Resource Roundup 9/16

Nonprofits and Photosharing: A Cost-Effective Way to Spread Your Message Online (Michigan Nonprofit Association)
A great summary of what photosharing is, how to do it with a tool like Flikr, and what nonprofits are doing with it.

Simplify the search user experience (Step Two Designs)
Nice look at the key features necessary for a good search experience - particularly for intranets.

NTEN is Listening -- and Learning (NTEN)
Interesting post about how NTEN is following what people are saying about them on the web

Frontline SMS: Great tool for reaching your constituents via SMS (Non-Profit Tech Blog)
Thumbnail review of a product that will let you blast SMS messages to your supporters' cell phones

Contrarian thinking about online organizing (Jon Stahl's Journal)
In a short but sweet post - which got a lot of interesting comments- Jon Stahl postulates that it's too easy to confuse tapping into existing energy as *creating* that energy through online organizing

The Direct Mail Addiction (Nonprofit Online News)
Thoughtful (though perhaps a bit overstated) look at some of the issues involved with direct mail, and some of the reasons that nonprofits may overprioritize it compared to other communication methods

Online Social Networks in Politics: Promise and Frustration (e.politics)
Really insightful look into the opportunities and challenges for politics and advocacy presented by online social networks.

Data Protection and Web Based Applications (ICT Hub Knowledgebase)
I don't know if I agree with the exceedingly cautious tone of this article. But an interesting look at some of the issues with hosted applications - especially free ones.

Google Maps: Seek and Hide (Beaconfire Wire)
Great look at some of the important considerations and challenges when implementing a mashup with Google Maps

Lessons from Katrina Help Media, Volunteer Efforts in Gustav Coverage (MediaShift)
Interesting look at the website and social media efforts geared to help in the Hurricane Gustav efforts