Update: We managed to get awareness, money for the cause and introduce the people of this charity a small example of the power of the Internet: all good things. This charity had their first official fundraiser on Sept. 28th, the same day of this post, and raised a total of over $15, 000!!!! Mama Mercy will be so proud… please read on.

Best part about BarCamp Vancouver III was a little session in the morning run by Jordan Behan and Joe Solomon: "Marketers For A Cause". There was a great turn out with fine people, some of whom work their butts off for social change and changing the world one click, one link, one group, one site, one cause at a time. How to leverage this room of great minds? It was the perfect venue to generate some focus toward a cause that is close to my sister Hilary, in memory of her friend who passed away one year ago, that is designed to directly help young orphaned girls in Kenya: Hands Up For Africa – read more about the inspiring story here. They’ve just launched their first site and they’re not quite official charity status (that takes a year, but they are an official society).

Our small group in the session chatted about best ways to get their cause, story and site out to the masses. Time being precious in the quick BarCamp sessions, there were some excellent ideas introduced, all of which I have passed onto the charity’s organizers and all of which I will help them with implementing, but to start things off, the brilliant Christian Nally quickly set up this "chipin" and we’ve set a goal to reach by the end of this week! To all of you in the group, in the session, at BarCamp, and beyond, please help make a small difference in this small way – because we can.

Take a few moments to CHIP IN! Click the link above or go directly to this ChipIn web page. If you’re geeky, click on the ‘<>copy’ link in the widget above and paste in your own spaces. We’ve got to this Friday to raise a small goal amount of $350 to directly support Hands Up For Africa.

Thanks JB for initiating this session – this type of immediate action was a fine way to hold a BarCamp session. Cheers.

If you’re not already.

This week in Vancouver, er, Techcouver, is pretty jam-packed. All great stuff, some of which is already happening as I type. (As I relish in the only “free” time this the week (NOT complaining), with my wine, meat and our Canucks.)

Get your stamina and come out to each and all and support this unbelievable tech town. Or, you can read about them. At least pick one of the freebies! And if that’s not enough, there is PLENTY more up and coming in the weeks and months to follow…

• Third Tuesday Vancouver – doh! you missed it. Check in for next month – always valuable
• QuickLearn, also happening right now, but you’ll hear more about this, and so you should!
• CaseCamp at the new lamplighter: Cinci from EATcomm has given new life to this marketing beast
• Northern Voice Opening Party! – deserves it’s own bullet point
• MooseCamp: step one on NV
• Northern Voice: in its’ 4th year and sold out for the 4th consecutive! Don’t miss it, online, if that’s all you’ve got.

Over the past few weeks I have been working with the Make Poverty History campaign head office in Ottawa. Initiated with Catapult Media, I have helped to set up this blog in the fight against poverty, both locally and globally.

Built in Drupal with the very least of bells and whistles, the blog is a sort of interim blog until the re-launch of the new site, being designed and built by Vancouver firm, Communicopia, and is set to launch in the next month or so. We have recruited 8 bloggers from across the country, along with a celebrity blogger in Kenya, who will be contributing to the blog to spread the word, gather some eyeballs, educate, inspire, motivate and challenge us all to help Make Poverty History.

Check out and join the Facebook group as well (there are a ton out there, but this is the “official” one!).

ORDER YOUR WHITEBAND!

We are hoping to gain force and awareness in building toward October 17th for Stand Up and Speak Out.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

• Join the Facebook Group.

• Read this blog (even though it’s not in your feeds just yet!), spread these outlets into your communities, and contact the MPH team via the Contact Page on the blog with your thoughts and comments.

All postings and comments will transfer to the new site this fall.