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

• 23 innovative speakers at your disposal to share their strategies and experiences in using social networking and Web 2.0 tools
• Over 26 hours of intense, interactive learning - we guarantee you will recoup your money spent by implementing just a few of the strategies shared during the conference
• Optional networking lunches that give you the opportunity to brainstorm and benchmark solutions with your fellow attendees
• 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
• An abundance of networking opportunities - you will make many new contacts so be sure to bring plenty of business cards
• A comprehensive overview of social media innovations from leading practitioners like the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Ontario, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Public Safety Canada, Genome Alberta and many more
• 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
• 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
• The opportunity to learn how to use new social media tools to foster your organization's values and mission in a hands-on environment
• A complimentary packet of research materials that will serve as a helpful resource long after you have attended this conference
• A formal Certificate of Completion, which documents your training achievement and commitment to continuing professional development

Dear Government Communicator,

Government may have been slow to come to the social media party. But now that it is there, it is applying social media in innovative ways. Ways that reflect the unique context of government and the relationship between the professional public service, political leadership and citizens.

All organizations must be mindful of social norms and cultural considerations. Government, however, has an obligation to be especially mindful of its responsibility to respond to the needs and interests of all citizens. This adds extra weight in a government context to factors such as bilingualism, accessibility, data security and individual privacy.

Resourceful government managers have devised practical strategies and tactics that reconcile social media with the responsibilities of government. Attend this conference to apply practical advice and lessons learned from your peers to your own social media strategies and plan.

I've attended the Advanced Learning Institute's (A.L.I.) social media conferences for the past two years and found them to be a unique blend of leading-edge thinkers with practical examples of social media applied in a government context. This conference will be no different. The producers have tapped their networks to identify the newly emerging best case studies of social media in government. To this, they've added some of the best examples of social media in government from the past two years, updated to reflect the way in which the best never repeat themselves, but improve constantly. Finally, the conference also will feature some outstanding thought leaders who will help us to look into the future, anticipating tomorrow's challenges and the strategies we can apply to them.

It's a real pleasure to be chairing this third autumn edition of the A.L.I. "Social Media for Government Conference" in Ottawa on September 29 – October 2, 2009, and I hope you'll join me at this outstanding opportunity to meet, mix with and learn from some of the leading practitioners of social media for government.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:

This conference will feature speakers who have tested and proven the power of social media in public sector settings. They will talk about what worked, what didn't and how to avoid making the mistakes that can lead to failure.

• City of Ottawa created an evaluation framework and methodology for monitoring and evaluating the ROI of their social media initiatives
• Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Center successfully developed a collaborative network within a hierarchical environment
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada achieved employee buy-in with social media, resulting in user-driven innovation, increased productivity and better retention

Register today online or by calling our conference hotline at 773-695-9400. Attend A.L.I.'s "SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOVERNMENT: How To Engage Your Employees And Citizens By Using The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Drive Communication Results," this September in Ottawa, to hear from communicators who are currently social media tools, with results & benefits.