In a fantastic gesture of local support, Citrix Online has stepped up to match dollar-for-dollar all the money we raised at Santa Barbara Global Twestival this year!  David Baeza, VP of Customer Acquisition at Citrix Online announced the donation. “Santa Barbara Twestival is locally minded but with a global conscience. Citrix Online is proud to support this cause,” said Baeza, who was instrumental in last year’s Local Twestival.

Thanks to this matching donation, the money we raised can train 4 teachers who will continue to give back to their communities and have a lasting effect.  Or that money may be used to send 16 out-of-school girls to school for a year; Imagine the impact!

Thank you to Citrix Online for boosting the efforts of the local community in Santa Barbara!

Santa Barbara Representing for Global Twestival!

Santa Barbara’s Twitter community rallied together to support Concern Worldwide along with 14,000 others around the world to demonstrate the power of leveraging social media for a great cause.  Carr Winery graciously hosted the event, providing an ideal environment for the Tweetup and generously donating a glass of wine to all attendees.  Sugar Bliss Sweets setup a dazzling display of mini cupcakes which not only looked stunning but tasted incredible (coffee chocolate cake w/ cheesecake and chocolate chip filling and cream cheese frosting was only one of the cupcakes!) @TechEase (a computer repair shop in Santa Barbara) coordinated the event and donated pizza from Sal’s to feed the hungry attendees.

@SugarBlissSweets Mini Cupcakes

We had a fantastic turnout, some familiar faces and some who were attending their very first Tweetup.  Thanks to their generosity, we blew away our $500 goal and raised $620 for Concern Worldwide!  Globally Twestival raised over $411,000 for @Concern!

A huge thank you to Carr Winery for supporting the local Twitter community, (and for making a pinot noir rose, yum!) and Sugar Bliss Sweets for sharing such delicious treats in support of a great cause.  Please show these local businesses the same kind of support they’ve given to us during this event so they know how much we value them.

Unending thanks to the Twestival Advisory Board, comprised of @Chadcat, @jenniferabragg @LisaBraithwaite, @LuvenRN, and @PaintingBug who somehow managed to fit a charity event into their already overstuffed schedules.  They worked tirelessly to make sure Global Twestival was a success in Santa Barbara.

And most importantly, thank you to all who attended, donated, retweeted, learned, and leveraged your social networks making personal contact to bring attention and donations to a great cause.  The local Twitter community is filled with supportive tweeps, but also incredibly busy and successful tweeps (no coincidence).  We know how difficult it can be to find time in your calendars, so thank you for all your support.  Without you, all of our efforts would be lost.

Here’s to growing our supportive Santa Barbara Twitter community even larger for the next Twestival!  Thank you all!

-Evan Asher (@TechEase)

In support of Global Twestival, Santa Barbara’s chocolates, cupcakes and confections maker Sugar Bliss Sweets has generously agreed to donate her famed mini-cupcakes during tomorrow’s charity event!  A $1 donation gets you two mini cupcakes which go perfectly with Carr Winery’s Granache.  So save room, and remember, charitable cupcakes are automatically calorie free.  A big thank you to @Sugar_Bliss who is slaving over a hot oven as we tweet!

This year’s Global Twestival charity is Concern Worldwide, whose goal is to meet the needs of people living in extreme poverty, for whom every day is a fight for survival. Their mission is to help people achieve major improvements in their lives - improvements they can sustain without ongoing support. Concern meets the needs of these people in a caring and personalized manner, respecting their human and cultural dignity. They are committed to reaching the most vulnerable, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

One great example of their work is the focus of our fundraiser in Santa Barbara: Education for GIrls.  Ensuring that girls have equal and safe access to education is a main priority for Concern Worldwide.  It’s incredible to note that the cost of 1 year of education for an out of school girls is $75.

This means our donations can make a significant impact in the lives of girls around the world.  So join us at Carr Winery for a $10 donation, and if you can, purchase a $30 super donation ticket instead.  You’ll still get your first glass of wine free, but you’ll be among our elite donors, and your donation will make a huge difference in a girl’s life who may otherwise not have access to a basic education.

Click here for tickets and that instant feeling that comes with doing a great deed!

In a great show of support for Concern Worldwide, @CarrWinery has announced it will be comping all Global Twestival attendees’ first glass of house wine! As if you needed more incentive to attend, this makes your $10 donation an even greater value. A huge thanks to the owners and staff at Carr Winery for supporting the local Twitter community and the greater cause of bringing education to girls in the poorest countries around the world. Just another reason why Carr has become a favorite tweetup location in Santa Barbara.

