[Editors] MIT Editors' Club Minutes, June 2011

[Elizabeth A Thomson]

MIT EDITORS' CLUB

*Meeting Notes from June 15, 2011*

*Creative Marketing*

The 15 Editors at this meeting were treated to.....free wildflower seeds, thanks to Emily Ranken and Martha Adams of the Environment, Health and Safety Office. The seeds were actually an example of creative marketing, having been incorporated into  EHS bookmarks that the office had produced for Earth Day.

Emily and Martha also distributed copies of their most recent newsletter, EHS News & Views, which is transitioning from quarterly to biannual production. They report that News & Views will soon be joined by a new electronic bi-monthly newsletter--Bits & Bytes--which will feature shorter articles with links to more information. It will also have its own QR Code (thanks to last month's minutes, we all know what these little babies are, right? :)

*Social Media*

Because this group can never get enough of this topic, Cheryl Slowik of the Publishing Services Bureau gave an update on the Institute's Social Media Working Group. By the end of the summer, she says, the group will post its guidelines on the use of social media at MIT, probably on the PSB web site. Cheryl stressed that the guidelines aren't really policy, but rather best practices and a glossary of tools to help us streamline postings and measure effectiveness.

Similarly, she says, the News Office is developing a portal to aggregate all social media sites across MIT. Way cool.

*Online Tutorials*

In the past, we've discussed the usefulness of Lynda.com, an online site packed with tutorials about techie stuff ranging from web design to iPhoto. Robyn Fizz of Information Services & Technology shared the GREAT news that MIT has officially renewed its license for the site. In other words, it's free for MIT employees. Simply go to the following site:

http://ist.mit.edu/services/training/lynda

Robyn notes that the site regularly adds new tutorials. Some of the most recent are on our perennial favorite: social media.

*Resource Development News*

David Gibson will be joining MIT Resource Development on July 18 as the Senior Director of Communications. David, who comes from Dartmouth, will be responsible for leading the RD Office of Communications in support of MIT's fundraising initiatives. Once he's on board, I'll invite him to join this group and perhaps introduce himself in person. He's got an interesting background that includes being Managing Editor of Yankee Magazine, and Editor and Publisher of the Cornell Magazine.

*Next Meetings*

MIT Editors' Club will take a hiatus this summer, then regroup in the fall. Meetings are always from 12-1 but in different locations around campus. The schedule so far (I'm still waiting on the December date):

Thursday, September 15
E19-319 (MIT Energy Initiative)

Tuesday, October 18
NW17-218, 175 Albany St. (Plasma Science and Fusion Center)

Wednesday, November 9
W98-302 (Resource Development)

ALMOST FORGOT: Many, many thanks to the PSB for hosting the June 15 meeting.

Have a great summer, everyone!

Elizabeth

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Elizabeth A. Thomson
Associate Director of Communications
MIT Resource Development
Office of Communications
600 Memorial Dr., W98-300
617-258-5563, 857-756-9457
<thomson at mit.edu>, giving.mit.edu
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