This seminar is a must-attend event for all those who are serious about using social media to engage employees and citizens by using the latest Web 2.0 technologies and social networks to drive communication results. You will benefit from:

1. 24 innovative speakers at your disposal to share their strategies and experiences in social media fundamentals that are already proven to work
2. Over 25 hours of intense, interactive learning - we guarantee you will recoup your money spent by implementing just a few of the strategies shared during the seminar
3. The opportunity to customize your learning by participating in unique and interactive workshop sessions that will enable you to practice and apply your skills in peer groups -- you will walk away with strategies and tactics that you can begin to implement in your own organization - click here for more details
4. An abundance of networking opportunities -- you will make many new contacts so be sure to bring plenty of business cards to exchange with your fellow attendees
5. A comprehensive overview of social media strategies and processes from leading practitioners like the Health Council Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, City of Edmonton, Alberta, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, and many more
6. Acquiring new knowledge to lead your organization through the imperative, yet sometimes extremely difficult, responsibility of ensuring that the right information gets to the right people, efficiently and effectively
7. A complimentary packet of research materials that will serve as a helpful resource long after you have attended this seminar
8. A formal Certificate of Completion which documents your training achievement and commitment to continuing professional development
9. Optional networking lunches that give you the opportunity to brainstorm and benchmark solutions with your fellow attendees
10. Participating in instructional sessions that will share real-world examples, tactics and lessons learned from leading social media initiatives that will ground you in advancing your own strategy
11. The opportunity to learn how to engage your employees and citizens by using social media from leading government agencies and organizations
12. Access to the seminar wiki – you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate and keep in touch with your colleagues after the event using this social media communication tool

Dear Government Communicator:

• What are best practices to engage citizens in discussion and debate, to communicate policy and to influence decision-makers?
• What role should social media play in government communications?
• How does social media influence public consultation and policy formation, and play a role in marketing and information dissemination?
• How is mobile best embraced?

These questions are driving innovative exploration in public affairs. The way governments and citizens interact is fundamentally changing. Advertising is losing its credibility and decreasing in effectiveness, content is democratized and distributed across channels, and credibility for government sits precariously in the crucible of this new paradigm. Social media is both exacerbating and alleviating these problems. For all the shiny new social media tools out there, successful engagement and relationships are still based on open communication, credibility, and trust. Success is determined by how well you are able to influence those who influence others, leverage context, and manage reputations and relationships in real time.

Social media in its purest sense is rarely possible. But there are things government organizations can do to become more social media friendly and visible where and when people seek information. An integrated social media strategy ensures you leverage your top performing initiatives, consider the conversational influence of how marketing and communications happen today, and ultimately enable greater collaboration within the public sector. Educating the naysayers on the potential of connected communication through training and ambassador programs makes for more creative and relevant forms of citizen engagement in this social era.

How Will This Seminar Help You And Your Organization?

This seminar is focused on real-life case studies, real-world examples and demonstrating real-time value within government organizations. This program brings together the brightest minds and the most innovative leaders currently conducting government communications in the digital and social marketplace today. You’ll learn how to get things approved, get things launched, and generate measurable impact for your organization.

• British Columbia Ministry of Environment used social media to engage, inform, and provide transparency to citizens’
• City of Seattle integrated social media into both internal and external communication strategies
• Insurance Corporation of British Columbia successfully implemented Twitter as a reputation management tool

It's a real pleasure to be chairing A.L.I.’s 28th forum on "Social Media for Government" in Victoria on September 27th & 28th. I hope you'll join me at this outstanding opportunity to meet, mix with and learn from some of the leading government practitioners who are succeeding with social media!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Torney, Senior Vice President
FLEISHMAN-HILLARD CANADA
Seminar Co-Chairperson

Katie Robb, Senior Consultant
FLEISHMAN-HILLARD CANADA
Seminar Co-Chairperson