Leadership Austin: DMC Panel

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It’s a can’t miss if you are truly serious about civic leadership and being a connected community partner.
2007 Leadership Austin Essential Class Alum

I always thought you needed a long track record professionally to make a difference. I now know all of us have much to offer.
2007 Leadership Austin Essential Class Alum

I’m excited and engaged and ready to have a say
about the issues in my community.
2007 Leadership Austin Essential Class Alum

Leadership Austin provides a unique and important role in educating and connecting the community.
Mark Williams, President, AISD Board of Trustees

Thanks to the Essential Class, I’m able to leverage resources to keep students learning at their highest potential.
Suki Steinhauser, Executive Director, Communities In Schools

Leadership Austin motivated me to put my skills
to work in community service.
Gena VanOsselaer, Executive Director, Austin Children's Shelter

Leadership Austin should be required for every
Central Texas citizen!
Julie Shannan, Deputy Director, Girlstart

Twittering to the Ballot Box:
The Impact of Technology on Political Campaigns

Political observers from just 10 years ago would not recognize tools employed in today’s elections. Political reporters break stories as they happen from their cell phones. Political causes spread virally with practically no cost via Facebook and other social networking tools. Campaigns digitally monitor voter turnout in real time and dispatch roving get-out-the-vote strike force teams on election day. Candidates themselves communicate directly with voters in their own voice, often Twittering from the campaign trail. And the Internet, of course, has transformed fundraising, allowing lesser known candidates to compete with formidable ones.

Presented by the Digital Media Council and the Leadership Academy for Public Service, Twittering to the Ballot Box assembles a bi-partisan panel of candidates and organizers that use digital media tools to change the way we engage with the political process.

Twittering to the Ballot Box
Tuesday, October 14 from 7:30 - 9:00 am
Chez Zee Restaurant (5406 Balcones Drive)
General Admission: $15.00 (breakfast included)
DMC Members: $10.00 (breakfast included)

Invited panelists:

Mario Champion - Obama Texas; technologist who creates organizational tools for identifying and mobilizing voters
Eileen Smith - Editor, Texas Monthly Online; Editor, In the Pink Texas
Representative Mark Strama - Texas House District 50; former program director of MTV’s voter outreach initiative, Rock the Vote, and advocate of digital media tools for education
Spencer Whelan - Product Marketing Manager for KIMIBIA Inc., a new online fundraising company based in Austin; Spencer is a former Digital Media Strategist for John McCain's exploratory committee, as well as APCO Worldwide and Austin-based Public Strategies Inc.
Chairman Michael Williams - Texas Railroad Commission; an avid Twitterer, he embraces digital media tools for his own campaign and for educational outreach
Discussion moderated by Rodney Gibbs - Chair of the Digital Media Council and Studio Head at Fizz Factor; the DMC brings together educators and industry to promote the economic growth of the digital media and creative technology industries of Central Texas

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Twittering to the Ballot Box: The Impact of Technology on Political Campaigns

Twittering to the Ballot Box:
The Impact of Technology on Political Campaigns