Social Media

A program on “Social Media: Turn Your Business into a Flourishing Success,” is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Hager Hall Crystal Ballroom, 901 Dual Highway. Jennifer Weiss, a management consultant, will present the program, which centers on the importance of social media for small businesses. The program is co-sponsored by the Business and Professional Women's Club of Hagerstown and the Small Business Development Center. The cost is $20 for dinner and the program or $15 for the program only.

  In partnership with Mainstreet Waynesboro (Pa.) Inc.'s Economic Development Committee, the Continuing Education and Business Services Division at Hagerstown Community College will offer a social media seminar for Waynesboro-area businesses. “Promote Your Business with Social Media,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant at 10530 Buchanan Trail East in Waynesboro. The cost is $25 per person and includes a breakfast buffet.

I had what I thought was a fascinating idea for a series of columns, the working title being "Back in Time With Twitter," in which I investigated how social networking might have impacted great historical events in our past. The first segment was going to involve John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry. From there, I was going to explore how Twitter might have saved Julius Caesar from assassination, the ramifications of live video conferencing on the Constitution and the merry mixups that might arise had Jamuka friended Genghis Khan.

Q: My small business has a website and I would also like to participate in social media. Does SCORE offer any educational assistance here in our area? A: You are in luck. The July SCORE Business Roundtable, titled “Using Social Media for Business Success,” will address your interest and needs. It will take place Thursday, July 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Always Ron's restaurant, 29 N. Burhans Blvd. in Hagerstown. Register at www.scorehagerstown.org/calendar.html or by calling 301-766-2040.

I guess this a great thing: Facebook will now allow users to enroll as organ donors. Organ donation is one of the easiest and most important decisions a person can make. It gives life, hope and comfort. More than 112,000 people are in waiting lists for organs, and 18 people die every day for want of a transplant. But - Facebook? What's next, awarding power of attorney through Pinterest? So the woman who is playing a happy round of Farmville can make end-of-life decisions for her broiler chickens and herself on the same screen.

Using a pilot program to make the transition from paper textbooks to digital textbooks, intensifying the use of social media in recruiting new teachers and using social media to get community feedback are among the recommendations a Washington County Public Schools committee listed when charged with exploring innovative ways to use social media to enhance learning, according to a committee report. Those recommendations and several others were in a March 6 report to the Board of Education.

Legislation gaining momentum this week in the Pennsylvania General Assembly takes steps to protect young people from harmful activities with social media, the Internet and mobile devices. One of the bills awaiting Gov. Tom Corbett's signature would establish misdemeanor or summary offenses for minors who transmit nude or sexually explicit images of themselves or other youths - a practice known as sexting. Another bill further addresses “cyberbullying” that causes emotional distress for a young person via electronic communication.

Youths and adults upset about Chambersburg's head basketball coach being ousted from his job last week have formed a new team - Team Shreffler. On Thursday, they donned blue and green shirts proclaiming “#TeamShreff” during a rally to generate support for Shawn Shreffler. The Chambersburg Area School Board chose to not reinstate Shreffler for the 2012-13 season, in part because of alleged use of profanity around students. Supporters are turning to social media, shirts, yard signs and possibly newspaper advertisements in a quest to have the school board reverse its decision.

Two James Buchanan Middle School students face terroristic threats charges after allegedly threatening in Facebook postings to burn down a school. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Rowe said the children did not specify which school, but they attend James Buchanan Middle School. Both were turned over to the custody of the Franklin County (Pa.) Juvenile Probation Department. Rowe said he's heard colleagues speak of threats against people and institutions made with social media.

A 12-year-old girl missing from her Orrstown, Pa., residence was found in Buffalo, N.Y., according to Pennsylvania State Police. State police spokesman Robert T. Hicks said in an email that Dakota Moon Turner was picked up and brought to Buffalo by a 21-year-old male “that she met gaming online.” The state police barrack in Chambersburg received notification from the Buffalo Police Department early Sunday that Turner had been found, Hicks...

