This month: Helpful information on the use of social media
APCO Social Media
http://psc.apcointl.org/2011/01/20/10-things-your-agency-must-know-about-social-media/
• Ten things you must know about social media.
ESRI – Volunteered Geographic Information
http://blogs.esri.com/Dev/blogs/publicsafety/archive/2010/11/11/Configuring-the-Esri-Social-Media-_2F00_-VGI-Application.aspx
• Example of how to link needs with community resources.
Fire Law
http://firelaw.typepad.com/fire-law/social-media/
• Fire service attorney Curt Varone provides a discussion on social media.
Governing
http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Governments-Need-Social-Media-Policies-to-Avoid-Pitfalls.html
• Information on policies to avoid pitfalls.
GovLoop
http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/social-mediaweb-20-and-nims
• Article on social media, Web 2.0 and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Gulf States Regional Center
http://www.gsrcpi.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=SM_Policies
• Sample policies on social media.
Social Media Governance
http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php?f=5
• A variety of social media policy examples.
Slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/cherylble/social-media-from-definition-to-engagement
• Overview presentation on social media – “From Definition to Deployment.”
The Fire Critic
http://firecritic.com/2009/10/embracing-social-media-in-the-fire-service/
• Examples of various ways to embrace social media.
The FirePIO
http://thefirepio.com/2010/02/04/does-your-fire-department-have-a-social-media-policy/
• Article about the need for fire department social media policies.
Western City
http://www.westerncity.com/Western-City/June-2010/Social-Media-and-Public-Agencies-Legal-Issues-You-Should-Know-About/
• Legal issues about social media that you need to know.
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If you have found a particular site that you would like to share, please send it to me at [email protected].
Compiled by
Fire Chief Charles Werner, CFO
Charlottesville, VA, Fire Department
www.cfdonline.org
Firehouse® Magazine contributing editor
Firehouse.com TechZone editor
President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association
Follow Chief Werner on Twitter – username WERNERC

Charles Werner
CHARLES WERNER, who is a Firehouse contributing editor, is a 45-year veteran of public safety. He served with the Charlottesville, VA, Fire Department for 37 years, serving the past 10 years as chief. Following retirement, Werner served for two years as senior adviser and acting deputy state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. He has chaired: DHS SAFECOM Executive Committee; IAFC Technology Council; National Information Sharing Consortium; and DHS/White House Incident Management Information Sharing SubCommittee. Werner currently serves as the director of DroneResponders Public Safety Alliance, chair of the National Council on Public Safety UAS and chair of the Virginia Secure Commonwealth UAS Sub Panel.