The panel will feature local attorney and speaker Ryan K. Hew, David Bower, director of business development for Altres, Sylvia Dahlby from Smart Search, and Connye Harper of Harper Strategies, LLC.

Among the key questions to be addressed: How do employers empower employees in the social media space while also protecting their brand and staying within the bounds of the law.

“Whether you’re running a small business or managing the needs of a regulated industry, your company will need a social media policy,” writes SMCHI president Tara Coomans. “After leaving our event, we want you to feel empowered to create a social media policy for your company and its employees.”

The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Amuse Wine Bar in the Honolulu Design Center on Kapiolani Boulevard. Parking is free, via the entrance on Piikoi Street.

To register for the meeting, click here.

The Hawaii State Senate today adopted a social media use policy. The policy provides guidance to users, both internally and among the public.

The use of social media in the public sector is an emerging phenomenon across the country. The Hawaii State Senate is one of the few state senate bodies that have formally adopted a social media use policy. (The House of Representatives has had a policy since 2009.)

“The recent growth of social media use to communicate with government officials and organizations underscores the importance for government agencies to incorporate social media services (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr) as integral components to governments’ overarching communication initiatives,” said Senate President Shan Tsutsui.

“At the same time, it is equally vital that we, as agencies and representatives, harness the potential of these tools in the most appropriate and responsible manner,” he added. “That’s what this policy guides us to do.”

The State Senate endeavors to increase public accessibility to legislative policies and information to best serve the needs of citizens and has found it necessary to explore and embrace the use of social media.

The Senate policy supports the growing adoption of social media by its members and staff while providing guidance and standards of its use to ensure appropriate and effective use, and to be consistent and in compliance with Federal and State rules and regulations.

“Social media is continually changing the way we communicate and engage with one another,” said Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria. “While traditional vehicles of communication, such as print and broadcast hold much value, we cannot negate the importance of new and emerging technology. It is important for us to reach out to all of our citizens, and that includes the use of social media. This policy provides the appropriate structure for doing so.”

The Hawaii State Senate Social Media Use Policy includes guidance on social media application, use, security, approval, content, and management. All official accounts will be monitored by the Senate Communications Office to assure compliance with the use policy.

The Senate Social Media Use Policy has been posted online:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/docs/SenateSocialMediaUsePolicy.pdf

For more information, contact:

• Caroline Julian at (808) 586-6261
• Cassandra Harris at (808) 586-7148

Photo from Sen. Shan Tsutsui’s Flickr photostream.

Tomorrow the Hawaii Social Media Club is hosting its “Hawaii Social Media Year in Review” party in the Cupola Room at the Amuse Wine Bar.

Like last year, attendees are invited to submit their 2011 social media accomplishments, which will then be featured in a “digital brag board” slideshow that will loop throughout the event.

“Nothing is too large or small,” the organizers write. “From opening social accounts to creating campaigns, everyone is growing in the social media sphere and we’d like to celebrate it all!”

The event is sponsored by Hagadone Printing. It will also feature a “social media kiosk” provided by Pacific Digital Signs. Prizes include tickets to LUX at the Trump, and Reyn Spooner gift certificates.

As for music? Organizers are inviting people to submit tracks to a shared “SMCHI Playlist” on Spotify.

Although the event is free (food and drink will be available for purchase), people are encouraged to RSVP on Eventbrite.

Photo by Roxanne Darling

The session was led by Lori Lum (@chunlum) and Damian Davila (@idaconcpts) of Anthology Marketing Group, a communication company with offices in Seattle, Honolulu and Guam.

The session covered the differences between personal and business profiles on Google+, setting up a business page with photos and links, website widgets, +1 buttons, possible implications for search and SEO, and Google Direct Connect.

John Garcia (@johngarcia), co-owner and CTO of The Green House, helped lead the group through the process of setting up an example Google+ business page. Local blogger and media maker Doc Rock (@docrock) shared his thoughts on engaging customers on social media and dealing with privacy concerns. I shared my thoughts on Google+ as well, and showed new tools like Daniel Treadwell’s Google+Blog plugin for WordPress.

From the discussion, it was clear that Google+ was still young and in flux, stymied by limitations like single-user administration, liabilities like “brand jacking,” and rapid changes in how it would be integrated into other Google properties like YouTube. But the consensus was that businesses should explore Google+ now, and set up a presence sooner rather than later.

Last night’s “think tank” event was the first of many envisioned for The Green House. Garcia noted that the Auahi Street location — next door to Interisland Terminal’s R&D and CHAI Studio — is where The Green House will stay. Although the original plan was to take over a warehouse on Cooke Street, the “pop up” version that sprung up during Nonstop Kakaako uncovered an available, already functional space, and illustrated the benefits of being closer to complementary groups.

