[Editors] MIT Editors' Club Minutes, May 2013

Wed May 22 11:44:53 EDT 2013

MIT EDITORS' CLUB

*Meeting Notes from May 16, 2013*

I don't believe I'm exaggerating when I say that the ~15 Editors attending this meeting were riveted by two discussions in particular involving the Marathon Bombings and campus safety. We also shared a good deal of helpful work-related information. End result, as Kate Briggs of the Annual Fund said as we were leaving, "that was a corker." (Ah, Editors. So good with words….)

*Yammer*

Does anybody use Yammer? And….what exactly is it? According to folks at this meeting, it's kind of like an MIT-centric version of Facebook. Go to <https://www.yammer.com/mit.edu/> for more information and to join.

Kate (see above), who asked the first question, mentioned that she used Yammer recently to query MIT people about vendors for postcards. She was quite pleased with the results; some 15 people got back to her.

*Commencement 2013*

Stephanie Hatch of Communication Production Services (CPS) has put together a tip sheet of sorts for social media use during Commencement 2013. To access the tip sheet,  go to the "files" section of the MIT Social Media Yammer group. (I thought this would be a great exercise for ya'll to actually use and explore Yammer, but you can also access the tip sheet at: <http://mitsha.re/Z1H2f2>.)

JUST as I was getting ready to hit "send" on these minutes, the following came in through Yammer:

===========
Stephanie Hatch posted a new message to the MIT Social Media group in the MIT network:

Please make a goal to post during June 6-7 using the hashtag #mit2013. Feel free to comment on this thread with the creative ideas you'll be using so everyone can prepare to share your fun posts. 
(1 Document attached)

 https://www.yammer.com/mit.edu/uploaded_files/10731289

To view the full conversation on Yammer, go to: https://www.yammer.com/mit.edu/threads/297025888?m=1559521090&message_id=297025888&nid=420
==========

*Congratulations, Dennis*

Dennis Paiste, a science writer at the Materials Processing Center (MPC), just received news that his appointment there has been continued for another year. Go Dennis! To see some of Dennis' work in the MPC Newsletter, go to: <http://mpc-web.mit.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350&Itemid=640>.

*List of MIT Preferred Vendors?*

The Yammer/postcards discussion brought up another great question: does MIT have  a list of preferred communications-related vendors for things like printing, writing, etc? Some of us thought such a list existed in the past, but is it updated?

After the meeting I sent a note to Bara Blender of CPS (Bara attends most Editors' Club meetings, but ironically wasn't at this one!). Here is Bara's response:

"The only published vendor list we have is the preferred printers:
http://web.mit.edu/cps/printers.html. We evaluate the list periodically.

"For other creative services, such as design, writing, photography, web
development, etc., we don't publish lists because so many variables come
into play. If people have questions or would like a referral, they can
email cps at mit.edu and one of us will give recommendations based on the
project needs, scope and budget.

"We welcome comments from anyone who has had a negative (or positive)
vendor experience. We investigate any negative comments and weigh them as
part of a vendor's overall performance."

*Marathon Bombings*

I shared with the group that one of our own, Bruce Mendelsohn, helped rescue some of the people injured at the Marathon Bombings. Bruce is Director of Communications and Outreach for the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program.

Here are two wonderful pieces describing Bruce's actions:

My Cousin Bruce: a Boston Hero
http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/my_cousin_bruce_a_boston_hero#.UZTX1dx_hHs.facebook

Boston Marathon Victim Reunites with Rescuers
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/boston-marathon-victim-victoria-mcgrath-thanks-rescuers-article-1.1326529

Bruce's story made many of us realize that we wouldn't know what to do in a similar situation with respect to basic first aid. For example, how do you tie a tourniquet? What are the latest recommendations for CPR (some of us had heard that these have changed)? According to Ken Gagne of MIT Medical, Medical doesn't currently offer any regular First Aid or Community CPR classes, but he'll let this group know if that changes.

*Active Shooter Awareness Training*

On a related note, Kiirja Paananen, Web Producer at the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), quietly ended the meeting by telling us that her office recently participated in Active Shooter Awareness Training. She reports that it was very, very good, if also very, very sobering.

I went online looking for more information, and one thing led to another and the people who give this training have said that they'll do so for this group. David Barber of MIT's Security & Emergency Management Office has arranged that the training will take place on Thursday, June 27, from 12-1:30. PLEASE SEND ME a note if you are interested in attending. That will help give David a head count. Location to come…..

Please note that, according to the SEMO team: "the training is striking and depicts a shooting situation.   So if there is anyone in the audience that would be overly upset by something like this then you should forewarn them and probably recommend against viewing it.  Also, it is available through EHS at the link below but is much better when a member of the Security and Emergency Management Office (SEMO) delivers it in person and can answer questions 

http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=EHS00811w

*Fun Stuff*

I wanted to end on a lighter note. Debbie Levey of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering told us about a really lovely use of social media and crowd sourcing. It involves her daughter's boyfriend (I believe), who recently lost his father but as a result of social media has a new and wonderful way to remember him by. More:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/04/how-metafilter-brought-a-deceased-fathers-jokes-back-to-life/274599/

*Thank You*

Many thanks to Debbie Levey and Denise Brehm, who hosted the meeting in Building 1 (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering).

*Next Meetings*

MIT Editors' Club
Tuesday, June 11
12-1
NW17-218 (Plasma Science and Fusion Center)

Active Shooter Awareness Training
Thursday, June 27
12-1:30
LOCATION TO COME; please send me a note if you would like to attend so I can send David Barber a rough head count.

All the best, my friends

Elizabeth
=========================
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
=========================

EHS Coordinators Quarterly Meeting
... about the policy. Active Shooter Awareness Training – course will
be available in the MIT Learning Center. If you would ... 
 ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/EHS_Coords_Qrtrly_Mtg_Notes_03-12-13.pdf - 2k - 2013-03-18
[ More results from https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default ]

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