May 3, 2010
Mr. Bob Mize
Director of Development
Texas Boys Ranch
Dear Mr. Mize,
Enclosed is a report that will explain the benefits of using Facebook, Twitter, Texas Tech 4-H
club, and Texas Tech Chemical Society in order to expand public relations and voluntarism
for the Texas Boys Ranch. This report was written by Mathew Harlen, Lalo Balderrama,
Jason Flores, and Brian Lovera all undergraduate students at Texas Tech University.
The report is the result of several meetings with all four writers. Research of easy access web
based social networks that would be most likely to increase exposure for TBR was done.
Also research of student organizations at Texas Tech University was conducted in order to
find organizations that would be increase voluntarism at TBR.
We have included all information for the four recommendations. Starting with The TTU
Cehmical Society followed by Facebook, Twitter, and TTU 4-H Club respectively.
We believe, however, that the report will provide all the information you need in order to
make a decision for a tool to expand the Texas Boys Ranch public relations and voluntarism
at TBR.
Thank you for the opportunity to write this report for you. We do hope this information will
be beneficial for you and the Texas Boys Ranch.
Sincerely,
Jason Flores
Mathew Harlan
Lalo Balderrama
Brian Lovera
1. Introduction to the Project
The Texas Boys Ranch and Texas Tech University have been working to positively mold the
lives of children and young adults for many years. While two separate organizations; the
beliefs of responsibility, hard work, character and wisdom stand out in their respected
communities.
As a non-profit organization, Bob Mize and the Texas Boys Ranch rely heavily on
donations, volunteers and service events to continue to benefit the lives of young men. Texas
Tech is a university with a wealth of knowledge, notoriety, diversity and the ability to
contribute to organizations throughout the Southwest.
By combining the desires of student organizations at Texas Tech and the needs of
more volunteers at the ranch, an opportunity is brought forward that is beneficial to all parties
involved. The character and responsibility associated with both Texas Tech’s Collegiate 4-H
organization and American Chemical Association entwine with the ideals of the Texas Boys
Ranch.
In teaming up with Texas Tech’s Collegiate 4-H and American Chemical
Association gives you and the Texas Boys Ranch a chance to participate in service events
that will promote both the organizations and Texas Boys Ranch throughout the region.
We also believe implementing Texas Boys Ranch to social networking sites such as
Facebook and Twitter will help Texas Boys Ranch and the staff to promote, organize and
better communicate with the community.
2. How we judged each recommendation
We have conducted extensive research about campus organizations at Texas Tech and Social
Networking services. The secondary research was conducted by looking at certain criteria
about the organization. This report has considered a wide array of criteria when it comes to
selecting organizations and social networking services for your organization.
Our secondary research included searching through a vast array of choices and narrowing
them down based on a certain criteria. The first criteria asked the question, would the
organization work well around little kids? This would rule out any organizations such as
fraternities, sororities, or any organizations that might be a bad influence on children. We
then took into consideration does the organization have any religious or secular conflicts that
might hinder a relationship between your organization and the group. Finally, we asked does
the group share common values or interest with the Texas Boys Ranch that would warrant
further information.
While searching the internet to select a new social networking service for your organization,
we considered two things when selecting something that would be appropriate for you. Our
first consideration is can the social networking service do something that has practically
value for you as an organization? Secondly, can the social networking medium be controlled
to benefit kids of all ages?
Both volunteer organizations and social networking sites are perfect for the Texas Boys
Ranch in that they have no start up or maintenance costs.
3. Our Findings
We have done extensive research about organizations and social media sites that will help
you at the Texas Boys Ranch. Based on our process of selection, we have selected two
college organizations and two social networking sites that can help you at the Texas Boys
Ranch. These opportunities consist of: The American Chemical Society at Texas Tech,
Facebook, Twitter, and the Collegiate 4-H.
1. The American Chemical Society at Texas Tech
The American Chemical Society will help you entertain your students during the summer
months. They have agreed to come out to the ranch and put on a chemistry magic show. This
will help you entertain the kids during the summer months while saving money on summer
entertainment. It will also help you to create a lasting relationship with a possible partner in
education.
