Definition:
"A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they'll show you useful free tools. If you like what you see they can also help you set up your blog, or facebook page or twitter account. Most social media surgeries have an event every few weeks, so you can keep coming back for help."
taken from: Social Media Surgery Plus
The CVS BASIS Project recently held Telford & Wrekin's first Social Media Surgery. This national phenomenom; sweeping the country, was Nick Booth's concept. Nick from Podnosh, organised the first social media surgery for voluntary and community groups in Birmingham in October 2008. find him on twitter @podnosh
Finding a venue
We wanted a comfortable, local venue with good accessible wi-fi facilities - and chose the Holiday Inn Telford Then we needed to invite 'surgeons'/expert helpers (all donating their time for free); that I'd met off Twitter, and 'patients'/people from the voluntary sector wanting social media help, to the event.
"A surgeon is someone who knows enough about using social media tools to help someone else. Some surgeons have spent years understanding the internet, others started learning a few months ago but want to share what they know with other community groups and active citizens."
Some photos of the evening
For our first event we had 15 people asking for help, from a selection of groups:
I acted as 'triage nurse' / general hostess and signposting folks to the right type of help. This mostly worked; but due to an amazing turnout of 'patients' and a couple of surgeons down on the night, there was a moment where people had to wait for a slot. With these events being 'non-appointment' I think that this may be inevitable.
Tots and Toddlers Daycare : Senior Citizens Forum : Girlguiding : Home-Start Telford & Wrekin : Ketley Parish Council along with some of our CVS staff - to mention a few.
I'd like to personally thank our wonderful 'surgeons' on the night -
@likeaword - Ben Proctor
@severnhospice - Lucy Proctor
@VolunteerShrops - Renee Wallace
@watfordgap - Paul Webster
@benjiw - Ben W
@kirstyburgoine - Kirsty Burgoine
Watch this blog space, our Facebook Page & website for information about our next one! If you'd like to come along; please let me know; Kath Fackrell, on 01952 211402 - or book online using the social media surgery website
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