An increasing number of non-profit organizations nationwide are taking advantage of the phenomenon of social networking to expand the reach of their message. Many of those organizations have done so by creating sites on MySpace, the leading social networking site that boasts over 100 million subscribers.

The potential of this medium has not been lost on preservation, history and revitalization organizations nationwide, many of whom now have a presence on MySpace. This past year, this trend has hit Ohio, and now both local and statewide groups have joined the site, building new networks of communication and cooperation.

In the summer of 2006, the venerable Ohio Historical Society opened its MySpace site (www.myspace.com/ohiohistory), which includes a blog covering Society programs and events. Local Ohio sites have also joined, including one for supporters of historic theaters of Youngstown, the Franklin Castle in Cleveland, and Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, among others.

In January, Preservation Ohio joined in the fun, becoming the first statewide preservation organization nationally to do so. Our site was designed by Judd Palmer, the 17-year-old son of our Executive Director, and can be found at www.myspace.com/preservationohio. The site includes a slide show of past Ohio’s Most Endangered Properties, and links to this blog. Come on in, take a look around, and please visit our friends – a group which is growing daily.