Archive for June, 2008

BigTent launches in Nebraska

Published June 30, 2008 Big Group Additions Leave a Comment
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Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Bethel MOPS! This active North Platte, NE group is our first in the state — a feat we owe to the innovative work of their Publicity Director, Kendra Carper.

In her efforts to spread the word about MOPS, Kendra was delighted to discover BigTent as a web solution for her group. Kendra raves, “Every part of Big Tent is created as though it was intended for our group!” She’s a particular fan of Big Tent’s color-coded calendar, our folder for sharing newsletters and other documents, and sub-groups for organizing her steering team.

Kendra has been involved with Bethel MOPS for three years. When asked what fuels her community involvement, she said, “I believe whole-heartedly in MOPS International’s ministry philosophy that ‘Better Moms Make a Better World.’ I love helping women become better mommies, which in turn grows a whole generation of better kids.”

Kendra credits her husband, Steven, for helping her balance her schedule and build quality ministries within her MOPS group. When not working with MOPS, Kendra is busy with her two boys, four-year-old Jackson and one-year-old Brady, and the family’s “temperamental dachsund,” Abby.

Our team applauds your hard work, Kendra, and wishes you and Bethel MOPS the best of luck in your ongoing endeavors!

All Aboard! BigTent rides Cluetrain

Published June 12, 2008 Big Thoughts Leave a Comment
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We just can’t seem to leave you alone! We love it when our group admin list teems with suggestions of new ideas. We’re giddy when a new user takes our survey on ways to improve our current technology. We devote many of our communications to spotlighting our groups’ efforts to stay innovative and organized.

You may be wondering, what’s our thinking around always stirring up the conversation with members? Recently, Laney and I participated in a conference honoring the 10-year anniversary of the Cluetrain Manifesto. Back in ‘98, some visionary techies declared that marketing was going to completely change, and companies had better get with the program. They predicted the extinction of “one way marketing,” where companies have control over what is said about their products and services. Instead, they spoke of marketing becoming a two-way conversation, where customers would spread their product reviews in wide-open public forums on the Internet. According to the manifesto, companies who participated in these conversations with authentic and honest responses would thrive, while those who tried to control all the messages would, well, die a slow and painful death.

Now here we are in 2008, where the incredible channels of blogging and social networking give power to the people, who in turn keep companies honest. There is no room for “spin.” We at Big Tent couldn’t agree more! Our team is here because we’re passionate about a partnership with our groups and their members. We love your ideas. And if you haven’t been part of the dialogue yet, please feel free to send us a line at hello@bigtent.com — or better yet, post it in your blog.

-Donna Novitsky, BigTent CEO