Byesville Rotary embraces social media

Pictured: Olivia Yearian, Mid East student, Becky Bruner, speaker chair, and Owen Williams, graphic arts instructor, Mid East and Technical Center. 

 

Owen Williams, graphic arts instructor at the Mid East Career and Technical Center Buffalo Campus, introduced Byesville Rotary to Facebook, SnapChat and Instagram. Additional advice was provided by Olivia Yerian, one of Williams students. Many club members already use Facebook. Fewer use Snapchat and Instagram.

Williams explained that choice of social media a person uses is partly determined by age. Older people tend to use “old standards” such as Facebook; younger people tend to use newer applications like Snapchat. Most people have a favorite application which they use to the exclusion of the other type. Businesses and organizations using social media to reach out to the public typically must use several different types plus newspaper and radio to ensure they are reaching as many people as possible.

Each different social media product requires the user to download an app. The apps are typically free and can be found on the social media’s official web site.

Williams explained that Facebook has been around longest. Facebook allows the longest posts and lots of pictures. Twitter allows short posts and photos. Posts are limited to 140 characters--an average of about 28 words per post. Young people prefer using Instagram or Snapchat. Instagram can only be used on a smart phone. There is no limit to posts and it is easy to use for selfies and other photographs. Snapchat posts are deleted after 24 hours; however, anyone can make a copy of a Snapchat post. The copy will not be deleted. People should assume that anything posted on any of these apps will hang around the Internet forever.

After Williams’ introduction, club members pulled out their smart phones and applied his suggestions. Chuck Fair, club president, used his newly acquired skill to snap a picture of the guest speakers and email it to the club’s PR chair.

Updates about club service projects were given. The Christmas food basket program served 168 families despite the cold, icy conditions on distribution day. Costs were up this year and donations were down. Club members will need to brainstorm to develop some new fundraisers.

A donation made to Pound partners to support pet adoptions has been used to reduce adoption costs for two dogs—Lady, a cute hound, and Midnight, a pretty black dog with a nice disposition.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or Instagram Byesville.rotary.ohio@gmail.com , Twitter Byesville_Club , https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.