Author Archives: rusnivek

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About rusnivek

Emergency Services

Service to your community

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In the spirit of MLK, I encourage all of you to give back to your community. Big or small, every little bit helps.

A good place to start is your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Comprised of volunteers that train, exercise, and deploy within and outside your community, CERT Teams are an integral part of our national response plan.

Often times, these volunteers are much better prepared because of the free training received by their local emergency service agencies.

Me? On a CERT Team? Yep.
My CERT Team even gave me an award for my service.

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Love my CERT Team! And yes, I still believe local CERT Teams function better if at least one of their members was/is a Firefighter or Paramedic or Police Officer or Emergency Management Professional.

To find out more about the CERT Program or a CERT Team in your area, check out this link: https://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams

I hope all of you contribute and serve your community.

@rusnivek

Safety-PIO-SM-15-001: Maximize your digital real estate

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15-001: Maximize your digital real estate
Agency: Sheriff Patricia Ninmann Topic(s):         Writing for Facebook
Date: 01-16-15 Platform:        Facebook

Immediate posts are important, but using valuable social media space is way more important. This was evident when this press release was plainly copied and pasted into this Sheriff’s Facebook page.

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On social media, people already know that your posts are for “immediate release” because Facebook puts your status in the timeline and then time/date stamps it for everyone. Also writing with all caps infers YELLING or SCREAMING. As public servants, we strive to bring peace to stressful situations including in messaging.

On Facebook, Sheriff’s name is listed right at the top so it isn’t necessary to repeat it again in the content. Email address in a post? Most likely, people will just click the “Comment” button below your post and respond back. They will likely not email you questions.

That space you are using is PRIME digital real estate. Do not repeat already posted information as readers will rapidly lose interest in your post. But DO write a concise and interesting status update with picture(s) to draw more interest from your audience. Remember that social media is a visual medium.

A more effective Facebook post could have read

Today, Dodge County Sheriff’s Officers responded to an auto crash with severe injury involving… <insert picture from crash>

By phrasing it this way:

  1. You identify the agency responding to the incident and the incident itself.
  2. You pull the reader in with a leading headline and help news reporters write their story.
  3. You use a picture from the incident that helps increase interest in your post.
  4. You use Facebook’s prime digital real estate in everyone’s timeline and push good information.

Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.

@rusnivek
 

To download the one-pager, click here: Safety-PIO-SM-15-001

 

 

 

 

Social media does not lure you into terrorism #BadChyron

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Seriously, social media did not lure anyone into a terrorist organization.

C’mon CNN, I expect better chyron-ing.

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We tell many new users (as well as public safety professionals) that social media does not lure anyone into bad circles or make them into bad people.

Just like anything new, users need to be redicent of these new forms of communications. And again, social media is not “going away” – it’s here to stay.

I would highly recommend that you embrace social media and engage your constituents on this “new” medium. And don’t forget, a simple dose of common sense too.

If you are still lost and believe that social media could cause the end of the world, I would suggest you enroll in a social media class (Yes, I happen to teach a few of them).

Happy Friday folks!

@rusnivek

Fast paced changes this week for 1Q 2015

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In Emergency Management, we try to plan for every action.

In fact, Emergency Managers are lauded for “thinking of everything” or every conceivable option.

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This week’s challenges have been particularly faster than others. Logistical issues as well as training issues have dominated this week’s docket.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m looking forward to #AlohaFriday tomorrow.

Being agile with detailed planning will be the key to maintaining this pace through 1Q 2015.

Stay warm peeps!

@rusnivek

Ohio State win should be enjoyed ON A COUCH!

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First off, congrats to The Ohio State University Buckeyes on their national championship win last night. O-H-I-O.

However, mini riots and torching things on High Street just doesn’t make sense.

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If you are so happy, why would you burn something? In college, I remember not having much (like milk crates and plastic sporks) and the last thing I needed was to have to spend another $400 on a cheap couch.

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I guess I’ll never understand why it’s so cool to burn your couch.

@rusnivek