Haiti saw a disaster. The United States responded. Not like they did in Katrina. Not with water bottles and trucks of goods. But with a million dollars, 10 at a time — donated from their cell phones.

So what do we know?

• Nonprofits have seen a major decline in giving in the United States
• Americans, more and more, and not satisfied unless they can get what they want instantly (instant gratification)
• New giving generations (18-24) won’t give or volunteer unless they can do so at their own will, whenever they please with no commitments of a time and place. (In a study by MTV)
• New giving generations (18-24) won’t get involved in a cause unless they either have a personal experience with something, or there is an existing community where they can engage with others (like Facebook!) (Again, a study by MTV)

How does this not change everything?

A few years ago the shift began to happen. Nonprofits started to realize that if they wanted to stay in the game they had to shift their nonprofit to an “organization” and position it as a “Cause.” Why? People don’t care about faceless organizations. They care about purposes and goals and real life.

They care about the girl who was so hopeless in her life that she cut. She cut her arms to make them bleed. So the cause “To Write Love on Her Arms” was born out of a story about a girl. Now the cause has helped over 80,000 individuals get through a period of depression, bringing a message of hope to the world.

From “Social Responsibility” to Making Real Change

Not everybody likes to feel like they have to be “socially responsible.” Social responsibility has become a word that most people use to refer to voting, or recycling.

Now with cell phones and social media, we have a way to give like never before. We can make change happen instantly, with the click of a button.We can make a difference and actually see the results.

Mobile Money

The Red Cross raised funds through cell phones and cell phone companies. But what if we had funds just like cash that could be transferred right from our cell phones? That day is coming, soon.

A New Definition for “Social Responsibility”

How much of that million dollars that the Red Cross raised, actually went to Haiti? How much of it went to the cell phone companies who collected the funds, and the SMS company? How much of it went to the Red Cross for “operating expenses?” How many people who donated to the Red Cross, knew about their history of bad press surrounding donations? That at least half of the donations they receive go to commissions and operating expenses?

I don’t care if you recycle, and frankly politics make me sick. But what movements have you been involved in lately? Who have you given $10 to, and did you check their background first? There are plenty of other organizations out there accepting donations to Haiti.

Being social responsible is about recognizing what is available to us and making wise choices. Don’t give just because you can, getting instant gratification.

Like they say at To Write Love on Her Arms: Be the movement.

RIP DJ Lewis

Nobody wants to be faced with this dilemma. But it is inevitable, for some sooner than others.

The dilemma came for me early last week when a friend informed me that my colleague and friend, DJ Lewis, had passed away. DJ was a vibrant, young man full of life and living. This came as a shock to me and many others.

DJ and my co-worker Rob Charles, had worked tirelessly for days on one of our DVD projects: Social Media Made Simple. D.J.’s diligence and dedication to the project got it to production just in the nick of time.

It was that same day that I was faced with my dilemma. I know this seems petty, but I thought about going to his Facebook page to remember him and mourn our loss. But I didn’t know whether to write on his Facebook wall, or leave it empty like a ghost town. The thought hurt.

It reminded me of when my husband’s good friend Jeremy past away a few months ago, and later we found some ridiculous statements made from “Jeremy” on his own Facebook account. It was insulting.

You know, Facebook – and all statements made on the internet – don’t just go away. They are fairly permanent. So to write on someone’s Facebook wall after they die… although somewhat symbolic it is also kind of a big deal. You can’t just “Facebook around” when it comes to death. It is serious.

And it has always been serious. When I was in college working for the newspaper I wrote a piece about a professor who had died, and someone created a false email account with his name on it and started sending hate mail. Facebook wasn’t around, then. But it was just as insulting. And just as serious.

But today Rob sent me an email with a link to DJ’s Facebook page. I was relieved to know that some of his friends had logged into his Facebook account, and created a memorial out of it. It now is a living page with notes to DJ, about DJ, pictures, memories and emotions.

His status said: We have lost a wonderful friend in DJ- in his memory, we are opening this page as a memorial, a common ground to share memories and thoughts about this great man.

I got to say my goodbyes, too:

Using WordPress as a website platform, what steps should you take to get your blog articles found?

All of the retail world uses the holidays to heavily push their products and specials. So… why can’t small businesses?

Using social media, here are some things you can do to get some attention:

1. Write a blog article or Facebook note titled, “5 Great Gift Ideas”
2. Elf Yourself and send it out via e-newsletter or Facebook
3. Create a Holiday card through one of Facebook’s holiday apps
4. Create a holiday special or promotion
5. Create a YouTube video and use it as a Christmas e-card

What are YOUR ideas?

Twitter gets even better! In order to energize people to continue using Twitter.com they have given us even more ways to organize our relationships. Here are 4 updates for making lists, refreshing tweets and retweeting.

Starting tomorrow morning I will be leading a new social media networking group with the Bedford Chamber called “Coffee & Conversation.”

The group will be held every other Thursday at Cup-A-Joe on South Street in Bedford.

Tomorrow’s topic will be “Improving Your Online Presence.” We will be discussing:

• The biggest questions and controversies about social media
• 5 things you can do to improve your online presence
• How chamber members can help each other’s businesses using social media

I am also beginning to host small group coaching sessions, learn more by going to the Coaching page here.

My friends and family got to dress up on Saturday to celebrate and dedicate my union with David Bailey and our son, Kaleb.

While I got to be the damsel in distress my husband was a straight-up gangster from the days of Al Capone.

Our Speakeasy-style 1920s wedding celebration will be remembered by many for years to come. Thanks to all who were a part!

So now we know that LinkedIn is a cold, cold place. So what? Is there something we can do about it? I think so.