The American Chemical Society- Student Affiliate at Texas Tech is a definite candidate to
help you entertain students during the summer months. The organization's goal is “to unite
students interested in Chemistry and to provide an experience for professional spirit and
spread awareness of Chemistry to the local community.”[1] They have done several events
that would benefit your organization. One of these events was a Chemistry Magic Show for
local elementary schools, and nursing homes.1 They have also put on a Sodium Polyacrylate
event at the local school.1 Sodium Polyacrylate is used in the production of fake snow and
other things.[2] After contacting the American Chemical Society at Texas Tech for you, the
American Chemical Society wants to perform a Chemical Magic Show for you at the Ranch
They have agreed to come out to the Texas Boys Ranch for one day during the month of July
to perform a Chemistry Magic Show. They are available during the summer months, since
most of their members are taking summer classes. The Chemistry Magic Show involves
using liquid nitrogen to make some scrumptious ice cream.[3] They also conduct an
experiment on how to build your own solar panel.3 They teach the kids how to make Elephant
Toothpaste.3 They also will explain the Kinetics of a glow stick, or how a glow stick works.3
Finally, they will demonstrate how to make your own biofuels.3 During the show, they will
explain how everything works for the kids and answer any questions the anyone has.
To start a relationship with the American Chemical Society at Texas Tech, your organization
will need to do two things. The only thing the American Chemical Society needs from you is
for you to contact them by May 19th. The only materials the American Chemical Society will
need at the ranch is a place to perform that is not wood, since wood is flammable.
If you have any more questions or would like arrange a time, please get in contact with
President Nyssa Martinez at nyssa.martinez@ttu.edu, or Vice President Malik Al-Afyouni at
malik.al-afyouni@ttu.edu.[4] You can also visit their website at:
http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs or their Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4919354826&v=info. If you wish to learn more
about the members, you can view pictures of the members at
http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs/Albums/chemistrynationalweek.html
2. Facebook
Facebook is an easy way to attract volunteers in a place that everyone uses daily. Facebook is
an easy to maintain environment that has no fee. Facebook also provides a place where you
can post pictures and videos about the organization.
Facebook is a social networking website where anyone over the age of 13, with a valid e-mail
address, can become a Facebook user.[5] Facebook is the leading social networking site
based on monthly unique visitors.[6] Facebook is the most popular social networking site in
several English-speaking countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United
States.5 Users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to
notify friends about themselves. Additionally, users can join networks organized by
workplace, school, or college.5
There are many advantages of using Facebook as a way for staying in touch. It is possible to
create a profile with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information and other personal
information. Communicating with friends and other users can be done through private or
public messages or a chat feature. Users can also create and join interest or fan group. It
should be noted that some of which are maintained by organizations as a means of
advertising.
Facebook has a number of ways users can interact. One of these is the Wall. This is a space
on every user's profile page that allows friends to post messages for other users to see. With a
Wall, Texas Boys Ranch will be able to post notifications of several different things. These
include updates about upcoming events, or what is happening in the ranch. They can also
upload photos, or videos to the user’s page. This will allow the Texas Boys Ranch to upload
pictures from events or other things that the organization might be doing. Status updates will
allow users to inform their friends of their whereabouts and actions. With a status update, the
Texas Boys Ranch can provide critical information to their supporters about what the Ranch
needs in the way of supporters or financial problems the ranch might be having. News Feeds
appear on every user's homepage, and highlights information including profile changes,
upcoming events, and birthdays of the user's friends. Facebook also uses an instant messaging
application called Chat. This allows users to communicate with other users, such as friends,
family, and other people. The chat feature is similar in functionality to desktop-based instant
messengers, such as AOL-instant messenger or MSN instant messenger. With the Facebook's
Chat feature, the Texas Boys Ranch can talk to people who are looking to volunteer around
the Ranch, or you can also talk to kids on Facebook who might be going through a rough
time on their life and council them through a tough situation.
Setting up a Facebook account is an easy process, especially for a non-profit organization.
From the Facebook.com homepage, click the link called create a page for a celebrity, band
or business near the bottom of the page. On the next page, select Brand, Product, or
Organization. From the drop down menu that appears, select non-profit. The final step for
this page is for you to name your Facebook page as you want it, and confirm that you are the
official representative of the organization by checking the box at the bottom of the page. On
the next page, supply a valid email address, a valid date of birth, and complete the captcha
form below in the security check section. Also, it might be wise to read the Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy to assuage any remaining fears or concerns you might have about Facebook.
Finally, click the check box to confirm that you have read these two things. After you press
create the page button, go to your webmail and confirm the Facebook page by clicking the
link in the email.
