Sioux Falls, South Dakota (July 19, 2010) – After two successful Ignite SD events in Brookings and Madison, the story-telling phenomenon that is sweeping the globe continues its local run in Sioux Falls. Ignite SD will have its third event at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Museum of Visual Materials in Sioux Falls. Beer, wine and soda will be available by purchase.

Ignite's premise is an exchange of ideas from speakers who are allotted five minutes and 20 slides (15 seconds per slide) to tell their story. The goal of Ignite is to build connections and raise the collective IQ. By archiving and posting videos, local Ignite events are able to share their knowledge and passion with the rest of the world.

Ignite was brought to South Dakota by John and Scott Meyer of 9 Clouds, Inc., a social marketing firm in Sioux Falls. 9 Clouds, Inc. wanted to stimulate the creative community of South Dakota and allow individuals to share their passion.

“We started Ignite SD in April in Brookings and are now thrilled to put on our third event,” John Meyer of 9 Clouds, Inc. said. “We've had nearly 20 brave speakers share their passions and enlighten more than 100 audience members.”

Sponsors of the third Ignite SD event include: 9 Clouds, Inc., The Post SD, Dahle Communication and the Museum of Visual Materials.

Interested in hosting or speaking at a future Ignite SD event? Email ignitesd@gmail.com

For additional information on the subject of this release, contact John Meyer or visit http://ignitesd.com

About Ignite:

The concept of Ignite stems from a series of global networking events. It originated in December 2006 in Seattle, Washington. As Ignite's homepage says, “Fast-paced, fun, thought-provoking, social, local, global—Ignite is all of these and more. It's a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have an idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd. Enlighten us, but make it quick.” O'Reilly Media, Inc. sponsors Ignite. http://ignite.oreilly.com/

Contact:

John T. Meyer

9 Clouds, Inc.

612.867.4746

john@9cloudsinc.com

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Job Overview
The Post is looking for a creative, passionate, responsible and dedicated individual to fulfill this part-time position that is supplemented with a small monthly stipend. The ideal candidate would be extremely passionate about journalism and telling stories and would have experience in reporting, editing, managing others and publishing to a website. Familiarity with South Dakota is essential.  

Job Responsibilities
The editor-in-chief is responsible for managing, publishing and organizing all of the site’s content. Other duties include:
-    Develop story ideas
-    Manage story cycle
-    Managing contributors: assigning stories, training them to use the site, training on reporting and writings skill they make lack, working with writers on revisions, checking up on deadlines, answering questions, advising on story direction and possible sources and sending updates about happenings within the co-op.
-    Managing summer intern to work on side projects to promote the site
-    Managing photo editor and oversee all images and graphics published to the site
-    Plan and execute ways to recruit contributors
-    Occasionally produce content for the site
-    Listen and respond to readers’ comments, suggestions, complaints and compliments

Experience
-    The preferred candidate has at least one year’s experience reporting and editing for newspaper or magazine. (This may include collegiate publications.)
-    Must be familiar with AP Style, social networks and blogging platforms, preferably WordPress.
-    Candidate should be highly organized, self-motivated, able to meet deadlines, creative, flexible and should possess strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills.

About The Post
The Post is an online magazine in South Dakota that celebrates the people and life in the state. The Post is considered a story co-op, which means a team of contributors creates and publishes the site’s content. Like traditional publications, our stories are assigned and edited and we do pay attention to ledes, nut graphs, inverted pyramids and other story building elements found in basic journalism. However, we tell stories and take more of a feature approach to our articles vs. hard news writing. We use narratives and different points of perspective to tell stories about people behind the headlines. Our makeup comes from different elements of blogs, magazines and newspapers, but The Post is a story co-op.

We are a small operation with only a part-time staff and publish content three to four times a week. Our model is constantly developing but our mission remains the same: to promote journalism among in South Dakota.

To apply, submit résumé or LinkedIn profile and three writing, videos or photography clips to info@9cloudsinc.com. Application deadline is June 3. For questions, contact info@9cloudsinc.com or call John Meyer at 612-867-4746.

UNVEILS NEW IDENTITY AS FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA

Agency will fight hunger as statewide “hunger relief organization”

(Sioux Falls, SD – May 12, 2010) – The former Community Food Banks of South Dakota will now be known as Feeding South Dakota. The agency unveiled its new identity as a hunger relief organization at a press conference at their Sioux Falls Food Bank today at 10:00 a.m.

According to Executive Director Matt Gassen, the name Feeding South Dakota better reflects the organization’s unified fight to end hunger in the state while also strengthening its long-standing connection to Feeding America, a major national hunger relief organization.

“This new identity will help South Dakotans easily identify our various hunger-fighting agencies as one united organization,” Gassen said. “We have battled hunger in South Dakota for over 30 years and this rebrand more clearly reflects our mission to feed the hungry people of this state.”

Feeding South Dakota – which provides hunger relief through its various food banks, food pantries and the largely successful BackPack Program – serves over 100,000 hungry individuals and provides over 10 million pounds of food to people in need each year.

The organization helps individuals in need statewide by providing immediate hunger relief, long-term meal planning and personal care items like toiletries. Feeding South Dakota’s BackPack Program also provides a weekend food supply for 4,389 children across the state who might otherwise go hungry on weekends.

For more information on Feeding South Dakota, contact Kay Torney at Kay@sdfoodbanks.org. You can also visit www.sdfoodbanks.org for more information.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Cache in on Downtown’s Past

Geocaching Event May 8^th

Departing from the Old Courthouse Museum

 Sioux Falls, S.D.  Learn about the history of downtown sites at the Cache in on Downtown’s Past Geocaching event beginning at the Old Courthouse Museum at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 8th.  Geocaching is a GPS guided treasure hunt that guides you to specific destinations.  Learn about the history of downtown as you find each of our sites, a prize drawing will be held at 4 p.m.  Call 367-4210 for more information.

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Cache in on Downtown’s Past Geocaching Event

1 p.m.

Saturday, May 8^th

Free Admission

GPS Hunt Begins at the Old Courthouse Museum

200 West Sixth Street

Info: (605) 367-4210

www.siouxlandmuseums.com