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SpunOut.ie January digest: Cold but unconquered!

Blog: Cold, wet but fired up, what we were up to in January.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

The weather might have been cold, wet and dark, but the SpunOut.ie crew at HQ were back with a bang in January. After a huge year in 2007, we’re all revved up to launch SpunOut.ie into cyber brilliance.

Some of the highlights in January included:

  • Starting a major national recruitment campaign for our two new positions here at SpunOut.ie. More info at www.spunout.ie/jobs
  • Posting 32 great new youth media articles, action opportunities and info factsheets to the site, such as Louise Elliot ranting her rage in ‘Hair Agony’.
  • Starting a major website review process with 30 volunteers (including youth workers, health professionals and 16-25 year olds) to help proof, edit and plan for better site content and navigation.
  • Rallying the troops at our first Youth Board gathering of 2008, which you can read about in Clare Herbert’s blog ‘SpunOutters ready for action’.
  • Hosting our second Advisory Network meeting at which we met with representatives from 15 national agencies and projects, tapped their brains for ideas and expertise and shared ours.
  • Welcoming Galway student, Ciarán Leinster who has joined us on work placement for the next few weeks. We have every intention of working him like crazy. Poor fella.
  • Working with The Irish Examiner on a new drugs awareness feature.
  • Linking with The Tubridy Show on RTE Radio One, which hosted Youth Board member Paddy Duffy on two occasions. Paddy did his thing on the topics of ‘the year in politics ’07 and movers and shakers for the year’ as well as ‘the ins and outs of lads magazines’, whilst Youth Board member Clare Herbert gave a review and prediction of ‘arts and culture in ’07 and the year ahead’. Both played blinders.
  • Ruairí had his crystal ball out when he took part in The Futures Ireland consultative panel day at Croke Park, where 30 people from diverse interests across Ireland joined in a new think tank project to plan and plot for the Ireland of the future.
  • We were once again generously hosted by the team at Google’s European HQ where they offered us great advice and support on developing SpunOut.ie and using our AdWords grant.
  • Susan was busy developing our new marketing and communications strategy, including starting a new SpunOut.ie project with a group of Masters students at NUIG.
  • We powered ahead with plans to make SpunOut.ie more youth-led by planning for solid decision making structures that ensure young people forever lead the way when it comes to SpunOut.ie and how it develops.
  • Finally, we continued to make links with other groups and organisations, receive expert advice from generous individuals, develop and moderate the site, strengthen our office systems and generally get things in place for a rockin’ year ahead.


Overall, a great month that sets us up nicely for an even better year ahead. Jeez, the positivity is flowing!
 

Snippets of what’s up for February

  • Focus groups and research into new creative marketing techniques.
  • Supporting the Future’s Ireland youth consultation process.
  • ‘Wild Flowers’ fundraiser for SpunOut.ie and BelongTo in Sligo.
  • SpunOut.ie team presenting to the Irish League of Credit Unions conference.
  • Working on the Irish Association of Adolescent Health project.
  • Short-listing of interview candidates for new jobs.