Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Florida Tweets

Last week I had my first experience with using Twitter for a technical support issue. Who would think you could get instant customer service from a little tool called Twitter. I was very impressed with how fast and willing the computer company was to help me with my issue. Quite frequently I still hear “I just don’t get Twitter, nor do I think I will ever use it.”

While many governments are still struggling with what Twitter is and how it can be used, there are many Florida governments that have embraced using the free technology/service. Twitter is very simple and easy to use. It is also good to know and understand why you want to use Twitter. Don’t just do because it is a shiny new toy. If you want to syndicate your news, training, podcast, vodcast, fast facts, program highlights, or whatever you feel is news worthy, Twitter is the way to go! Especially, if you want it out on the web fast.

Twitter has been a valuable professional networking tool. I follow, or think I follow, just the right tweeters, magazines, news and government organizations, to keep up with the technology and Gov 2.0 professionals. Often, when someone e-mails me a news article and I am able to say, “Yeah, I saw that on Twitter about three hours ago.”  Sometimes there will be tweets that you find will not be that important to you or your organization.

Twitter is also a really great listening tool. Twitter can also be used like I described above, to have really good customer service, receive quick feedback from the web and your followers. Just think if you are a law enforcement agency, and people report a crime from their phone using the camera or video camera, with a Lat/Long to be reported with the tweet. There are many possibilities of what you can use it for.

Below is a short list of what I have compiled for governments in Florida using twitter to push their information out. You are welcome to use the comments section below to add your Twitter account information.

It’s not about the technology, it’s about the communication, community, transparency, and citizen engagement.

~Happy Tweeting!

Governments in Florida Tweeting:

http://twitter.com/myfwc - FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
http://twitter.com/FLDEPAlert- FL Dept. of Environmental Protection
http://twitter.com/EasyAsOne - FL Dept of Environmental Protection
http://twitter.com/flstateparks - FL State Parks
http://twitter.com/mygfbt - Great FL Birding Trail
http://twitter.com/GetOutdoorsFL - Get Outdoors Florida
http://twitter.com/FloridaDMS - FL Dept of Management Services
http://twitter.com/FLStateWatch - FL Division of Emergency Services
http://twitter.com/myfloridalegal - FL Attorney General’s Office
http://twitter.com/cityofboynton - City of Boynton, FL
http://twitter.com/BBPD - Boynton Beach, FL Police
http://twitter.com/citydelraybeach - City of Delray Beach, FL
http://twitter.com/CityOfSunrise - City of Sunrise, FL
http://twitter.com/BocaPolice - Boca Raton, FL Police
http://twitter.com/hillsboroughFL - Hillsborough County, FL
http://twitter.com/PolkCountyFL - Polk County, FL
http://twitter.com/TampaPAD - City of Tampa, FL
http://twitter.com/CoralSpringsFL - Coral Springs, FL
http://twitter.com/JSOPIO - Jacksonville, FL Sheriff’s office
http://twitter.com/cotnews - City of Tallahassee, FL
http://twitter.com/FLHealthyKids - Florida Healthy Kids
http://twitter.com/freshfromFL - Fresh From Florida – FL Dept of Agriculture
http://twitter.com/FL_AgLaw - FL Dept of Agriculture Law Enforcement
http://twitter.com/FL_DPI - FL Dept of Agriculture Div. Plant Industry
http://twitter.com/floridadbpr - FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation
http://twitter.com/FloridaAPD - FL Agency for Persons with Disabilities
http://twitter.com/FDHSMV - FL Dept of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles
http://twitter.com/MyFDOT - FL Dept of Transportation
http://twitter.com/SFWMD - South Florida Water Management District
http://twitter.com/SJRWMD - St. Johns River Water Management District
http://twitter.com/SWFWMD - Southwest Florida Water Management District

(Post Updated 9-30-10)


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Welcome to FLGovTech

Yes, Welcome to FLGovTech.

This web site focus is news, events, information, highlights of Florida Government Technology (State, County & City). Gov2.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0.

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer writer or guest blogger with a focus on Florida Government Technology? If so, contact us: flgovtech@gmail.com