
Design Competition
Event Tickets It wouldn’t be Twestival without a
Amiando.com is the official event friendly competition, and we have
registration and ticket sales Partner for partnered again with GeniusRocket to
Twestival Local. Amiando is waiving all
Change your Avatar
launch a Book Cover Design Competition
fees to ensure that 100% of ticket sales starting Thursday. The winning design
go direct to your cause. You can link to
will be chosen by public vote and We have partnered with Twibbon.com to
your city page on Twestival.com with the
announced before Sep 10th. If you feature Official Twestival Local avatars.
‘tickets’ button in the header. It is a great
know anyone interested, tell them to Show your support by downloading a
way to reach out to your community and
standard or city version.
capture information like @names. follow @twestival for further details.