I recently had a few people ask how to link their recreation deparment's website to their facebook fan page. I though I'd put together a short how-to video that describes the process. This video shows two simple ways to link your site to facebook. Websites built by RecWebsites.com offer a few more advanced options (such as automaticlally publishing updates on your site to your fan page).
This month I had the priviledge of presenting at the Northern New England Conference on Recreation. The topic was Upgrade Your Department: Tools for 2010. It was a full session with a lot of great questions. The following topics were addressed:
The need for better use of technology in recreation departments
Technology to improve routine department tasks
Technology to improve busienss communication, collaboration, and networking
Technology to improve customer service and marketing
The audio from this presentation (1hr 15min) is available below. In the next few days I will be combining the slides with the audio and posting the full presentation to the blog. I will also be compiling a list of all the resources discussed with links and some additional information. Stay tuned!
Yesterday as I sat in the lobby of the auto mechanic I picked-up a copy of EntrepreneurMagazine and begain reading "Tony Hawk Carves a New Niche." The article describes how Tony Hawk begain skateboarding at 9 years old and has since won more competitions than any other pro skater. In 1992 Tony started Birdhouse Skateboards. In reference to the success of Birdhouse Skateboards, Tony's sister states: “He has his finger on the pulse of his audience because he is that audience.” Tony is quoted as saying "You have to walk the walk. You’ve got to be out there skating and seeing what people are into. If I don’t make time to skate, I feel like I’m faking it."
What does this have to do with RecWebsites.com? Comparing yourself with Tony Hawk is a bit audacious for anyone to do, but as I read the article I couldn't help drawing some parallels, particularly in reference to the quotes by Tony and his sister. At RecWebsites.com we have our "finger on the pulse of [the] audience because [we are] that audience." I grow up as the son of the Superintendent of Recreation for a city of 60,000 in the mid-west (and literally lived inside a park for the first 15 years of my life). I spent my childhood attending every special event and probably half of the camps and sports leagues. I went on to get a bachelor's and master's degree in the field and now serve as Assistant Director for a small town in New England. Technology and Website development were hobbies that eventually turned into a side-business a couple years ago. As I spent more and more time in the field I realized how needed these services are in public parks and recreation; hence, the creation of RecWebsites.com and RecSurveys.com. Two services started by a second-generation parks and recreation professional and geared specifically towards the needs of recreation departments.
We may not be throwing-down "900's" at the X Games, but, like Tony Hawk and Birdhouse Skateboards, we have a finger on the pulse of our audience because we've walked the walk. Everyone always tells you to do what you are passionate about, so it only makes sense. Right?
Blog
