The Social Path

Join us for Birmingham Twestival 2011, benefiting children's literacy.

For years, Twitter has faced constant consternation for being too shallow, too inane, too muddled in minutia of daily life.

But the reality is that Twitter can be an incredible resource for building and strengthening community. It brings us together and reminds us, in real time, that we’re part of a real world.

Few events have highlighted the power and potential of Twitter quite like the annual Twestival, an international day of fundraising that has generated more than $1.2 million in donations from more than 200 cities across  45 countries.

And when Twestival 2011 arrives on Thursday, March 24, I’m excited to say that our hometown of Birmingham will be taking part for the first time.

Sponsored by the team here at Luckie & Company, the Birmingham Twestival will benefit United Way of Central Alabama. Specifically, all money raised during our one-night event will help United Way support Imagination Library, which provides free books each month for children across the region.

Here are the details:

Birmingham Twestival 2011

What it is: A casual happy hour mixer benefitting United Way and Imagination Library

When: 4-7 p.m., Thursday, March 24

Where: Parkside Café, 4036 5th Avenue South, Birmingham (across from Avondale Park)

Who’s invited: Anyone who likes Twitter, supporting good causes and chatting with smart people in their community

What it costs: No cover charge, but we’d love it if you brought a little scratch to donate (see below for details)

Best of all: Every dollar donated at Birmingham Twestival, up to the first $500, will be matched by Luckie & Company.

How you can help:

• Spread the word!

• RSVP on the Facebook event, and share it with friends.

• Follow @BhamTwestival on Twitter

• Bring a donation check made out to UWCA, with “Imagination Library” in the memo line. Cash is fine, too.

• Every $30 donated is a year’s worth of books for one Alabama child, so feel free to consider that amount as an easy donation level.

• Can’t attend? Donate directly to United Way of Central Alabama, and be sure to let us know so we can add you to the fund-raising tally!

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE: Thanks to your generosity, Birmingham Twestival was a huge success! We surpassed our goal and raised $1,027 for Imagination Library. That will provide lots of literature for our kids.

Again, many thanks to everyone who made this event such a success.

David Griner is a social media strategist for Luckie and Company and contributing editor for Adweek’s blog, AdFreak.com. You can reach him by e-mail or on Twitter.

Coming to Dayton: 'The Tipping Points of Social Media'

Just a quick update for our friends in Ohio: I'll be speaking to the Greater Dayton Advertising Association on April 1, 2010. Here's some info on the topic, along with a link to RSVP if you're interested:

 The Tipping Points of Social Media
How can your business go from good to great on Facebook, Twitter and other social hubs? Social Media Strategist and Adweek blogger David Griner will examine several case studies of success, including how his agency, Luckie and Company, helped make Little Debbie one of the most popular snack brands in social media.

The event is free for association members, $30 for nonmembers and $25 for students.

RSVP as a member.

RSVP as a nonmember.

Don't miss: Marketing to the Modern Mom, Oct. 8

I'm excited to announce this incredible (and limited-seating) event hosted here in Birmingham by my agency:

MARKETING TO THE MODERN MOM
A candid discussion about social media and motherhood.

If your organization is looking to connect with Web-savvy moms on their own turf, don’t miss this fun and informative event, hosted by Luckie & Company.

Event details:

8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
The Virginia Samford Theatre
Breakfast and lunch included
Tickets: $30
Buy online: ModernMom.eventbrite.com (Or just use the secure form at the bottom of this post.)
Seating is very limited and tickets will not be sold at the door, so don't wait!

About our presenters:

Lindsay Lebresco
Social Media Manager, Graco Children’s Products

Graco is a name that any American parent is sure to recognize, and Lindsay Lebresco has been central to the company’s emergence as one of the most respected brands in the social media realm. Her sincerity, openness and obvious love of parenting helped prove that corporate blogging doesn’t have to be dry and self-promotional. Today, hundreds of companies are looking to Graco as a role model of social media outreach done right.

Anissa Mayhew
Blogger at FreeAnissa.com and channel editor for BlogNosh.com

She’s one of the funniest women on the Web, but ironically, Anissa Mayhew’s life as a blogger began when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Anissa launched Hope4Peyton.org as a place to express the complex emotions her family was experiencing. Today, Peyton is happy and healthy, and Anissa is quickly becoming known as one of the most lively and opinionated moms on the Web.

Lotus Carroll
Blogger, SarcasticMom.com

 When it comes to candid perspectives on parenthood and life in general, it’s hard to beat Lotus Carroll for unfi ltered creativity. In addition to sharing her personal stories and photography on SarcasticMom.com, Lotus also test-drives a wide range of new products and hosts related giveaways on SarcasticMomReviews.com.

Mishelle Lane
Blogger at SecretAgentMama.com and owner, Mishelle Lane Photography

Whenever the most influential online moms come together, you’re sure to find Mishelle Lane with camera in hand. Her incredible photography and smarts have made her an icon of the blogosphere. When she’s not blogging at SecretAgentMama.com or contributing to sites like Blissfully Domestic, Mishelle runs her own photography business and home-schools her four children. Obviously, she’s a woman who has mastered multitasking.

Cecilia Pearson
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Alabama Baby & Child magazine

 A Birmingham native who's passionate about heralding the community's many resources, Cecilia Pearson is the publisher of Alabama Baby & Child magazine and creator of the tremendously popular Babypalooza events. now held across six cities. Her mission is to inform, educate, and connect new and growing families with the right resources for their journey.

David Stutts
VP / Director of Brand Planning, Luckie & Company

With each American generation, the definition of motherhood has changed dramatically. In his three-part series of white papers, “Rethinking Mom,” David Stutts has chronicled the cultural shift from the latchkey, double-income Boomer families to the hands-on and highly educated Gen Y Mommy Tsunami, which is just beginning to create the largest baby boom in U.S. history. David will share his findings and explain how businesses must adapt to the new meaning of “mom.”

David Griner
Social Media Strategist, Luckie & Company

Every day, marketers are besieging influential online moms across the country in hopes of getting some buzz in the blogosphere. The results are often disappointing and sometimes even disastrous. But David Griner has helped Luckie clients such as Little Debbie connect with modern moms in an earnest, long-term way that’s built on mutual respect. He’ll discuss the many ways businesses are reaching out to today’s moms and share some tips on making it a great experience for everyone involved.

Hope to see you there! Again, the place to buy tickets is ModernMom.eventbrite.com, or just use the secure form below. Questions? E-mail David Griner.