To donate and purchase tickets, click here.

On Thursday 25 March 2010, people in hundreds of cities around the world will come together offline to rally around the important cause of Education by hosting local events to have fun and create awareness.  Twestival™ (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good.  All of the local events are organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all ticket sales and donations go direct to projects.

Come join Santa Barbara’s Twitter community as we meet at Carr Winery on Thursday March 25th from 6-8.  Tickets to attend are available for a $10 donation, 100% of which will go to help Concern Worldwide’s mission of bringing education to the world’s poorest children.

Of the eight main areas of focus that Concern Worldwide covers, Santa Barbara’s Global Twestival will highlight the efforts to bring education to girls. We were compelled by the following description from Concern Worldwide:

The majority of school-age children around the world who are not enrolled in school are girls. Through its work with teachers, families and communities, Concern is working hard to remove cultural barriers to girls’ education. Concern also makes sure that the schools are safe learning environments, as the threat of sexual harassment and violence are another major factor in parents keeping girls out of school.

So catch up with your Twitter friends, meet some new ones, share a glass of wine and help support a fantastic cause!  To purchase tickets click here.

Santa Barbara Twestival was a success by any measure. However, it’s important to take a moment to thank those that attended and the people that made it possible.

Believe or not, Santa Barbara Twestival was only in the making for about four weeks. Yup…that’s it. It started with a phone call with Amanda Rose (Twestival founder) and then a call with Jim Prosser from Direct Relief. Next, we gathered a team of volunteers, which wasn’t easy.

A lot of people probably don’t know this but in addition to volunteering to work on Twestival, the volunteers bought their own tickets to the event. In fact, everyone, including the staff from Direct Relief, bought their own tickets.

The question was a little awkward at first. It went something like this, “hey, there’s this twitter festival fund raising thing, that’s also an in-person event for charity, do you want to work countless hours and also pay for the privilege to attend?” Over time our pitch got better, but we had a lot of confused and slightly offended people at the start.

Somehow we managed to wrangle 20+ people to help create and manage the event. A sincere thank you goes out to all those that planned, mapped, edited, blogged, promoted, tweeted, phoned, text, sang, yelled, laughed, sent IM’s and DM’s, @replies, negotiated, tasted, budgeted, slapped on wrist bands and stickers, managed computers and countless other tasks that happened behind the scenes to make this a flawless event. Our heartfelt gratitude to Amber Mills (@paintingbug), Crystal Vaughan, @lisahorner, Kelley Smith, Ana Ruvalcaba and @maliabasche, she was “…the glue that held #sbtwestival together.” There were many others, but I felt that I needed to highlight these volunteers simply because their support, leadership and dedication were instrumental in making this event a success.

We would also like to thank @Amanda the Twestival architect (founder), and @Joyniss our Regional Coordinator for their thoughtful guidance and support. Our corporate partners, Amiando and Scribble Live were fantastic. Using Amiando as the fundrasing engine was seamless. I hope they continue to partner with Twestival. We broadcast the Scribble Live feed during the event and it was a huge hit!

Please read on:

