Monday Buzz: Google Glass, Giving Back

The possibilities of Google Glass in the association space are endless, despite the criticism the wearable tech has endured for its alleged invasiveness and privacy concerns. To spark use of Glass for good causes, Google announced earlier this year it would give a $25,000 grant and Glass to select nonprofits.

After evaluating more than 1,300 submissions, Google chose five winners  (opens in a new tab), with purposes ranging from fundraising to educating.

Google Glass has been put to good use by associations in the past, with the Washington Restaurant Association providing a good example of how the technology can be employed during a conference. But this round of grant winners will tackle even more ambitious projects.

The grant winners, including their intended uses of Glass, are as follows:

• 3000 Miles to a Cure  (opens in a new tab): This group devoted to finding a cure for brain cancer will use Glass to provide a unique first-person perspective of the group’s participation in the bicycle event Race Across America.
• Classroom Champions  (opens in a new tab): This mentor-focused nonprofit will use its Glass and grant to allow Paralympic competitors to document their training and events for use in the organization’s materials for students in high-need schools.
• Women’s Audio Mission  (opens in a new tab): The San Francisco group will use Glass to augment educational programs that aid girls interested in science and audio pursuits.
• The Hearing and Speech Agency  (opens in a new tab): This Baltimore organization will explore the possibilities of Glass in helping people with communication difficulties.
• Mark Morris Dance Group/Brooklyn Parkinson Group  (opens in a new tab): These groups will use Glass to provide guided exercise videos to help people who are living with Parkinson’s disease.

Tweet of the Day

7 things you can do to boost email results this week (by @Real  (opens in a new tab) Magnet) #assnchat  (opens in a new tab) http://t.co/KAdJZYxnMT  (opens in a new tab)

— eBallot (@ebvote) July 14, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

Newsletters are back in vogue, with several organizations and individuals sparking a reinvention of the popular means of outreach. So why shouldn’t this be the week your association revamps its newsletter strategy  (opens in a new tab) to capitalize on this trend? (ht @votenet  (opens in a new tab))

Other Good Reads

Why do association boards fail? Steve Drake of SCD Group is looking for your feedback prior to a session he’ll be holding during the 2014 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition  (opens in a new tab). Complete a survey  (opens in a new tab) to provide your input before he leads the session in Nashville in August.

Looking past tried-and-true event venues: Event Manager Blog’s Andy Johnston has six unconventional ideas  (opens in a new tab) that may take a bit of work to pitch but could spark new life in your association’s next event.

Know where you stand with Microsoft support: Support for Windows XP has already gone out the window, but as CMSWire‘s David Roe points out  (opens in a new tab), XP isn’t the only Microsoft offering that will be undergoing a shake-up this year. Make sure your association is ready.

(Google)