Facebook town hall prompts Fort Meade to chat

By Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs OfficeOctober 19, 2011

usa image
Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and Jason Kelly, Public Affairs Office emerging media manager, respond to community questions on the official Facebook page at the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office during the installation's first social med... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- Fort Meade hosted its first social media town hall on Oct. 6, employing the installation's official Facebook page.

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein, along with Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith and leaders from garrison directorates, spent the afternoon and part of the evening responding to a variety of comments and questions generated by the post community.

Preliminary metrics of how the town hall measured up showed that Fort Meade's Facebook page received more than 800 "interactions" - questions, answers, follow-up questions and conversations about Fort Meade-related issues.

The town hall featured comments and questions ranging from "on post speeding" and the quality and selection of food in the post commissary, to suggestions to improve installation roadways and crosswalks and positive comments recognizing Fort Meade personnel and organizations.

According to Jason Kelly, Public Affairs Office emerging media manager, the two-and-half hour social media town hall exceeded typical interactions on the page for an average week.

Rothstein called the social media town hall a "very successful event" and indicated that he will consider having more opportunities for online "chats" in the future.

Visit www.facebook.com/ftmeade to join the conversation on the installation's official Facebook page.

Related Links:

Fort Meade on Facebook

Fort Meade website