[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]This week we are going to take a look at the Just Beneath the Surface Alliance and a campaign they sponsor, Energy Speaks. The main focus of these two initiatives is to provide the public with the truth. They present information, try to expose false information and they take a deeper look into the natural gas industry in West Virginia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”1863″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”http://cabotsusq.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/energy-speakslogo.png” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]When we found their Twitter handles, @EnergySpeaksWV and @JstBeneathSrfce, we knew they were on the right track with their initiatives. We had the opportunity to talk with Jessica Hall who works on the Energy Speaks Campaign and she gave us a great insight on how they strategize their posts.

We want to show a broader picture of the industry besides just drilling,” she said. They strive to provide people with the information they need to be able to understand how natural gas and natural gas by-products impact their daily lives.

Here is the full Q & A from Jessica about the @JstBeneathSrfce and @EnergySpeaksWV.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]When and why did you decide to bring @JstBeneathSrfce and @EnergySpeaksWV into the Twitterverse? [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The Just Beneath the Surface Alliance was started in May of 2011. We began our Twitter account around that time but have since switched gears to focus more on our new Energy Speaks campaign, which will be the main feed for us to send out information about our events, as well as providing factual information about the natural gas industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] What has been the most successful outcome since you started exploring the Twitterverse with the @JstBeneathSrfce handle? [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Our most successful outcome was for our Energy Rally back in June of this year. We used Twitter to dispense information about tickets, give-aways, activities, etc. It was an extremely helpful tool, as we were able to get information out to folks and this event saw the most retweets since we started the account. We also did a live tweet during the event, as did several of the people who attended.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Can you tell me a little more about the Energy Speaks WV campaign and how Twitter is being utilized to share your message? [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We will use Twitter to let people know what communities we are in and also if we are going to have a large event, we will use Twitter to dispense information about that. We also plan on using Twitter to provide facts about the natural gas industry. At least once a day, we will provide a fact about the industry that may not have received mainstream coverage. We get these facts from a variety of reliable sources and the topics will change so that we keep the information fresh and relevant.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Is there anything else you would like to have included about the Just Beneath the Surface Alliance or the Energy Speaks campaign?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We have had a very successful year and a half since the launch of the campaign. We started with two Supporting Partners and now we have 32. We have supporters from a wide variety of industries – from education to manufacturing to economic development, to community organizations. This has helped us tremendously to get out the message of how important the natural gas industry is to West Virginia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We have recently started an Educational Initiative as part of our campaign. We just held our first “Teach the Teachers” event and are planning several other activities that will give teachers, guidance counselors,  students and parents the information they need to help make informed opinions about the industry. This effort will also focus heavily on recruiting a workforce for the industry. We will have programs that will let people know where to find jobs, what skills they need and all the information they could need to find work in the natural gas industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]