Uploading videos is an easy task as well. Once you login into your account, select the video's
tab at the top of the page. From the next page, you have two choices. If you have a web cam
you can record, or you can click upload to upload a video file from your computer. To upload
a file, click upload. A box will appear in the middle of the page. Click Browse on the box,
and then select the video you in the next dialogue box that opens.
Anyone can manage a Facebook account and you do not have to have expert computer skills.
To post on a Facebook, all you have to do is simply to type the text into the desired field and
click the submit button. Since any one can do it, it is convenient for the Texas Boys Ranch to
open an account with Facebook. Facebook will help the Texas Boys Ranch to advertise and
inform massive amounts of people in a very simple and convenient way.
3. Twitter
Twitter is a technology that allows you to attract volunteers in a place where people post
updates about the world around them. It will allow you to attract more volunteers in a place
where people are looking for information. Twitter is a technology that is has no cost and will
help you to gain volunteers by posting updates about the organization and keeping in contact
with other organizations and other volunteers.
The technological and social networking world is growing every day. The social networking
technologies are not limited to private use anymore, since companies, government, and
education systems are all jumping on the “technology band-wagon”. Social networking
websites are leading the charge in this technology era. MySpace, Facebook, Skype, and
Twitter are the most popular social networks. These social networks have been used at new
heights since the last decade. Networks were first created for individual use. However, over
the past few years organizations such as Microsoft, Yahoo, and others have started to take
advantage of this new and expanding technology.
Twitter is the youngest of the social networks. The definition of Twitter is a social network
and micro blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as
tweets.[7] Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's
profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers.[8] Twitter
is used mainly as a marketing and public relation channel for companies who wish to expand
their customer basis.8 Twitter is free to all so there is no fee for an account.
Setting up a Twitter account is an easy process, and only takes about 5 to 10 minutes. From
the homepage at twitter.com, click the Give it a Try link on the right hand side of the page.
On the next page, you will need to supply your organization's full name, a username to login
with, a password, and a valid email. We would recommend reading the Terms of Service, and
the Privacy Policy to avoid any future conflicts. Once you click the create my account button,
you will be directed to a series of webpages where you can find friends and other
organizations on Twitter. Once you complete these series of pages, your organization will be
ready to tweet to your heart's content. To learn more about how to setup a twitter account,
you can view this Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YGp4cWdndc.
It takes less than 5 minutes to post a tweet on a computer, and less than a minute on a cell
phone. To post a tweet, you will need to login into your account that you created in the
previous section. When you login from a computer or a cellphone, you will most likely find a
box that has the name of What's happening. This is where you will enter the information you
want to post to the public. However, you can send private messages to people as well. To
send a private message to one your followers, use the following command: D users name the
message you wanted to send and hit update. To read more on direct messages, you can read
this webpage, http://help.twitter.com/forums/10711/entries/14606. It explains more about a
direct tweet and more uses of direct tweets. Your tweets can also be forwarded to your
Facebook, which will combine information, maximize viewers, and help to promote your
organization.
Twitter can help you spread information quicker, faster, and with less cost. Twitter has a
basic strategy that would be efficient for a non-profit organization. Using twitter, you can
send tweets about what the organization needs in the way of volunteers for certain projects.
Tweets would be sent to all of your followers at any time, these tweets can be sent from your
computer or from a cell phone depending on your phone's capabilities. Announcements of
any kind can be posted at any time. You can also use direct twitter messages as a way to
publish information to a specific volunteer. If your volunteers have a twitter channel, you can
send them direct tweets and you do not have to worry about leaving them a message on a
machine and then worry if they got it or not. To learn more about what twitter can do for
you, and has done for other businesses, please visit the Twitter 101 webpage at
http://business.twitter.com/twitter101. Also, the following article by Chris Brogan can help
you to understand how Twitter can help you to reach more people and volunteers on the
internet. The web address is http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-forbusiness.
Twitter is a vibrant community of people that requires little to no action by you. Since
Twitter is an easy to access service, you could maintain this service in their spare time. The
organization does not have to post a tweet every day, they could post a tweet every week or
maybe twice a month.
4. Collegiate 4-H
Collegiate 4-H is a organization that will help you to do things at the ranch. They are a group
of people that are experienced in the ranch environment and have experience in the real
world. They can be a role model to the kids and help to get the kids established with colleges.
They can also provide a day of service during the summer to help entertain by taking them to
a Texas Tech basketball game.
