The First Word – Social Media: Where Nouns Are Verbs

By Phil Russo
NAFA Executive Director

Have you "friended" anyone on Facebook?  Has anyone asked you to "link" with them on LinkedIn?  Do you "tweet" or "follow" anyone on Twitter? 

If you’re like so many of us in the 40-and-above age bracket, you may not have ventured into the seemingly dark and scary world of social media where nouns like "friend," "link," and "tweet" have morphed into verbs. But NAFA is here to help you.

Beginning this fall, NAFA will enter the world of social media, and we want you to come with us.  Our deliberate and gradual entry will make it easy for you and will include a LinkedIn group, Facebook page, YouTube channel, blogs, and, yes, "tweets" on Twitter.  Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about these services yet.  Every one of our launches will include explanations of the service and "how to" information to get you going.

NAFA’s Communications Oversight Board, under the direction of Claude Masters, CAFM, and Joanne Marsh, NAFA’s Director of Marketing & Communications, has done a tremendous job researching NAFA’s options and looking at how social media can help Members and Affiliates and provide additional value to you.  They thoroughly researched competitors’ uses of social media, benchmarked with leading-edge associations and corporations, and analyzed the likelihood of member adoption.  Their implementation plan is a wise, level-headed, and progressive approach to entering into social media and clearly delineates NAFA’s aims, goals, and purposes for doing so while avoiding the "me-too" syndrome to which so many organizations have fallen prey. 

Social media will also help NAFA fulfill its mission and vision to be the association for the entire fleet profession.  True to our motto of providing "fleet solutions for fleet professionals," our social media efforts will:

• Bring increased value and enjoyable experiences to Members and Affiliates.
• Make NAFA more nationally recognized.
• Give NAFA improved visibility and contact.
• Provide many new networking opportunities that are always accessible (24/7).
• Make increased use of the Internet and new technology.
• Increase membership recruitment and membership retention rates.
• Enforce NAFA as the recognized authoritative voice of the fleet manager community. 
• Enhance NAFA’s powerful influence and advocacy role.
• Increase participation in programs, services, and volunteer opportunities.
• Develop new partnerships (including global).

With the launch of social media platforms, NAFA will have additional potential of legal risks and liability issues, as with any service and interaction with the public. Among the risks are improper use of copyrighted materials; invasion of a person’s right to privacy; engaging in false and deceptive trade practices; publication of confidential information; defamatory, demeaning, or inappropriate remarks; and use of the sites for advertising purposes.  To make the elements of risk more manageable, we are developing internal and external policies, agreements, and legal notices that consider a variety of users, including members, guests, staff, and visitors.

Look for launch dates to be announced in the coming weeks and throughout the next few months.  And don’t be afraid to come along with us...you’ll be among friends after all!

I look forward to "seeing" you socially!