• Spectacular roof top accommodations, bartenders, internet access, furniture, heaters, power, wait staff and even the sunset were provided by the stunning Canary Hotel. The staff at The Canary went all out for this event. They helped us with every conceivable detail and it really showed. They were a partner from beginning to end. The catering tasted exquisite. I know it sounds hyped, but it’s true. The food was fantastic. The staff was always accommodating and the hotel rooms were well appointed, inviting and very comfortable. They truly got behind Twestival and if it wasn’t for their dedication we could have ended up in the parking lot with warm keg beer and hot dog weenies. Thank you Canary Hotel! Find them on Twitter @canary_chirp
• MakeItWork provided a very generous donation to help offset the event expenses. As if that wasn’t enough, Eric Greenspan, CEO of MakeItWork also made a significant contribution to Direct Relief International. The MIW volunteers worked actively with local media to help promote Twestival and generously helped during registration. Great contribution by the team from @MakeItWorkInc
• The emcees of the event Tim Conway Jr. and Jeremy Anticouni from TechNews on KNX1070 in LA kept the night moving, and really kept the focus on Direct Relief International and Twestival. They complimented the event perfectly. Thank you for your generous support.
• PSAV set up and provided the 3 52″ plasmas that were used to stream #sbtwestival tweets via Scribble Live, pix from the PhotoBooth, and the Direct Relief presentation. The plasmas were a critical component of the Twestival experience. Watching tweets and pictures stream live from the event really gave it a global feel.
• The photo booth, provided by PhotoBooth Santa Barbara was a huge hit! People lined up all night to have their pictures taken. They would fill the booth with 5 or 6 of their best (new) friends. They would run over to the plasmas to watch their pictures stream live! The finale happened at around 9pm when the booth was over run with party goers and the walls blew out from the inside. Imagine if the Big Bad Wolf decided to blown down a house from the inside, there, now you’ve got the visual. Fortunately the camera was saved. Phew!
• The great crew at TechEase powered the Tech Corner. They helped guests set up Twitter accounts and make donations online via Direct Relief and Amiando, provide IT support for the PhotoBooth and the computers that powered the 3 plasmas, set up Wifi and more. TechEase supported the crucial technical component of Twestival, and the technology that drove the event would not be possible without their generous support. Check them out on Twitter @techease.
• Citrix Online made a generous donation to Direct Relief and helped to offset the event expenses. The company also had a very large contingent of volunteers that helped plan and manage Santa Barbara Twestival. Citrix Online is a global partner of Twestival. The company donated GoToMeeting licenses to every Twestival organizer in 35 countries to help them collaborate and manage the events.
• We would have been lost at the event, literally, if it wasn’t for Boone Graphics. They created all the beautiful #sbtwestival signage. Party goers always knew exactly where to go. Big thanks to Boone!
• The Santa Barbara Independent, NoozHawk, City2.0 and Santa Barbara News Press were media sponsors for Twestival. We greatly appreciate the advertising placements, and the editorial coverage dedicated to the event. It was great to see the local press supporting Twestival.
• If you loved the Twestival T’s than you love Quetzal Designs! They worked with our volunteers to create the perfect shirt for the event. This was by far one of the most popular items at the event.
• Amber Mills, also known as #paintingbug by her Twitter fans, did the beautiful face and body painting. I had my face painted and then boldly jumped into the photobooth (i’m the one with the horns)!
• If you’re like me and had a sore neck from whipping your head around trying to meet everyone, then you probably stopped by and had a wonderful massage from Kristen Hoye and Julie Fiscalini. They were gracious enough to donate their time, and their skills kept the guests relaxed enough to party into the early hours.

Auction Items

• Awesome Killers VIP package donated by Santa Barbara Bowl was one of the big draws at the auction table. Then, as if it couldn’t get better, the folks at the bowl arranged a meet-and-greet with the band! OMG!
• Sirius donated two satellite radios complete with annual subscriptions.
• If you visit Santa Barbara, a must-see is the the legendary West Beach Music Festival. Well, one lucky person won the auction, and soon they get to experience VIP treatment at the Festival thanks to Twin Productions
• One long time fan (the better half of Jeremy Anticouni) walked away with a pair of Lily Tomlin tickets courtesy of Lobero Theatre
• If you love wine and you love food, then you know of the legendary Ballard Inn in the heart of the Santa Ynez wine country,and home to the Ultimate Chef. One lucky winner took home a romantic evening at the Inn complete with a custom dining experience created by Chef Budi Kazali.
• As if the Canary Hotel didn’t do enough, they also donated dinner for two at the Coast Restaurant. The restaurant is lovely, the drinks are made to perfection and the Oyster Bar is not be missed.
• So you think you can dance? Not really? Your best moves are the Macarana…ugh, then you should have bid on the dance lessons from MovDance.
• Two tickets to the Pink Martini at the Arlington went faster than, well, a TwitterTini.
• Craft in Stone donated a stunning 12×12 Stone Inlay Artwork.

Lastly, and most important, we would like to thank the 200 people that choose to support Twestival and Direct Relief International. The moment you bought a ticket you helped changed the life of someone in need of medicine that can’t afford it. You showed up in force! You tweeted from the roof top, you bid on auction items, took pictures, made new friends and made a difference in your community.

From all of us at Santa Barbara Twestival, thank you for your generous support.

We really wanted to be able to sell 50 tickets at the door but the demand has been overwhelming so we released the final batch of tickets online. We need to keep the event at 200 to accommodate the capacity at the Canary.

We sincerely appreciate all the support and we are sorry that we can’t accommodate everyone. In the spirit of Twestival please join us on Twitter and send your tweets to #sbtwestival. They will be broadcast live during the event.

Our sincere thanks!

