Managers must find new ways to stimulate their people, providing ideas that will be of benefit. Until critical mass of users begin to carry the system forward, persistence and encouragement of managers is essential. Users must be included at all times. Build user support and ownership of the application from the start. There should be plentiful training.
Notes is a new paradigm.
There must be team consensus on the use of Notes. User groups, Groupware champions. Don't simply give people the tool, give them a good reason to use it. Select a pilot project and a representative set of users. Users must get some benefit for the initial extra effort required.