Community Managers now have a voice – new group represents their interests The "Bundesverband Community Management e.V. i.G." introduces itself Frankfurt, November 3, 2008. Virtual Communities such as XING, MySpace, YouTube or StudiVZ are here to stay on the Internet landscape. Online companies see an auspicious future in these communities, full of new revenue sources and lots of seemingly free user-generated content. It is quickly becoming apparent, however, that communities don't manage themselves, and that doing so is a full-time job. Thus the career of a Community Manager is born.
Given the short history of the profession, however, there are still discrepancies as to the demands and requirements of a Community Manager. Employers themselves often don’t know exactly what qualifications a Community Manager should have, or even what one is supposed to do every day. The Bundesverband Community Management e.V.i.G. (BVCM) group, founded by Tom Noeding on November 1, 2008, sees the clarification of precisely these questions as its primary mandate. “We will help in raising the position of Community Manager to the level of a ‘recognized trade’ in the sense of paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Vocational Training Act (error here in the German), thus setting a standard which will not only help our members in representing their interests, but which will simultaneously provide employers with a realistic job profile,” explained Noeding at the 1st CommunityCamp in Berlin, where the group was founded. Furthermore, the organization has committed to delivering reliable facts and figures on the industry. The Second Chairperson of BVCM, Silke Schippmann, Community Manager of the online business network XING, explains: “Who really knows what influence Community Managers have on the success of an online community? Where do they learn the tools of their trade, where do they work, and what do they earn? Which skills are necessary for those coming from a different industry? Does it take a jack of all trades to be successful, or rather a talented newcomer? What skills should a Community Manager have? These are all questions we want to answer.” BVCM plans to work together with other organizations to reach its goal. In concrete terms, this means cooperating with educational institutions following the American model to train Community Managers in Germany while simultaneously lobbying for the profession at local chambers of commerce and the German Employment Office, working to create common quality standards. Benefits to BVCM members include Germany-wide, media intensive representation of interests, discounts on trade fairs and training, and professional exchange by means of the expansive network. Email: info@bvcm.org Internet: http://www.bvcm.org
Authorized Executive Committee: Tom Noeding (First Chairperson) https://www.xing.com/profile/Tom_Noeding Silke Schippmann (Second Chairperson) https://www.xing.com/profile/Silke_Schippmann Mark Ralea (Treasurer) https://www.xing.com/profile/Mark_Ralea Linda Konter (Press and Public Relations)
BVCM in brief: The Bundesverband Community Management e.V. i.G. envisions its goal as promoting Community Managers and the career, economic and social interests of its members in the entire Federal Republic of Germany. In particular, these interests include: • • • • •
Providing members with information, consultation and education in all areas necessary to practicing the profession Promoting the public image of Community Managers by all suitable means, particularly by engaging in public relations Participating in all planning and preparation stages of reinforcing the legal and other status of the Community Manager profession Informing and educating members on legal questions, and Combating unfair competition and monitoring legal violations of such