Like me, Del. Neil Parrott seems to believe that any publicity is good publicity. So OK, I'll bite. Building on his tremendous success in the November election, Petitioner Parrott is having a go at the state's newly enacted law banning the death penalty. Forget his oh-fer on gay marriage, immigration, et al. His MDPetitions group announced last week it would attempt to collect the necessary signatures to put the death penalty repeal up to a statewide vote. Love the way they're using social media to further the cause.

The Community Foundation of Washington County Md., Inc. introduces an one-day web-based, social media-driven fundraiser called washing toncountygives.org. The event takes place Thursday, May 2. The goal is to get thousands of local residents to support their favorite Washington County charity by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in just 24 hours. Every donation made gives the recipient the chance to win matching grants and prizes. For more information, contact Brad Sell at 301-745-5210 or brads@cfwcmd.org .

A 12-year-old girl missing from her Orrstown, Pa., residence was found in Buffalo, N.Y., according to Pennsylvania State Police. State police spokesman Robert T. Hicks said in an email that Dakota Moon Turner was picked up and brought to Buffalo by a 21-year-old male “that she met gaming online.” The state police barrack in Chambersburg received notification from the Buffalo Police Department early Sunday that Turner had been found, Hicks...

I thought maybe, just maybe, I would make it through my entire journalistic career without having to spell the word “Fastnacht.” But apparently this is not to be the case, and I blame social media. Anyone who tells you that nothing good ever happens in an alley late at night has never been to Hagerstown. Along with thousands of others, I've spent the odd late-night hours out in back of Krumpe's Do-Nut shop waiting for a fresh-fried dozen. At least I did prior to age 40, at which point staying up past 11 p.m. would wipe me out for three consecutive days.

It used to be so easy. Back when I was a kid, all you did was flick on the TV and sit and watch sports. You were moved, inspired and driven to be just like those guys, those athletes who dazzled you with their brilliance. They were role models - or so we thought - because all those athletes were great talents, engaging with their followers and giving an image of being the perfect person. Back then. This is probably the point where I sound like I'm slipping back to that forbidden land.

Washington County Arts Council Chris Brewer is the new gallery manager/administrative assistant at the Washington County Arts Council in Hagerstown. Brewer is a local freelance graphic artist originally from Germantown, Ohio. He holds an Associate of Applied Science in graphic design degree from Kaplan University.  He considers that he “has always been an artist,” and works in oil painting, sketching and other types of freehand artwork. Coffman Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center Coffman Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Hagerstown recently named Colleen Winters as marketing director.

  In partnership with Mainstreet Waynesboro (Pa.) Inc.'s Economic Development Committee, the Continuing Education and Business Services Division at Hagerstown Community College will offer a social media seminar for Waynesboro-area businesses. “Promote Your Business with Social Media,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant at 10530 Buchanan Trail East in Waynesboro. The cost is $25 per person and includes a breakfast buffet.

Legislation gaining momentum this week in the Pennsylvania General Assembly takes steps to protect young people from harmful activities with social media, the Internet and mobile devices. One of the bills awaiting Gov. Tom Corbett's signature would establish misdemeanor or summary offenses for minors who transmit nude or sexually explicit images of themselves or other youths - a practice known as sexting. Another bill further addresses “cyberbullying” that causes emotional distress for a young person via electronic communication.

Q: My small business has a website and I would also like to participate in social media. Does SCORE offer any educational assistance here in our area? A: You are in luck. The July SCORE Business Roundtable, titled “Using Social Media for Business Success,” will address your interest and needs. It will take place Thursday, July 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Always Ron's restaurant, 29 N. Burhans Blvd. in Hagerstown. Register at www.scorehagerstown.org/calendar.html or by calling 301-766-2040.

Several area businesses are trying to secure a $250,000 small business grant using social media. The grant program sponsored by Chase Bank USA and Living Social Inc. supports small businesses across the country, according to the program website. The contest kicked off May 7 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. Chase has designated between $1 million and $3 million to be awarded to at least four businesses and as many as 12 businesses with each grant recipient receiving $250,000, the website rules stated.