LOCATION: Canary Hotel

ATTIRE: Beach Cocktail

TIME: 6pm – 9pm. The event will start promptly at 6pm. We recommend you arrive a few minutes early to minimize the line at registration.

PARKING: Park in Lot 2 behind the Canary, or valet at the Canary at your expense.

REGISTRATION: Registration is in the main lobby as you enter the Canary Hotel. If you purchased your ticket online you received an email from Amiando.com. Print your ticket and bring it to registration. If you forget, registration volunteers will have a guest list. You may purchase tickets online for $25, or at the door for $35. These tickets include one TwitterTini cocktail and appetizers. There will also be a host bar at discounted prices for you. Due to capacity limitations, only a limited amount of tickets will be sold at the door. Avoid the hassle, and buy your tickets online.

VOLUNTEERS: They are easy to spot because they are wearing the aqua blue Santa Barbara Twestival long sleeve T’s. If you have any questions, look for any one of the 15+ volunteers wearing the Twestival shirts, and they will be happy to help you.

PHOTO BOOTH: The photo booth will be accepting donations for Direct Relief in any amount. Make a donation and have your picture taken with friends. The picture will be uploaded to Twitter live during the event. So remember, what happens in the photo booth, does NOT stay in the photo booth.

MASSEURS: For a donation in any amount, you can get a chair massage. Don’t be cheap and just give them a quarter. Think dollars. Think dollars + minutes = donation. I like your thinking.

TWEETING: To post tweets and pictures during the event, send them from your phone and include #sbtwestival in the subject or text line. Every tweet and picture will be streamed live on 52” plasmas. If you don’t know how to post on Twitter with your phone, find a volunteer and they will help you.

CHARITY: Please remember that while this is a party, it is a party with a cause….Direct Relief. Local companies have donated more than $15,000 to cover the expenses for the event. They include the Canary Hotel , Citrix Online, MakeItWork, PSAV, TechEase, Boone Graphics, Twin Productions, The Ballard Inn, PhotoBooth Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara Independent, NoozHawk, Sirius/XM, Lobero Live, City 2.0, Quetzal Design, and more. I mention all of these companies because it’s important to recognize that the event would not be possible without their generous donations, and the countless hours donated by dozens of volunteers from the community and Twitter. So during the event when you see the donation can for a photo or massage, or if you’re bidding on auction items, remember that 100% of every dime you spend goes to Direct Relief International.

AUCTION: If you want Killers tickets, romantic wine country retreat, Sirius/XM players..and more, than you need to enter the silent auction. There will be a table set up displaying all the amazing items for auction. This is a SILENT auction. That means shhhhhhhhhhhh. Don’t yell out your bid and wave a sign. Just put down your name, and the amount you want to bid, and then keep checking back to make sure you didn’t get bumped. If you’ve been outbid by money bags, you can simply raise your bid and voila; you are the man (or woman) again! If you have the winning bid, it will be announced at approximately 8:30pm. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. Cash or credit card only.

If you have any questions you can post a comment on the blog, or reach us on Twitter @sbtwestival. See you Friday!

The beauty of the roof top at the canary hotel and the elegance of Santa Barbara will set the tone for Twestival - the official Santa Barbara event benefiting Direct Relief International. A sneak peek for the September 11th party unveiled stunning design details, a delicious menu, amazing live music, auction items that ranged from Killers tickets to a romantic wine country getaway, delicious blue TwitterTinis, and all the luxuries that guests will come to expect at this global annual event.

Volunteers, corporations, and event designers have meticulously prepared for the upcoming event. With less the 3 days to go, party guests are searching for the perfect “beach cocktail” attire. Rumor has it a limited number of pink and blue Santa Barbara twestival shirts are being made, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

A couple of housekeeping details. The event starts at 6pm. The attire is Beach Cocktail. Park in Lot 2 behind the Canary Hotel, otherwise you may park in the surrounding area or valet at your expense. Registration is in the main lobby as you enter the hotel. We have a guest list, but the line will move quicker if you print your ticket stub. You will get a wrist band which gives you access to the event and entitles you to an overflowing blue TwitterTini, masseurs, photo booth, live music, food and more. You may purchase tickets online for $25 or $35 at the door. A limited amount of tickets will be sold at the door due to capacity limitations. There are 150 tickets sold online and only a handful remains. 100% of your ticket purchase benefits Direct Relief International.

If you have any questions you can reach us on Facebook or on Twitter @sbtwestival, check santabarbara.twestival.com for updates. See you Friday!