twestival local - Tweet.Meet.Give. - March 24, 2011

It started with a single tweet...
Last Thursday night, people around the globe got the unique opportunity to come together and donate to a local charity by taking part in a global event, all through one of social medias newest crazes, Twitter. This unique opportunity arose when Amanda Rose in 2008 had the thought that with a single tweet she could begin a global fundraising initiative. That single tweet travelled around the cyber sphere until Amanda Rose, with the help of Twestival teams in 174 countries from around the world, had raised in two years, 1.2 million dollars to help 150 NGO’s.

For the last three years, we have been organising Twestival Galway against one major difficulty, there hadn't been mass adoption of Twitter by the people of Galway. However, Twitters ever growing popularity has now increased to the point that when the Twestival team approached Galwegians over the last few weeks about being part of Twestival or contributing in some way, they had at least heard of Twitter, if not Twestival.

The sense of intrigue aroused by the idea of a Twitter Festival was what made the hosting of this event possible. Many if not all, local Galway businesses who were asked to contribute in some way to Twestival jumped at the opportunity of supporting a local charity using a modern initiative. They were excited by the prospect of being associated with this new technology based event. Even the smallest business knows how important it is to be involved in the new marketing world of social media. Twestival gave local businesses the opportunity to get involved or be left behind!

This year the Twestival Galway team grew in number from just one person to two and together they trekked through the streets of Galway in their bright yellow t-shirts, answering questions about Twestival and how it operates and calling upon every local business they could think of to ask for their support no matter how small.
With all the raffle prizes rounded up, all that remained to do was host the event itself! The House Hotel in Galway under the kindness of Margaret Jenkins kindly offered the use of kitsch and modern reception area in which in which to host the event.

Although the turnout was small with maybe 30 people present, it made for an intimate occasion where people had the opportunity to truly interact on a more personal level. Time and Place Productions  DJ, Colm Dunne provided the music on the night with a mix of chill out House music, a style perfectly befitting the atmosphere of the House hotel venue. Those who were present enjoyed a fun night of socialising and Ellen and Adrian of Crowdscanner, had tailored their neat app to the Twestival event, giving the crowd present the opportunity to get know each other and discover what they had in common, which was shared and projected onto one of the walls in the reception area.

The hope is that next year as Twitters popularity continues to grow, Twestival Galway will be bigger and better than ever, volunteers are always welcome to be part of this unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

It started with a single tweet...and turned into half a million dollars raised for global charities, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to be part of something so new, so different and so enterprising? : )

Twestival Galway would like to thank the following Galway businesses for their generous support by providing raffle prizes in aid of the GSPCA:

Shane and Cathal at Meteor

Niamh at Top Oil

Michael at Fahy Foto

Anthony Ryans

Fat Tonys

Sweetie Pies

Cloon Keen

Busker Brownes

Catherine at Da Tang Noodle House

Tommy at Hearts of Galway

Gourmet Tart Co.

Smyths

Keith at Wiccle

More names are to follow as the sponsors arrive in! : )

We're gearing up towards a fun night this Thursday in the House Hotel at 7pm. If you'd like to help us by participating in the event, tickets are availible online from Amiando.com. Its guaranteed to be a great night and you could win some of the lovely prizes our sponsors have donated!!

Twestival Galway will be held in the lobby of the House Hotel in Galway city. For directions on how to get there please see the map details.

The event on the evening will start at 7pm so if you are around please feel free to pop in for a drink and support us.

The team here at Twestival Galway would like to express support for the Twestival Japan team.

Our well wishes are expressed alongside those other Twestival teams around the world, who, having tweeting their condolences for the people of Japan, ever since last Friday morning’s disaster.

The Twestival team in London commented on the situation in Japan, saying that they recognise the magnitude that’s happening in Japan and the ability of Twitter to “leverage a global voice on March 24th to help.”

On Monday Twestival HQ in London will communicate the plans to support Japan with a single voice on the 24th of March alongside helping all the local charities selected for this year's Twestival.

Twestival Japan’s first sponsor, JustGiving Japan, has already raised 1.5 million since the earthquake in an effort to help support Japan’s worst affected areas.

Twestival is to announce plans in the coming days regarding its work with JustGiving Japan and local Twestival organisations to ensure the impact of Twestival is felt.

If you’d like to help, go to Twestival-Japan.

Twestival Galway is less than one week away.  We are currently looking for sponsorship for the event. If you think you can sponsor us as a local business for a prize, we would be very grateful.

This year Twestival is going 'Local' in cities around the world on Thursday 24 March 2011. Events for Twestival Local will raise funds and awareness for local nonprofits that organizers identify for having an incredible impact within their own community.

Twestivals has had events  in a local pub, a bowling alley, a trapeze studio, and even a giant yacht, all thanks to the generosity of local donors and sponsors who come forward to support the volunteer efforts. Twestival is about using your time, talent and resources to come together on one night to make a difference. Think global, act local