See Also:

• How Google+ Could Affect SEO by Damian Davila

A local entrepreneur and white collar and cyber crime consultant has launched OnlyMeWorld, a social network that he says will provide “the new standard in social networking in 2012.”

In a press release, founder Carlson S. Yamamoto Jr. writes:

OnlyMeWorld offers a social networking platform similar in function to Facebook, Google+, Linkedin, and Twitter, yet differs in its approach to privacy rights, anonymity, and protection from cyber crime. At OnlyMeWorld, people are able to participate with absolute privacy and anonymity. OnlyMeWorld requires no real names or email addresses. It uses no web tracking, no facial recognition software, and no data mining.

Describing social networking services like Facebook and Google+ as “open-door gold mines for cyber criminals,” Yamamoto says the solution is to eliminate the requirements to use real names or to provide email addresses.

“At OnlyMeWorld, people are able to participate with absolute privacy and anonymity — It uses no web tracking, no facial recognition software, and no data mining,” the release explains. “With a real name, email address, and date of birth, a cyber criminal can seriously damage your personal and financial life.”

OnlyMeWorld LLC was registered in February, and the site launched in April. It’s running on the Dolphin community management system, a free, open-source PHP software package used for social networking, community, and dating sites. Features include both personal and business profiles, groups, the ability to upload videos or link YouTube videos, event listings, blogs, and classifieds.

The Dolphin system does not list facial recognition among its features. OnlyMeWorld does have Google Analytics installed, though its certainly not the level of tracking that got Facebook into trouble.

The registration form for OnlyMeWorld does not require a name or email address, but it does require a city, ZIP code, country, and a full birthdate — one of the datapoints described as risky. The site also notes that no one under the age of 16 is eligible to join, and those aged 16 through 18 are told to get parental consent.

You can follow OnlyMeWorld on Twitter at @onlymeworld1. A YouTube channel includes promotional videos:

A Kailua High graduate, Yamamoto’s previous entrepreneurial effort included Global Distribution Solutions, an affiliate of the LifeVantage dietary supplement company.

This month brings the second annual Hawaii Social Media Summit. Like last year, it is being combined with the eighth annual Technology & Internet Expo. The program is being organized by Technology News Bytes, a subsidiary of Hawaii Pacific Entertainment that describes itself as “Hawaii’s leading technology news network.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Mari Smith (@MariSmith), a social media and relationship marketing expert who authored the forthcoming book, “The New Relationship Marketing: How To Build A Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using The Social Web.” The lunch keynote will be by Erin Blaskie (@ErinBlaskie), the “Biznatrix,” who heads the virtual assistance firm BSETC. Mike Prasad (@MikePrasad) of Bit Love Media returns to present “The Secret to Social Media” at 11:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m.

Other speakers include L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine, John Heckathorn, Laura Kinoshita, Linda Sherman, Karen Weikert, Gwen Woltz, Esme Infante Nii, Tara Coomans, Bill Sodeman, Hal Wilkerson, Rob Bertholf, Roxanne Darling and Peter Liu. The emcee is Guy Hagi of Hawaii News Now.

This year’s event also introduces the “Social Media Personality Award” (or “Socialite Media Awards“). Nominations are being accepted here.

Tickets can be purchased online, and are $110.00, plus a $7.04 ticket fee. Admission includes access to both the social media and broader technology events.

Sponsors include Wavecom Solutions and Empowered Presentations.

The NDPTC is partnered with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), and is a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. Its purpose is providing critical all-hazards training throughout the United States and its territories with an emphasis on natural hazards and island and coastal communities.

The local program was coordinated by Dave Kozuki (@DaveKozuki), founder and CEO of People Bridge. He was assisted by NDPTC team members that included Gabrielle Sham, Grant Chartrand, James Burke, Jon Hagihara, and Renee Kimoto.

The course was designed to cover social media and its uses, current tools, methods, and models to utilize social media for crisis communication, in order to “enhances the participant’s ability to build an organization’s communications strategy for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.”

During today’s pilot, over two dozen participants followed Kozuki and Sham through a 189-page, seven module guide that started with defining and introducing social media and concluded with advanced monitoring and data mining techniques.

The participants included representatives from government agencies (including Forest Frizzel, deputy director of the city’s Information Technology department, and Brian Shiro from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center), educators (including Susan Horowitz with the UH Pacific New Media program), business people (including Tina Sprague of Energy Industries and isle Realtor Rick Nakama), and social media enthusiasts (including community developer L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine).

As part of the course, all participants signed up for Twitter, and I created a Twitter List that you can follow here.

A key purpose of the demonstration was to collect feedback from social media practitioners on how to refine the curriculum and its presentation, as it is ultimately developed for first responders nationally. The NDPTC is also looking for instructors for the class, so today’s session was the first step in qualifying to serve in that capacity.

