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Will You Join Us on December 17th?

Posted by TonyB • 10/31/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: acts of kindness, bloggers unite

Get ready to make history once again! Yes, we made history the previous 3 Bloggers Unite initiatives. This time we are moving into the real world, off our blogs in Bloggers Unite in Acts of Kindness.

Are you in?

Here's the Press Release:

BlogCatalog.com Challenges Bloggers To Do Good Online and Off

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — BlogCatalog.com (BlogCatalog), the fastest-growing social network for bloggers on the Internet, will launch its fourth social awareness campaign on Dec. 17. This time, the “Bloggers Unite” campaign challenges its more than 80,000 members and other bloggers to do something good offline — an act of kindness — and then post about it, using words, pictures, and/or videos to tell the story.

Bloggers Unite was the first online social awareness campaign organized by a social network that challenged bloggers to post about a single social awareness issue on a single day in May. Since the first campaign, Bloggers Unite has grown from hundreds of bloggers participating to more than 10,000, and similar campaigns have been started by others.

“We’re very flattered to see several similar initiatives being launched on the Internet because I believe that social media can have a dramatic positive impact on the world,” says Antony Berkman, president of BlogCatalog. “Now, many of our members are telling us that they want to do more than post about it. They want to experience the gift of giving and make it a personal part of their experience.”

In its first campaign, Bloggers Unite was responsible for benefiting more than 1,000 students across the United States by raising money for the Omidyar-supported DonorsChoose.org; the second campaign significantly increased organ donation awareness on blogs and in the media; and the third campaign prompted more than 10,000 bloggers to call for an end to abuse.

“What started as a social media experiment has transformed itself into a movement of sorts,” Berkman said. “All too often, bloggers are characterized as people who somehow live on another planet or universe. We’ve been trying to demonstrate that bloggers are real people who don’t live in bubbles, don’t hate everything, and aren’t isolated in any way.”

Berkman says he hopes that the “acts of kindness” theme puts a human face on the bloggers responsible for doing so much good in the world. This campaign aims at exposing their kindness and generosity as well as serving as an example to non-bloggers that volunteering for a charity, donating to a cause, or even simply doing something kind for another person has a ripple effect around the world.

As with the last social awareness challenge, Bloggers Unite is not specifying a singular non-profit organization. Instead, BlogCatalog is soliciting and coordinating companies that would like to pledge a donation to the blogger and/or to the charity of the blogger’s choice. Prizes will be awarded to bloggers based on their posts, pictures, or videos.

“Copywrite, Ink. inspired us to recognize bloggers by hosting a contest during the last challenge and it allowed the posts to do even more good by generating funds for charity and highlighting participating bloggers,” say Berkman. “It adds additional outcomes to the campaign beyond the individual acts of kindness while encouraging businesses to give back to the online community.”

Berkman says BlogCatalog will be adding a registration page for bloggers who want to participate and raise money for the charity of their choice as well as generate additional recognition.

BlogCatalog.com (BlogCatalog) is the fastest-growing social network for bloggers on the Internet. Since BlogCatalog was acquired in early 2007, it has evolved from a simple blog listing service into a vibrant online community with tools, features, widgets, and discussions that help bloggers.

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User Comments

10/31/07

sweat1951

Count me in.

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10/31/07

AngieA

Me 2

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10/31/07

kab625

Fantastic! I'm in.

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10/31/07

markstoneman

I'm not feeling it, but I'll keep it on my radar screen.

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1. 10/31/07
  
  TonyB
  
  stoneman...it's ok We can always use a skeptic around here to keep us thinking about ways to improve.
10/31/07

Rich

Always in.

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10/31/07

crpitt

Me too

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10/31/07

psalmsofhope

Let's do this thing!

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11/01/07

TonyB

psalmsofhope Thanks!!

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11/01/07

tenanimalsdrool

let's do it^^

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11/01/07

crkian

Im in, ive got my own one going on but I wont mention it here

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11/01/07

iriegal

This is right up my alley. I volunteer for many things. I believe in doing good for others. It is really rewarding.

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11/01/07

Ellen

uhmmm.. I'll have to think about this one.. I love the initiative, the difference bloggers can make when they unite.
The positive vibe that will come when so many people perform an act of kindness, and through their actions set an example for many more to do the same.

And yes, I also believe in doing good for others, each and every day. But, blowing my own horn about it, is not something that feels right. Nor is it something that fits with my blog. It's not about me, nor do I want it to be..

So, I'll have to think about this one some more, to see how to come up with the best way to join, inspire others, but within the theme, in a way that feels right for me..

Why am I posting this comment? Not to put a negative note on it, really not. This really is a personal thing, not feeling comfortable with it. But, given the earlier comments in the discussions, I suspect more people might feel this way..

So, in fact I'm trying to open up the discussion to see if there's room to expand the theme a bit, or if you want to stick to the definitions above.

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1. 11/01/07
  
  gmoney
  
  This is rather simple in my book...... Bottom line... Anything that is kind, nothing is to small or to big. It is all good.
  
  Spend the day opening the door for people
  Donate food to a elderly home
  Volunteer at a local shelter
  Feed the parking meters
  Pay for a strangers lunch
  Go to good will buy some jackets for homeless people
  Do a fundraiser for anything
  
  This is more about time and effort than it is ...... about anything else. I know you will come up with something. Remember it is Acts of Kindness.
  
  Do it, then blog about it... I was running the number on the bloggers unite to Stop Abuse... there were over 10,000 post and if each post has 250 views, we affected over 2 million people. Now lets take this same fire power and get out from behind the computers and DO SOMETHING... WOW... then blog about it. Tell all your friends and family this can be HUGE
11/01/07

rinkydinky

yah! I will unite of course!
but.... I think i will do something nice offline, and then blog about it online... its easier that way.

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11/01/07

footiam

comment removed by the community.

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1. 11/01/07
  
  gmoney
  
  Find a computer in India... this is world wide... no boundaries... I will give you a number that you can call and tell what you did and I will post in one of my blogs as a podcaast........ There are no limits we can overcome.... let me know how I can help!
11/01/07

Amethyst

I'm in! There's always lots of good things to be done here, after the devestation...

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11/01/07

acousticguitarist

could someone create a simple bullet point list of what people need to do...this way the people that want to be involved will multiply by 100 or so

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1. 11/01/07
  
  gmoney
  
  When you say what people "need" to do what do you mean?
2. 11/01/07
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  E.G.
  
  IN BIG LETTERS...If you feel you'd like to be part of the Bloggers Unite campaign
  
  * all you need to do is: Acts of kindness
  
  * where: on or offline
  
  * What: your choice ...whatever makes the world a better place
  
  * When: Dec 17th
  
  * Why: Because we are
  
  OK, that's corny I know but it's clear ...that's the sort of thing...
  
  like an ad
11/01/07

MarkDykeman

great idea, looking forward to it

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11/01/07

ozzieblackcat

I'd like to take part in this too. Sounds like a great idea!

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11/02/07

TonyB

news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20071102/bs_prweb/prweb566001 on Yahoo!

AcousticGuitarist... we are putting together a section of BlogCatalog specifically focused on Bloggers Unite. Your outline is perfect for that page. Thanks....

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1. 11/02/07
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  thanks
2. 11/02/07
  
  firewalker06
  
  What should I do in the December 17th? Post something? Or doing something good and then post it?
3. 11/02/07
  
  TonyB
  
  Yes.
  
  Go out and do something kind. Then come home and blog about it.
  
  I started a thread in Groups to share ideas of what we can do and what we are going to do... www.blogcatalog.com/group/bloggers-unite/discuss/entry/your-ideas-for-acts-...
11/02/07

wilbau

Yes! Yes!

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11/02/07

iluvmonkeys2

too fabulous! i'm in!

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11/02/07

TonyB

iluv ... thank you!

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11/03/07

Theresa111

What a wonderful and thoughtful idea. Hats off to you! Naturally, I shall look forward to contributing.

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11/03/07

TonyB

It's for us.

We are looking for companies to sponsor the blogger prizes. So far it looks like one company has committed.

There will be 3 top prizes for the best Act of Kindness Blog Post.

If anyone works for a company or has contacts at a company that want's great exposure among bloggers then a donating a prize is a great way for them to do this.

Their logo will be featured on a new Bloggers Unite section of Blogcatalog as well as in any emails we send out and press releases. For a small contribution a company will get a bunch of positive exposure and be associated with something really positive.

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11/03/07

ichaduma

I'll do my best, BC.
It's OFFLINE, you know! It's a scary place out there...

journal.marisaduma.net

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11/03/07

rippinkitten

This is a nice idea and I think something that's easy to do given the time of year when people tend to be more charitable anyway.

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