The inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama was a historic and monumental occasion. As people gathered in Washington, D.C. to watch the inaugural festivities, the energy on Facebook was palpable, too. Millions of people logged into Facebook to share the experience with their friends and family. Over 2 million status updates were posted through the CNN.com Live Facebook feed with 4,000 status updates per minute on average and a huge spike of 8,500 updates when President Obama began his speech. We're thrilled that you and so many others chose to actively participate as history was being made—by sharing the experience with the people that matter most to you.

During his inaugural address, President Obama called for "a new era of responsibility," and today many of you are also getting involved in your community through Facebook. Whether it's through President Obama's new group, USAservice.org, Facebook's partnership with ServiceNation or a local charity, we encourage you to get involved. Become a fan of your favorite nonprofit or service organization, utilize Facebook events, groups and status updates and share what you're doing with your Facebook friends. Rise to the occasion and respond to President Obama's call to action.

The past couple years leading up to President Obama's inauguration have been an exciting time in American politics. Luckily, this is only the beginning. We can't wait to see how you can make a meaningful difference across the world in 2009 and beyond—in your community and on Facebook.


Randi has a newfound respect for news anchors after her day as a CNN.com correspondent.