How will President Obama keep Americans engaged?

[Pat Coyle]

The crowds and cameras are gone. The tuxedos and dresses tucked away. If history is any indication, many Americans will begin to focus more on their own lives, and less on others; but our new leader's message of hope hinges on our participation, not just our agreement.

So how will President Obama keep America engaged and focused on the "common good," and not drift back to our own special interests?

What strategies do you think he could employ in order to keep Americans not just believing in "change," but actively participating in making change?

And is there anything you are planning to do to make sure you participate in the process today, tomorrow and over the long term?

What can Smaller Indiana do to be part of the continuing solution?

Please share your thoughts here, or better yet, suggest some actions?

[Cindy Hartman]

Amy,

I agree with both of your posts. 1st, having a #code for Hoosiers would be a great way to 1) just find locals, 2) create an opportunity to connect and possibly do business, 3) be aware of what's going on in IN, and 4) become 'noticed' as a group (re: twitter elite). Then, #4 will bring us the opportunity to group together and make things happen.

Your 2nd post, in response to Woody's post, struck me with the words "waiting to be led". Maybe that's why we aren't in the 'elite anything' - maybe we need to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps (Hoosier talk), and start to lead.

Who's ready to take that step?

[Amy Stark]

I am... as soon as Pat gives me the go ahead, and we collectively decide on a groovy hash phrase, I would like to start as quickly as possible.

As a result of this conversation I received a tweet inviting me to join an online group called do one good. I know very little about the people behind it, but I like the look and feel of it, so I joined as a step to make this happen.

[Cindy Hartman]

I will call you FL for Fearless Leader :-) Keep me in the loop - I'd like to be part of this. Making it a group might make it easy to follow everyone (I always forget to use the hash tag).

[David Monroe]

I forget to use it too. I'll work on it. :)

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

I do not understand why you need Pat to give you the go ahead. If you are going to lead, then LEAD stop waiting for permission to be a leader.

[Andrew Ball]

I agree with Hazel. Take charge!

[Amy Stark]

Thanks Andrew for the vote of confidence. I appreciate your artistic sensibilities, and you are one of the few people I can say I hugged before being properly introduced. I did that to Cindy Hartman, too.

Isn't it strange how you can feel that you know someone well enough to hug them without ever having met face to face?

[Andrew Ball]

I know this is off the subject for this discussion, but ever since the 1st Smaller Indiana function a year ago, I've been saying how weird it is to meet someone for the first time who you already know. And let's hear it for more hugs!

[Nicki Laycoax]

Social media = hugs. I don't shake many hands these days... :)

[Lou Begnel]

If you have to call yourself a leader, you probably aren't. I serve others. If people want to call that leadership, then so be it. I just think of it as doing the right thing. Being the first on to speak up when there is a moment of silence. Being the person to say I'll do when a group is asked. Being keenly aware of your surroundings and the needs of others. These are all things that make for great service. You are a leader if you also have a willingness to take none of the credit and all of the blame. When you empowers others, you yourself are empowered.

[Amy Stark]

I want to serve my daughter, mostly, because I want to ensure Indiana remains a contender in this new globally-networked environment.

But I also want to serve my friends from Smaller Indiana and the Hoosiers I've encountered on twitter. All this activity and Not One Hoosier in the top 100.

If we speak together as a state on twitter, our collective voice will be heard by social media advocates (twitter power users) in every major metropolitan city in the world.

[Nicki Laycoax]

I also agree with Hazel. Pat doesn't use Twitter, so I think that waiting for a go ahead is unnecessary. Go for it, Amy! I like #Indiana.