Collegiate 4-H is a nation-wide organization for college students who wish to carry on the
dedication of the betterment of “Head, Heart, Hands and Health” past their youth into
adulthood.[9] Collegiate 4-H has been building pride and responsibility among its members
for over 90 years.[10] They feel one of the best ways to instill these virtues are through
service opportunities. Whether it is teaching and helping the 4-H youth or servicing the
community, Collegiate 4-H teaches students to support each other and their community.[11]
They believe that the opportunity to team up with the Texas Boys Ranch will give them the
chance to impact a great organization and establish bonds based on mutual interests. The 4H club can bring to your kids a group of folks that have experience in a rural setting and can
relate to the kids as teachers and role models.
Currently, Collegiate 4-H thrives on fundraising and monthly service projects.10 The
Collegiate 4-H club would love to volunteer at the Texas Boys Ranch, so as to benefit the
ranch. They have agreed to come out to the ranch for one week in the summer to volunteer,
teach, and have fun with your staff and children. The first thing that the 4-H club do is to take
your kids on a hike through the ranch. This would help develop relationships with the kids
and influence the kids through the hikes itself. During this excursion, the kids could see how
team work, good moral choices, and other things can influence their lives, and how the
Collegiate 4-H organization embodies these ideas and traditions.
Another thing Collegiate 4-H could do for the Texas Boys Ranch is to help high school
seniors obtain a scholarship for college. The Collegiate 4-H organization hands out one
scholarship to a graduating senior every summer. “In giving back to the youth 4-H, we also
give a scholarship to a graduating senior each summer at Texas 4-H Roundup.”10 This would
help you at the Ranch by providing an opportunity to move one child off to a better life that
they might not have if they only had a high school education. This would also help to bring
your organization and the Collegiate 4-H closer, therefore allowing more kids to get an
education through this scholarship.
They could also help to entertain the kids during the summer by participating in the Game
Day celebration. This is a one day event where “participants attending “Game Day” get to
meet Raider Red and the Masked Rider. Lunch is provided, and then they get to see a Lady
Raider Basketball Game. Other activities will vary from year to year, but overall it is a
wonderful event for all 4-H members, parents, and extension agents.”[12] During this great
event, the kids will meet two of the greatest symbols of Texas Tech, and they get to see what
outstanding character Texas Tech is built upon. This event will also help to get the kids off
the ranch for the day and entertain them with a great sporting event. While they are off the
ranch, you can some things done around the ranch that you normally couldn't get done with
the kids on the ranch. All you will have to do is to mail the flyer they have at their website.
You can download the flyer at http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/collegiate4-h/flyer.doc.12
If you would like further information about what they can do for the ranch, you can contact
Suzzane Watson, the President of the Collegiate of 4-H. You can email her at
suzanne.watson@ttu.edu. You can also use the address listed in the flyer if you want to send
a letter to the organization.
4. Conclusions
We can draw several conclusions when it comes to teaming up with these two Texas Tech
organizations, and why you should start using Twitter and Facebook.
First, organizations such as Collegiate 4-H will show the children at the ranch that Texas
Tech students can be seen as both role models, and personal mentors. During these service
events, the kids will see first-hand the joys of responsibility, education, principles and
honor. The boys at the ranch are ten to fifteen years younger than the college volunteers.
This gives them a great chance to learn about life, school, and fun from a young adult who is
neither a parent, nor a guardian.
Second, we can conclude that the two organizations involvement in this event will bring
specific tools, and lessons that will benefit the ranch. Collegiate 4-H will work to achieve
bonds with the children, and the staff at the ranch. Their rural background will show the kids
the advantages of hard work and responsibility. This will help to establish reinforce the idea
that even though kids may not be from urban areas that Texas Tech does care.
Third, we can conclude that these programs will help to inspire the children. Besides the
physical work and activities participated at the ranch, the Texas Tech groups will show the
importance of an education. Since the Chemistry Magic Show requires an in-depth
knowledge of chemistry, the students at the ranch will see that someone who is educated can
perform an amazing array of tricks, and can do something amazing with their talents. This
will inspire them to do hopefully do better in school, and work harder towards their goals in
life.
Fourth, we can conclude that services such as Twitter, and Facebook can provide your
organization a place to develop relationships with other organizations, new volunteers, and
extend relationships with current volunteers. Twitter, and Facebook will allow you to publish
information. This information can inform people and organizations that you may need help in
one area, or another. These two services can act as a way to publish information on the
current requirements of certain projects, or organizational needs.
