The Networking Ninja of Kiwano Marketing will be live-tweeting at the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala on Monday, January 18, 2010. This anticipated and well-attended event celebrates the FWE’s mission of mentoring and educating women entrepreneurs. Can’t make it to the event? Not to worry, I’ll be sharing all of the night’s key happenings and takeaways using hashtag #fwegala.

FWE’s 2010 sold-out Gala focuses on celebrating and recognizing the people who invest in entrepreneurs.

The keynote speaker panel includes high profile investors and entrepreneurs from the popular shows Dragons’ Den and Fortune Hunters:

• Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and Star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den
• Dianne Buckner, Host of Dragons’ Den and Former Host of Venture, on CBC Television
• Michael Hyatt, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueCat Networks

It’s great to see local non-profits taking brave new steps and effectively getting their message out with the help of social media. As Kiwano is made up of two women entrepreneurs, we are proud to support the FWE in their first foray into the exciting world of live-tweeting!

Feel free to join in on the conversation tomorrow night by tweeting using #fwegala or by following @FWEBC on twitter.

I had the pleasure of visiting CBC Vancouver’s Open House last Friday, as part of a tweetup organized by Marketwire. The all-day event of CBC’s new broadcast centre in downtown Vancouver was a packed affair of fundraising, musical performances, and meeting some of the key supporters of social media at CBC.

Photo Credit: CBC Open House and Food Bank Blog (@GusF, @DoryLanenter, yours truly, @ChantalJura, @mettlelurgy)

I loved how much focus was put on donations to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. A lively twitter feed of updates throughout the day and a widely-used hashtag, #cbcopenhouse, added to the sense of community. You could drop off non-perishables at the door or make donations in person, through the phone, or online. On-site, you could walk through and learn about different aspects of the broadcast centre and chat with journalists, on-air personalities, staff, and a host of hard-working volunteers.

The transparency of this event demonstrates to me the willingness of CBC to adapt its communication and PR strategies to a conscious online community. Kudos, CBC, to a fresh new start in Vancouver— I look forward to more exciting events involving our local community.

Help us to help those in need. On Friday, December 4 from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CBC/Radio-Canada Vancouver opens its doors and welcomes everyone to visit our newly renovated, state-of-the-art broadcast centre at 700 Hamilton Street and to take part in our annual Food Bank Day Fundraiser.

Watch live TV and Radio broadcasts, meet CBC News TV, CBC Radio, Radio-Canada and CBC Radio 3 personalities and staff, tour the building, and enjoy four Big Ticket Concerts throughout the day. All our local and regional shows are broadcasting special live programs to help inspire your generosity towards those who need the services B.C. food banks provide. – full post here

Starting your social media program is not easy – especially if you’re a non-profit. With all the budget constraints non-profits usually face and the sheer number of volunteers that come and go, non-profits need all the help they can get when testing the waters of a new marketing program.

Elisa Birnbaum from Charity Village, James Topham from War Child Canada, and our very own Cecilia Lu, Networking Ninja at Kiwano Marketing, share some thoughts on getting social media right for non-profits in Social Media: What Are You Afraid Of?

“With social media the buzzword of late, some nonprofits are taking the plunge, hoping these newfangled modes of outreach will help them reach their goals. But how useful is social media, really? And how can one ensure it’s being used effectively instead of needlessly tying up already limited resources?”

Check this must-read article and learn:

- What is social media
- Why it’s relevant to non-profits
- Costs of starting (and managing) a social media program
- … and much more.

Read the complete news story on Charity Village’s website.

Recommended reading:

Social Media And Non-Profit Organizations
Social Media Quick Tips From The Networking Ninja
Tips For Successful Social Media Time Management