Make Social Media Day Official in Your City This Year

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Patrons attend Mashable's Social Media Day 2013 event in New York City.

By Connor Finnegan2014-05-06 18:58:42 UTC

Social Media Day has taken major strides since its launch in 2010. What started as a few hundred Meetup events has become a major global celebration.

More than 20 cities have officially recognized June 30 as Social Media Day, including Silver City, New Mexico; Tulsa, Okla.; Waco, Texas; and Ottawa, Canada. In 2011, Arizona became the first U.S. state to do so, and other states such as Nevada and Missouri have since followed suit.

See also: Mark Your Calendars for the 5th Annual Social Media Day

In order for your city or state to officially recognize Social Media Day this year, submit a proclamation request form. Here's what you need to know.

How to submit a proclamation request

Since some states require you to fill out the proclamation request five to six weeks before the event, we recommend submitting as quickly as possible.

Call your local City Hall and ask about proclamation information directly. Even if you're able to find the form online, the direct conversation still helps things go more smoothly.

It's important to engage a city representative in every way possible, such as on Facebook, Twitter, phone calls and email. If anyone you know has contacts in the governor's office (a county commissioner, a city council representative, etc.), reach out to let them know about planning Social Media Day.

The Social Media Day proclamation for Reno, Nevada in 2012.

When talking to officials, identify yourself as the "Mashable Social Media Day organizer," but let them know you're not a representative from Mashable . Proclamations aren't made to honor any individual or corporation; rather, they are granted to recognize an event that unites community members.

Some states require proclamations to be evaluated and sponsored by state agencies. If your city or state requires this, we recommend reaching out to your City Chamber of Commerce or leveraging local government contacts.

If you cannot find a state agency to sponsor your proclamation, you can also opt for a commemorative message. This is a non-legal document designed to acknowledge events or special occasions.

Proclamations in some states do not automatically renew. When requesting a proclamation renewal, remember to include a copy of the past proclamation with your application.

What to include in your proclamation request

When filling out a request form, you will be asked to propose the body text for the proclamation. This text usually includes four to six “Whereas” clauses. Make sure your proclamation text answers the questions listed below; if you need more examples, find links to past proclamations below.

Why is it important that your specific city or state celebrate Social Media Day?

Example from New York City's proclamation: "It’s not always easy to stay in touch with friends and family when you live in a city as dynamic, diverse and distracting as New York, but thanks to innovative social media initiatives, New Yorkers are more connected than ever before ... [Social Media Day] gives members of this online community the chance to socialize offline with friends they’ve made."

How will your city benefit from the proclamation?

Example from Tampa's proclamation: "The goal of the event is to unite businesses, innovators, influencers and the community to connect their online networks offline."

How does your city use social media to strengthen its community?

Example from Red Bank's proclamation: "Social media has empowered consumers to locate, engage and support local businesses by coupling technology and community."

What will your city's Social Media Day celebration entail?

Example from Ottawa's proclamation: "Partnering with locally owned businesses, Social Media Day in Ottawa will include video conversations, networking and informative speakers at our event held at Carleton University."

Ottawa's Social Media Day proclamation from 2012.

We encourage you to share your Social Media Day proclamation endeavors with us by tweeting at @MashableEvents, posting on our Meetup page or in the comments below.

Join the Social Media Day movement

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  Sign up to attend or organize your own event on the Mashable Meetup Everywhere page.

  
  


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  Use the #smday hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and any other social network of your choice.

  
  


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  Find your Mashable Meetup community:

  
  

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Topics: How To, Social Good, Social Media