Every organization or group that I know is trying to go GREEN and conserve resources, especially paper. Technology, specifically electronic copies, is fast becoming the solution. The first step an organization must consider is what they hope to achieve by going digital. Based on their identified goals and outcomes organizations then need to identify the specific needs of their audience. My daughter's school has gone to an electronic newsletter. Their main focus was to cut down on paper and the time it takes to compose and distribute the newsletters. The newsletter format remains the same format however; instead of printing off hundreds of copies the classroom teacher simply e-mails the newsletter to their parents from a distribution list established at the beginning of the school year. Previous months editions are archived on the school's website for easy access. The audience is still getting the same information just in a new delivery. Personally I think this is far more effective because the communication tool is going directly to the parents' inbox.

I also spend a lot of time working with our local Girl Scout Service Area. We recently merged from three smaller neighborhoods into one larger service area and recognized early on that we needed to find a more efficient way to communicate with Leaders and parents in the Service Area. One of the neighborhoods had a website which was great for sharing information but it wasn't a place for leaders to interact and share ideas. The group agreed that we needed a place where all members could contribute and share as well as receive important information. We agreed that there was still a need for our community to have a public facing website that told about our Service Area and provided links to Girl Scout activities around our area, but we also agreed that there was a need for an electronic space where leaders can share and get information. The Service Area has gone Google. We first created a Google Group where we could share meeting and notes with all leaders.  We have since expanded our Google tools and we are also using Google Calendar, allowing us to invite people to all Service Area events. Google Docs have also been incorporated to help us keep track of our ever changing roster. This change came with a learning curve for many involved; in fact, a few were intimidated by using this type of Web 2.0 technology that would allow us the capability of sharing information instantaneously.  Some of the leaders are still not sharing information in the group site but they are going there to get information. Perhaps a little social get-together with an in-service on how to use Google tools might get them over the hump. In addition, we still support the leaders with e-mails pertaining to updated information to keep them involved and engaged but they can go to the group and generate discussions or e-mails on their own. I believe by the end of the school year all leaders will be comfortable with this communication tool.  If we can continue to highlight the benefits the leaders will realize the amount of time it saves not to mention the positive benefits we are providing to our environment.

So, if your organization is ready to Go Green then take a moment to explore all the electronic options available to you online.  One or a combination or options are bound to be the perfect fit in helping you go GREEN. Below are a few links that will give you ideas on how to go green.

Sierra Club - The Green Life

Good Housekeeping - Easy Ways to Go Green