On this episode, details on a scholarship opportunity that could be your ticket to #GSMCON2016 in Reno next month, courtesy of Government Social Media and GovTech Social. (Hint: Tweet your question about social media using #GovTechSocial to enter.)

Also on this episode, a conversation with See Click Fix CEO Ben Berkowitz about what he has learned from almost a decade of pothole, graffiti and illegal dumping reports through the first social media service focused on the relationship between citizens and their government.

And on The Week in Tweet, lessons for public officials who are latecomers to social media from the Veep's recent arrival on Facebook.  Plus the use of humor in maintaining authenticity in your agency's social life.

Media Cause’s Lindsay Crudelle joins regulars Dustin Haisler, Paul Taylor, Anil Chawla and Eyragon Eidam to discuss Boston's social media practices. Lindsay was present at creation when the city first embraced social media. In the years since, that original social stance - informed by clear policy and solid infrastructure - has served the city well through tragedy and celebration - and more than a few snowstorms.

Lindsay is now on a campaign to help others evolve their social practices from just posting to integrating social into the life of the city.

Plus, on The Week in Tweet, we discuss Boston's Be Like Sebastian meme and the implications of Facebook's reaction buttons for government social media.

Government Technology writer and Assistant Editor Eyragon Eidam joins regulars Anil Chawla from ArchiveSocial, Dustin Haisler of e.Republic Labs and GovTech's Paul Taylor for a look ahead at social media in state and local government in the year ahead.  On tap:

Lauri Stevens is a recovering journalist who has been working with law enforcement for 25 years, with much of that work focused on social media strategy.Stevens is the founder of a consultancy called LaWS, creator of the SMILE conference focused
on Social Media, the Internet and Law Endorsement.

Stevens spoke with regulars Anil Chawla (ArchiveSocial), Dustin Haisler (e.Republic Labs), and Paul Taylor (Govtech) about how the DNA of social media runs completely counter to long established police culture - but police departments need to embrace the medium anyway.  Stevens contends law enforcement can use. and is using, social media to advantage in both its investigative role and community policing efforts.  

Recorded live at the inaugural GovTech Social Unconference in Austin, Texas, Kristi Wyatt, Communications Director for the City of San and Marcos Jennifer Herber, Public Information Specialist Senior for the Austin Police Department talk with regulars Anil Chawla (ArchiveSocial), Dustin Haisler (e.Republic Labs), and Paul Taylor (Govtech) about social media's role in a dangerous world.

In this episode:

Forbes calls David A. Bray the most social CIO in the federal government.  Dr. Bray is that and more - an Eisenhower Fellow,  Visiting Executive In-Residence at Harvard University, and  the CIO at the Federal Communications Commission.In a wide ranging discussion with regulars Anil Chawla (ArchiveSocial), Dustin Haisler (e.Republic Labs), and Paul Taylor (Govtech), Bray talks through a number of things he has been learning - about being social,  about being an executive, about careful social listening, and about making change happen.

The City of Evanston's Luke Stowe join hosts Dustin Haisler (e.Republic Labs), Anil Chalwa (ArchiveSocial), and Paul Taylor (govtech.com) to discuss the headlines and under reported social media stories of the week.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the California Technology Forum in Sacramento, this episode features the nonprofit Civic Consulting's Jeremy Goldberg and Splunk4Good's Corey Marshall, who previously served in local government in San Jose and San Francisco respectively.  In a wide ranging discussion with regulars Anil Chawla (ArchiveSocial), Dustin Haisler (e.Republic Labs), and Paul Taylor (Govtech), they unpack social media as "just another" data source for government, decode the social messaging of The Donald, and take on the sticky issues of going social - including security and privacy.

Bill Greeves, Wake County CIO, and co-author of the original social media field guide for government, join GovTech Social regulars Anil, Dustin, and Paul for a wide ranging discussion of doing social media on a shoestring budget, a template for moderating social media contents, and being nimble and responsive during times of significant social change.  The crew manages to work in references to Pluto and stolen peanuts to strategies and tactics for government social media. 

Public agencies ignore the growth of new social media platforms beyond Facebook, Twitter, and even the big six at their peril.  Luke Stowe, digital services coordinator for the City of Evanston, and Anil Chawla, CEO of Archive Social, provide practical guidance on making smart and sustainable choices.  They also discuss the availability of verified accounts on Twitter and Facebook for state and local agencies, and how to get them.