As a part of the Inclusive Hurricane Preparedness Conference, we would like people to Tweet during the event. Below, we have included directions for setting up a Twitter account and using it during the event. Additionally, we will have technical support available at the event to assist with any additional problems either signing up for, or using, Twitter.

Ideally, everyone will use their Blackberry, or other smart phone to Tweet during the event. We have a limited amount of wireless internet access for people without data-capable phones to use their laptops. There is a short list of free applications for Blackberry and IPhone that have received positive feedback by users at the end of this email. Twitter can be accessed through the Internet, but applications are much more convenient to use. The instructions for using applications are individual to the application.

If you do not have a data capable phone, but have a phone with text messaging, it is also possible to Tweet using your SMS service (regular text messaging rates apply). For more information, follow the directions below to sign up and then click on “Settings>Mobile.”

If you are already active on Twitter, feel free to start using the hash tag #IHPC. We have also included directions below for how to Tweet and re-Tweet messages so that everyone can see them. Make sure that your message includes the hash tag, otherwise, it will not be associated with the event.

If you have questions, please feel free to email or call.

Signing up for Twitter From Internet Explorer (If you do not already have an account)

1. Go to www.twitter.com
2. Click on “Sign up now”
3. Enter your full name, a username (your choice), a password (your choice) and your email. Finish the form.

Accessing Twitter:

From the Internet (If you already have an account, or after you have signed up)

1. Go to www.twitter.com
2. Go to the upper right hand corner and select “Sign in”
3. Enter your username (email) and password and select “Sign in”

Blackberry Applications (Instructions for each Application are available from the application)

• “UberTwitter” by Ubertwitter Inc. – Available on Blackberry App World
• “TwixTreme” by Xtreme Labs – Available on Blackberry App World

IPhone Applications (Instructions for each Application are available from the application)

• “Twitterfon” – Available on the iPhone App Store
• "Tweetie" - Available on the iPhone App Store
• "TweetDeck" - Available on the iPhone App Store

Using Twitter:

Tweeting (Once you have an account) – From Internet Explorer

1. Sign in to www.twitter.com or your Smartphone application
2. In the “update” in the center of the screen, type a message in 140 characters or less (that counts everything, including spaces), but save room to include #IHPC at the very end of the message (8 characters including the space)
3. Hit update

ReTweeting – From Internet Explorer

If you want to emphasize someone else’s point and still give that person credit, you will “re-Tweet” the message.

1. When you see the original Tweet on the screen, hover over the original Tweet and towards the bottom right, you will see the option appear to either “reply” or “retweet”
2. Click “retweet”

a.        If you want to take back your retweet – follow the step 1, but click “undo”

Replying – From Internet Explorer

If you want to respond to someone’s Tweet with an answer or an additional comment, you will “Reply” to the message.

1. When you see the original Tweet on the screen, hover over the original Tweet and towards the bottom right, you will see the option appear to either “reply” or “retweet”
2. Click “reply”
3. Finish filling out the status update box and click “reply”

Finding Workshop Tweets (From the Twitter website) – From Internet Explorer

1. Find the Search bar in the right hand column of the page
2. Type #IHPC and search. Results should be displayed in the center column.