Finally, we can conclude that services such as Twitter, and Facebook can be used to reach out
to kids or keep up with students that have moved away. Most children have free access to the
internet through their schools or a local library. Students have found that using both Twitter
and Facebook is a good way to keep up with their friends and their teachers. The Texas Boys
Ranch can use Twitter to find new students that are tweeting that they having problems, and
then message the students with help to their issues. With a Facebook account, you can also
message former students that moved away to college and find out how they are doing. You
can see who their friends are, what courses they are taking, or anything else they post on
Facebook.
5. Recommendations
After reading our report, we would recommend you should take several actions. The first is
that you start a Facebook, and a Twitter account at your convenience. The second is that you
should contact the American Chemical Society by May 19th. Finally, we recommend that you
should contact with the collegiate 4-H sometime within the next two weeks to set up a time.
The first action we recommend you do is to start a Twitter and Facebook . After you start up
the accounts, you can post whenever sounds convenient to you. We would suggest linking
these two together. Also, consider using Facebook as method of uploading videos about the
organization, since you have expressed that your current method of uploading videos is not to
your satisfaction.
The second course of action we recommend is to contact the American Chemical Society at
Texas Tech by May 19th. They will need time to prepare for the show, and order any
chemicals that they need for the show. They also need to make sure that they have the
appropriate people to perform such an event. We would also recommend that you select a
place for them to perform. They do not care where they perform, as long as the environment
is safe to use chemicals in.
Finally, we would recommend that you to make contact with the Collegiate 4-H within the
next two weeks. While the organization can be contacted at your convenience, it would be
harder to arrange the members they would need after school releases for summer break. They
will also need time to select a basketball game for the Game Day event.
If the Collegiate 4-H volunteers are going to sleep on the ranch, we suggest lodging the
members with the kids. This would prove an invaluable experience and would help the kids
learn from the members. They would also have a chance to form a strong bond between the
kids and the members.
Works Cited:
[1] American Chemical Society Homepage. http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs/. Last modified:February 13,2010.
Owner: Texas Tech University. Can be retrieved through google by searching www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs.
[2] Wikipedia page on Sodium Polyacrylate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_polyacrylate Last modified:
April 27, 2010. Owner: wikipedia.org. Can be retrieved through google by searching Sodium Polyacrylate.
[3] Email conversation with Dr. Bradley. Emails sent between April 22 and April 23, 2010. Dr. Bradley is a
Assistant Professor at Texas Tech.
[4] American Chemical Society People's page. http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs/people.html. Last modified:
February 13, 2010. Owner: http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs/people.html. Can be retrieved through google by
searching www.orgs.ttu.edu/acs.
[5] Wikipedia's Facebook page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook. Last modified: April 26, 2010. Owner:
wikipedia.org. Can be retrieved through google by searching Facebook.
[6] New York Times Article on Facebook.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/facebook_inc/index.html. Last modified: May 27, 2009.
Owner: New York Times. Can be retrieved through google by searching with the terms Facebook New York
Times.
[7] Blog article called Twitter for Dummies. http://jenuinejen.com/2008/04/29/twitter-for-dummies/. Last
modified: April 27, 2010. Owner: http://jenuinejen.com. Can be retrived through google by searching Twitter
for Dummies jenuine jen.
[8] Blog article called How to Use Twitter to Grow Your Business. http://www.copyblogger.com/growbusiness-twitter/. Last modified: April 27, 2010. Owner: www.copyblogger.com. Can be retrieved through
google by searching How to Use Twitter to Grow Your Business copyblogger.
[9] National Collegiate 4-H Homepage. http://www.collegiate4h.org/ Last modified: April 27, 2010. Owner:
Collegiate 4-H Organization. Can be retrieved through by searching National Collegiate 4-H Homepage.
[10] Texas Tech Collegiate 4-H homepage. http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/collegiate4-h/index.html. Last modified:
February 27, 2009. Owner: Texas Tech Collegiate 4-H organization. Can be retrieved through google by
searching Collegiate 4-H TTU.
[11] About page for Texas Tech Collegiate 4-H. http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/collegiate4-h/about.html. Last
modified: February 27, 2009. Owner:Texas Tech University. Can be retreived through google by searching
Texas Tech Collegiate 4-H: About Page.
[12] Activities page for Texas Tech Collegiate 4-H. http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/collegiate4-h/activities.html. Last
modified: March 31, 2009. Owner: Texas Tech University. Can be retrieved through google by searching Texas
Tech Collegiate 4-H: Activities Page.