Here is the full CivicSurf documentary.  It’s in two parts to get round the 10 minute limit to YouTube movies.  Please enjoy and give us feedback in the comments below.

Part One

Part Two

Of course if you want a copy on DVD please email shane@civicsurf.org.uk.

So many people have asked for our documentary on DVD (it’s called “Blogging - a new way to lead”) that we’re adding a super-quick request link from this website. Click the button marked “Click here for a CivicSurf DVD”, on the right side of this page, to ask for a copy.

You can embed the CivicSurf DVD button into your own blog or webpage using this code:

Large button:

<a href=”mailto:shane@civicsurf.org.uk?subject=Please send me a CivicSurf DVD”><img src=”http://civicsurf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bigcivicdvd.png”></a>

Small button:

<a href=”mailto:shane@civicsurf.org.uk?subject=Please send me a CivicSurf DVD”><img src=”http://civicsurf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/smcivicdvd.png”></a>

The link will generate an email to Shane - shane (at) civicsurf.org.uk.

That’s the first minute of the film. 14 more to follow. We ‘re almost ready to send out copies of the documentary and booklets to Local Authorities and public bodies around the country. The recipient CEOs are invited to show the film to senior officers and members. We’ll also help out with 25 events by arranging for a local blogger to attend and answer any questions about what the reality of blogging is like.

If you would like a DVD copy of the documentary (including 3 booklets), extra booklets or to arrange for us to get a blogger to you then please email.

I’ve added a page to the site to describe “What is CivicSurf?” The page includes a downloadable PDF (single page A4). Hopefully this might be helpful to any officers wanting to discuss the project with colleagues.

We asked the opinion of the people on this site and a few Gallomanor friends in local government and the response was strongly in favour of civicsurf.

We’ve even started developing a logo and soon this website will transfer to www.civicsurf.org.uk with a fresh new look.

One of the reasons I particularly liked civicsurf was that it gives a label to something important that was previously undefined. civicsurf is the aggregate of online local information about a town or area. It is comprised of blogs, sites such as fixmystreet.com, local press and public bodies. In essence the civicsurf is like a public meeting occurring online all day everyday. Our project will inspire civic leaders to get involved in that meeting, those conversations through contributing and hopefully leading.

Colin McKay, a Canadian Government communicator and blogger and social media pioneer extraordinaire, has written The Secret Underground Guide to Social Media for Organisations. It is not a technical guide. More a cultural, managerial guide to avoid the roadblocks set by IT and legal departments. Colin has blogged about it himself.
At 23 pages it is a quick and enjoyable read.

Norfolk’s leading regional paper has picked up on the Cllr2.0 project. It tells us that we are creating “grassroots democracy at the click of a button”. A touch of hyperbole aside the article lets our councillors say why they are taking part and lists their blogs.

But you’ve got to question the paper’s internet strategy when a story like this isn’t on their website.