Agent Reboot Honolulu will take place Wednesday, August 24, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sheraton Waikiki. The event is presented by Inman News, a leading real estate information agency. The Honolulu conference is one of 24 staged across the country this year, and will feature an all-new program refined at Inman’s annual event in San Francisco last month.

In just six hours, real estate agents will learn from the best experts in the industry how they can make mobile, social, video, blogging and many more cutting-edge technologies work for their real estate business. Agent Reboot offers the specific, practical and tactical ideas to help make Realtors thrive. The national speakers include Darin Persinger (Productivity Junkies), Sherry Chris (Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate CEO) and Katie Lance (Inman News Director of Social Media).

But For the Honolulu event, Agent Reboot has enlisted Big Island digital marketer Julie Ziemelis (@JulieZiemelis) and Honolulu Realtor Kelly Mitchell (@HawaiiRealty) as local ambassadors, and added them to the official program.

Ziemelis and Mitchell, who were both at Inman Connect in San Francisco, will speak on a morning panel titled “Social Media Insights – Making the Smartest Investment of Your Time,” alongside fellow panelist Nicolay and moderator Lance. They are also organizing a post-conference “mai tai meetup” at RumFire.

Calling it a “career highlight,” Ziemelis wrote on her Facebook page, “I have been gunning to present for Inman Media for almost a year. Very excited to be up on a ‘real’ stage!”

Chris Smith, Inman News’ Chief Evangelist, will serve as emcee for Agent Reboot Honolulu.

Topics included in the program:

• 15 Mobile tools that will make you stand out
• Developing a content strategy that sells
• Making money with social media
• Future-proof yourself: Capturing people’s attention with video
• Lifestyle branding: Why it matters
• Test before you invest: Improving lead conversion
• Dollars and sense: Knowing where to spend and when to save

To view a complete list of all 24 Agent Reboot locations for 2011, go to AgentReboot.com. Tickets are $49 and can be purchased online at AgentReboot.com. The price is $99 for anyone who registers on-site.

Follow the Agent Reboot conversation on Twitter via @AgentReboot, or follow the hashtag #agentrb. In addition, view additional details and comments from attendees and speakers on Facebook.

National sponsors include Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Kodak, Lowe’s, Zillow.com, Realtor.com, Diverse Solutions, Century 21, Docusign and Homes Media Solutions. The exclusive association sponsor is Hawaii Information Service (my employer).

About Inman News

Agents and brokers around the world turn to Inman News first for accurate and timely real estate news and information. Known for its award-winning journalism, cutting-edge technology coverage and forward-thinking conferences, Inman News is the leading independent source of real estate news, education and insight.

Each of the winners will receive a $5,000 volunteer vacation grant to take a volunteer vacation.

Schivley has been working in Hawaii with Teach for America, and will be headed to Ho, Ghana with GlobeAware to volunteer in the local community and at the area orphanage. Garlock will be traveling to Tanzania with Cross-Cultural Solutions to volunteer on education, health, and social services initiatives in the community. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Welfare at the University of Hawaii.

The winners were chosen based on video submissions, first through public votes driven by social media, then by a panel of judges. Here are the videos they submitted:

Tiffany Schivley

Jessica Garlock

Travelocity is accepting the next round of applications for its “voluntourism” contest through September 30.

“We encourage anyone with a passion for travel and volunteering to enter,” says Alison Presley, manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good program. “Don’t let the video entries intimidate you – the submission process is easy. Most of today’s smart phones can take a quick video and what we’re really looking for is a passion for volunteering.”

For more information on how to enter, visit VolunteerJournals.com.

The piece seeks guidance from Barbara Pleadwell of Hastings & Pleadwell, a public relations and advertising firm.

It also references former mayor Mufi Hannemann’s massive following on Twitter, even though it was earned mostly through his placement on Twitter’s controversial “Suggested Users” list, giving him an audience made up mostly of people outside Hawaii.

“It’s all about attracting people here and winning friends for Hawaii,” said Hannemann, who is now president of the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association. While the former mayor has not decided on a run for the U.S. House or Senate in 2012, if he does take the plunge he says social media will play a role – a very careful and measured role. “My mother always said be careful what you put down on paper and you know what, that’s true. In life sometimes you’ve gotta take a deep breathe or two when you’re very emotional about something.”

The piece also touches on the importance of teaching children about the responsible use of social media, and Pleadwell cites the national “Stay Safe Online” and “Stop, Think, Connect” campaigns. Though not mentioned in KHON’s piece, Pleadwell’s firm (along with other partners) was behind the launch of both in October 2009 and October 2010, respectively.

Read the full article, or watch the segment as broadcast embedded below: