Support Our Troops

Spotlight on #SOT @AutsMama98

A leader in Supporting Our Troops, Lea Ann complains of one thing: being cut off by Twitter for tweeting too much Support.  Not one to be stopped by a challenge, she set up a 2nd account to drive on when the twitter limits are reached.  Lea Ann does it with conviction, with dedication, without regard for self.  You'll find her in the top10 tweeters of more than one tag dealing with Troop Support, not because she's concerned with the recognition of being a top 10, but because she's that dedicated to getting the message out.

Spotlight on #SOT @AundrayC

Aundray is an upbeat, positive tweeter who constantly tells of the good in others.  And while that alone is enough that anyone would want to follow her, her dedication to Supporting Our Troops means that Our Citizens will be treated to not only an uplifting experience but an educational experience in how Honorable Our Troops are!

As is so often discovered, she too has a Blue Star.  Hers is the hardest job in the Army, that of the wife and it doesn't come with a paycheck in her name. 

When it comes to #SOT, she's a superstar, no matter the tag used.  Follow her for the Troops or follow her for your own selfish reasons of having a positive message in your timeline, but you'll certainly want her on your contact list!

Spotlight on #SOT @FingerTipNews & @AllMilitaryNews An 11 year #USAF #Veteran

The Military, amongst others, have often complained of media bias.  In fact, the MSM slant is a large part of why the War On Terror News main site was created.  In follow-up to that, a close associate of mine, said to me: "If you think the media is so unfair, why don't you start your own?"  The "you" of that included others that didn't participate, but the speaker of it has been less than happy with the amount of time it takes for such endeavors.

FingerTip found a different way to do similar things.  An 11 year Air Force Veteran, FingerTipNews has been so successful that a spinoff @AllMilitaryNews was created.  In the latter endeavor, many milbloggers and Supporters of Our Troops have benefitted by an aggregate of the many sites tweets being put in one spot, in one timeline

But FingerTip was also the leading source covering the Iran Election aftermath. 

With all of that going for such an awesome tweeter, one would expect widespread support for someone going up against an MSM Giant that epitomizes  the complaint such as CNN.  But such is not the case and this is an area that the #SOT community can tip the balance.  Voting in the Motorola  Mashable Open Web Awards is running at a breakneck speed of about 60 votes a day.  Recent sampling shows that about 1/3 of those are voting for FingerTip and another 1/3 for CNN.

As such, it's possible that one big push could put FingerTip over the top, but the daily dedication of those that Support Our Troops would certainly bring greater awareness to the effort.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  If you're a part of SOT, particularly if you have benefitted from FingerTip or AllMilitary  News, you should be voting every chance you can.  That means daily, Chicago Style!

And while you're there, don't forget to vote for @ThankASoldier in Best Non-Profit Use of Social Media.

Do You Know Someone that deserves the #SOT Spotlight?

Whether you know more that should be said about someone in the Spotlight or know someone that should be in the Spotlight for their dedicated Support of Our Troops, you can help bring attention to them by saying so in comments.  If they've already been put in the Spotlight, comment there so all can see what great things they're doing.  If the spotlight has not yet shined on them, say so here, so we can put it on them.

By demonstrating the great people that Support Our Troops and how they do it, we hope to encourage more to do so.  By demonstrating the great qualities of the people that do Support Our Troops, we hope to help build the community of those that do, by giving a little more background on why we appreciate the tweets from those we count among the best of the best doing the right thing for the right reason.

We hope that we can introduce you to others that SOT and that others will join in spotlighting those that do, that we will find others previously unknown to us, as we already have on Twitter.  That is the true benefit of this great new means of communication, not in knowing what some celebrity had for lunch or that some self-proclaimed leader used his partisan connections to get lunch at the White House or to meet a celebrity.

So tell us in comments here who deserves the SOT Spotlight and why.  Tell us in the specific SOT Spotlights the positive impact that tweeter has had on you or SOT, whether with that tag or another.  There are so many and we know only so much about so many.  Supporting Our Troops takes teamwork and YOU are a part of that team.

Spotlight on #SOT @ArmyMom101

There's only been one message I've ever seen Virginia tweet: Support Our Troops.  She's done so with conviction, with dedication, without regard for tags, with multiple tags, but always selflessly.  Life doesn't always deal the cards we want or fairly, but her Support never waivers.

She is one dedicated Blue Star Mom that never allows politics to taint her tweets.  She honors the Troops and those that Support Our Troops, apologizing when she can't do more than she already does, when life prevents her from doing what she does, and never asking anyone for anything for herself.

She has been missed while she attends to things she must these last few weeks.

Spotlight on #SOT @Leo_Pusateri

Leo is an avid Supporter of Our Troops, in word and in deed, and it should come as no surprise that he is himself a Blue Star Father.  While it may also not be surprising that Leo has strong opinions on the politics of the Nation, he demonstrates the proper relationship of politics to Troop Support by encouraging others of his political views to #SOT rather than using Troop Support as a platform for political debate.

Many on Twitter have a blog and so does Leo.  And like so many, he uses his to provide a regular spotlight on the Heroes of this Nation.  Each Wednesday, he posts an article that demonstrates the Honor and Valor of Our Nation's Veterans and Troops.

Leo is an educator in Minnesota and demonstrates the manner in which those of strong political opinion can urge their party and politicians to Support Our Troops and the use of multiple hashtags to encourage it.

Though the most ardent of Troop Supporters come from Families of Troops and Veterans, it is raising awareness within others of the things they can do to Support Our Troops and reasons why they should.

Thank you Leo for providing a shining example!

Spotlight on #SOT @CharPrincessa

Charissa caught my eye early.  Her kind words belied an inner strength and will to fight that is likely to surprise any that underestimates her.

She's a Corpsman in the Navy, which itself is a contrast.  Short of SeALs, Navy Corpsmen are one of the most likely positions to find themselves in the middle of a firefight.  Loved and protected by the Marines they are surrounded by, their role is to keep Our Warriors alive, patching holes made by bullets, even while the bullets pierce the air around them.  It takes a complete dedication to the task at hand when ignoring the enemy to patch up the friendlies.  And that does not even take note of the fact that most humans would be balled up in the fetal position or running for their lives during such an event.

But her stories don't celebrate herself, but demonstrate an honor and gratitude for others.  She's attempted to stay out of the spotlight and has regularly chastised me for swinging it on her, but on her site she tells of how the Elderly Veterans have touched her while picking up medications each week, for perhaps the last time.

My favorite cartoonist, @DeltaB5 found himself in the crossfire of Charissa and myself, after he committed to including her in his strip.  I imagine there was also the pressure of a stilletto heel in the mix as @KneeDeep's watchful eye anticipated the results.  While I argued for angelic wings for the caring Princess, the subject argued for razor sharp claws representative of her ability to protect with force.  As is so often the case when men encounter such smart and strong-willed women, the two Army Veterans lost the battle: there were no wings.  It's hard to be certain whether Damon felt deeper impressions from the stillettos or razor sharp claws.

She was also the subject of an ezine article and has her own blog.  She is certainly someone you'll want on your contact list and has a blog you'll be rewarded by reading.  Her gracious attitude and focus on others is a breath of fresh air.

Incredulous! Some Refuse to Support #SOT Nominees

It is not surprising that some don't like me.  I've never attempted to compete in a popularity contest.  Just not my style.

But what is surprising to me, is that some that claim to Support Our Troops refuse to help others do the same.  I've sat on this for a few days, but some well-known tweeters who claim to Support Our Troops, including a well known charity that regularly asks others to do for them, flat out refuses to do the same for others.  I can only speculate on the motivations for the answer when a Tweeter asked the question if they would, but the answer did not offer it: "Nope."

Let's consider this: Two tweeters that have done big things in the effort to Support Our Troops have successfully moved from the nomination stage to the voting stage in the Mashable Awards.  Neither have competition from others that Support Our Troops.  Both have an exemplary record.  And yet, there exist some that actively refuse to support them in gaining attention for the Twitter Community that does Support Our Troops?

Twitterverse: Not just a way to know what celebrities eat for lunch #SOT

When I first heard of Twitter, it was through news commentators bragging about their new connectivity and begging for people to follow them.  I was far from impressed with their vanity.  Not long after that, a respected milblogger and I were discussing various ways that the world could find out about websites, what raised awareness and what did not.

He was directly responsible for what I learned initially about twitter and for convincing me that we needed to be here.  But what we knew in those days was fortunately not what the future of Twitter would prove to be.  It's a good thing too, because I really don't think my eating habits are all that interesting nor that anyone would want to know nor even that they should want to know.

I got on Twitter in time to see the race to a million followers between a "news" agency and a celebrity.  The vanity was less than impressive, but by the time the Iran Election came around, I had learned enough to play a minor role.  I still have contacts from that event.

A Personal #SOT Failure in #MoS to #HonorTheFallen

Each Week at 1300 Eastern, we have taken time to Honor The Fallen in Moments of Silence for several months.  This effort syncs with the efforts of @US_Fallen who does such a great effort of creating a video each week to honor each in video. 

This is not an event that is about me or our site.  The concept was born out of frustration that a celebrity received near constant coverage for week along with official Moments of Silence from the "leadership" of the Nation while Our Fallen Heroes, men and women had given their lives in the defense of freedom were ignored by both media & the body politic.

The initial response was that of requesting a single moment of silence to occur each Monday evening to Honor ALL of the fallen of the prior week.  A number of individuals, including those that had personally lost a loved one and those that are currently serving, approached me asking that I encourage an individual moment for each.  Initially I referred them to the one that had originally suggested the idea but after two weeks, the response was silence.  I was faced with supporting a measure I did not feel sufficient or risking the appearance of disunity.

Input was requested into how best to proceed and it was determined that 1300 Eastern, 1PM was a time that could be universally observed across the several timezones from Kabul to the Pacific and each week, we include as many of the fallen as we know of, regardless of Nationality.  Some Cultures and Political Cultures of some of our allies do not afford us the opportunity to name their Honorable Warriors who have given their lives in defense of freedom, but we do include all whom we can name, to include a Dane this week, alongside OUR British, Canadian and US Brothers.

I cannot reduce them to mere nameless numbers nor abide a political slogan to their sacrifice.  I cannot speak for them and do not  know enough of them to sufficiently tell the tales of their lives.  My best efforts fall short of what they have earned.

How Do YOU #SOT Support Our #Troops #Military

How do you Support Our Troops? (all that apply)
	Saying So
	Tweeting Positive Messages
	Donating Miles to Fisher House
	Donating Money to Pro-Troop Non-Profit
	Sending Letters
	Sending Care Packages
	Sending Real Food
	Donating Time
	Organizing Efforts
	Telling Their Story
	Linking to Their Story
	Donating Toys to Beanies 4 Baghdad
	Donating School Supplies
	Volunteering at Fisher House
	Flying US Flag
	Serving in Military
	Sign in Business Window
	Volunteering at OpGratitude
	Fostering Warrior's Pet
	Visiting Wounded
	Hobby Related Veteran Events
	Video Tributes to Warriors
	Advocating for Support of General
	Advocating for Warrior Honor
	Employing Veterans
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Spotlight on a #SOT @US_Fallen #HonorTheFallen #MoS

I chanced upon Jerry Castillo while searching You Tube for honorable tributes to Our Fallen Brothers.  What I found was before the foundation of his Non-Profit: www.USFallen.org  It was his personal work, aside from his work @CastiloMedia.  It was his way to use his civilian skills to Honor Our Fallen.

We've chatted only briefly in email, but his work speaks for itself.  There are no politics involved.  He won't sully the Men and Women who've given all for Our Nation with such dishonor. 

Nor is it simply about their last return home.  He manages to find stories of their lives, quotes from those that knew Our Troops in life.

I applaud his work, his dedication, and his results.  He has found a great balance of rendering Final Honors without allowing profiteering to taint his work.  I have not found any other that does so with the same quality, the same dedication, the same Honor.

#SOT or #Military

I have reached out to a number of those that Support Our Troops on Twitter and have invited them to participate as authors on this site dedicated to that effort.  I have specifically asked for contributors that believe that there is a better tag to use than #SOT, particularly requested that someone that believes that #Military is the better tag to speak up and argue the merits of a better tag.

I ask for these arguments because while I can make a good case for #Mil or #Military I'm more convinced that #SOT is the way to go.  The current definition of #Military on wthashtag.org is US Specific.  We have a great Military and I'm just as willing as the next Army Veteran to harass a Marine, whether US or UK about the things we harass each other, but the fact of the matter is that we have great allies.  The Brit, Aussie, and Canadian Forces truly kick butt.

And they deserve Support, just as well as do Our Warriors.  In fact, some of the biggest Supporters of Our Troops are Canadians.

But the biggest reason FOR #SOT is its short, concise, and simple nature.  It says exactly what we're after: Support Our Troops.  It leaves a lot of space for your message and for RT's.  It has no baggage of claims of ownership and is hard to misspell.

Even I have typoed #Military.  Lower case L's and upper case i's can blend and hide a typo but the i's and l's can blend together.  You have to look closely to ensure you didn't do it.  And there is someone that claims to have invented the tag, which has the potential to drag it down as well.

#Mil makes a nice shortened version of it but as #VeteransDay  vs. #VetsDay showed, sometimes shortened versions don't catch on.

Either #Military or #Mil are subsets of #SOT and there's no reason not to use them, but #SOT is (in my opinion) the best tag to say what we want to say.  You can use it everyday to say it.

For "special emphasis" days, both #SOT Saturday or #SOT Sunday work, but that is a discussion for another day.  And I should note that the space rather than underscore means there is no new tag.  It builds on the everyday use, rather than replacing it.

That's my current case for #SOT.  I look forward to someone stepping up to make a case for other tags, so we can go to the next step of putting it to a vote, to identifying the consensus, and unifying behind it.

Unity of Effort in #SOT Is More Important than A Hashtag

In the first part of what has become the Support Our Troops Community on Twitter, there were 5 tags used for the same or similar purposes.  I had been privy to some of the early discussions on it, even though at the time I had no idea what hashtags were about.  Once I figured it out a bit, I recommended a deviation of those that was also in use: #Military  Mon.  Needless to say, my idea wasn't endorsed, mainly because it would have been a 6th version of what was out there.

With a lot of work, the consensus was made around a tag.  The effort grew from a few hundred to a few thousand and then exploded on the 4th of July weekend to nearly 10,000 tweets.  Why?  Because there was a unity of effort.

It doesn't matter if #Military or #SOT is used in unity of effort for Supporting Our Troops.  I didn't invent either, just as I didn't invent the other versions.  My personal opinion is that #SOT is better.  It's shorter.  It's concise.  It says exactly what we're about.

And short is important.  With #SOT, you loose only 5 characters of your 140 alloted.  If someone RT's it, it's less likely to get chopped.  It's also less likely to get misspelled.  You can use both but only one gets counted, the first one.  So put the one you want counted first.  Add as many tags as you like.

But what happens on Holidays?  #VeteransDay trended for several hours.  Many of  us were using #HonorVets instead.  I had endorsed it, as a result of a quick poll of those that SOT.  Some were upset that others were using #VeteransDay instead.    Both had the  same intent, as did  #VetsDay.  When it began to wane, I too attempted to prop up #VeteransDay.  Why?  It's more important that the message get out, than what tag is used.

Last Night, a #SOT began an effort to tweet #Gratitude. What a great effort and it gave opportunity to tweet about the great people in our community.  Things like that are not a competition to the tag or the effort but a new way to reach more people. 

While Supporting Our Troops is a primary effort for many of us, myself included, it is not for many other Great Americans.  Supporting the other efforts of those that SOT is not a bad thing.  On the contrary, its a good thing.

I'm far from being an artist or even knowing much about art, but I often get dragged into art fundraisers, not because I'm big into that kind of thing (and I'd necessarily need to disavow that kind of thing to fellow warriors), but because the person doing the dragging is that important and cares that much about it.

Yep, we will occasionally find need to support specialized tags and there will be special events by our friends that deserve Our Support, but we also need to form a consensus on what's the best tag.  I'll work on getting a poll set up for that unless some one beats me to it, but it would be good to hear from both sides, those that prefer #Military and those that prefer #SOT, so everyone can make their best decision based on the information.

A Little #SOT From the Heart Makes a Big Difference

Something as simple as this:

"Thank for being a loyal customer and thanks for your service to our country!"

Can result in this:

"It is people like yourself that recognize and appreciate us that make this all worthwhile."

This was part of a real exchange by one of my readers.  The simple heartfelt gratitude to one of our Warriors in a Combat Zone was what made a difference for him.

The entire Support Our Troops effort is designed to raise awareness of just how important it is to Our Troops that Our Citizens appreciate them.  There are many ways to do that but some are very simple, cost you nothing, and are as simply saying so, from the heart.

A #SOT Success Story in Progress & How to Help Achieve It

With the 3rd Annual Mashable Awards entering the voting round today, two major Supporters of Our Troops have achieved a Top 5 status in their categories!  This is double the standard of success and voting began today!  You can vote often and early (daily) from  your Twitter accounts and your Facebook accounts to ensure that two from amongst the Twitter community of Troop Supporters achieves greater notoriety.

This will help those two but will also help raise awareness of #SOT or any other tag eventually decided upon.  Each has demonstrated the values espoused by the SOT Spirit and the values by which Our Troops live and fight.

In the Best News Source to Follow category, we have an 11 year Military Veteran, @FingerTipNews who not only created the spinoff @AllMilitaryNews but brought us the Iran Election and has been a faithful Supporter of Our Troops since I've encountered the great group we've found. With competition such as CNN, this is likely to be a fierce battle between real news and an agency that bowed to the Iranian dictator.  A true David v. Goliath.

In the Best Non-Profit Use of Social Media category, we have @ThankASoldier who has steadfastly campaigned for All Troops, even  when he was told it "couldn't be done."  He was the driving force behind the Canadian Stamp issued to do exactly that, the runner-up in the Troublemakers Challenge designed to raise awareness of the efforts on Twitter, and a tireless advocate for Warriors.

Both have worked tirelessly to Support Our Troops and it is a Victory for the community that we've helped put them in the voting.  Next, we need to help them win and in so doing help the community win!

A sample of the voting on 11/19/09 demonstrates that with YOUR help, these two can succeed.  But it also demonstrates that it will take a unified effort for them to win:

The Question of Leadership & Coordination in #SOT

The biggest benefit I have gained from Twitter is the acquaintenances I've found in Support of Our Troops.  There are so many that have come together weekly for the singular purpose of Supporting Our Troops.  I know that some of them are Democrats, that some are Republicans, and that some are Independents or belong to a 3rd Party.  I know it from their other tweets, not their tweets in the tags we've used to Support Our Troops.

Some belong to Non-Profits, some are the voice of a Non-Profit, and some haven't found the one organization that they can get behind.  In any given week, around 800 tweeters get together for the purpose of supporting an effort greater than themselves. 

I've encountered so many great people there that I literaly can't remember all as well as they deserve.  I feel bad about that particularly when I tweet some accolades and know inherently that I'm missing others, many, many others.

More than one has asked me to take leadership of the effort, more than one has promised me full support if I do.  But it can't be about me.  It can't be support for me.  It has to be support for the effort, for the spirit of the tag we use.  It has to be about the Troops and building Support for Our Troops.  There are a few particularly tenacious tweeters that do and one in particular that has been working on me all day long to figure out the best way forward.

The question is how do we establish an organized effort that sets party aside, sets personal glory aside, and does precisely what we're after: Supporting Our Troops.  I can offer this platform to do so.  The details continue to be worked out but I've removed all the advertisements and we can build and change the remaining to achieve the desired goal.

This would be a platform to organize efforts, to work on perfecting some of the challenges that have not yet been overcome.  The rules would be simple: leave politics and personal glory at the door.  There would be some other challenges but those would be overcome by agreement and discussion, not by dictate.

What say you?