Every good game has a set of good rules.  These are the rules to which our organization functions and by which we live by.  But don't worry, to keep thing simple (and because we don't have a very good memory), we only have five... 

• Individual
• Inclusive
• Local
• Positive
• Actionable

That’s it.  It's pretty much all you need to know... but If you really want to dig in more, here’s some more info:

Individual

People Come First

Your article is written by a person (you), and is written for your people (your community, friends, and family)

You, as a contributor, are not anonymous here.  You are a person with a face, an identity, and a personality.  When you contribute, the article will be linked and displayed as “written by YOU”, with your face and bio on the bottom.

Why is this important?  Because this website is about our community... and the kind of community I want to live in isn’t comprised of cold faceless organizations -- it’s comprised of real genuine people expressing their first hand stories.

If you are the representative of an organization, we totally understand your desire to be egoless in your efforts to spread the organizations needs.  However, if you are contributing info, the info comes from YOU, the individual who is a member of the organization.  By all means edit your bio to include your role for the organization you represent, but you are not entitled to hide behind it.

Inclusive

All Are Welcome

Your article needs to be inclusive and open for the entire community.

If Northern Groove were a party, you, and everyone you know are invited.  Your neighbors, friends, friends of friends, people you haven’t seen since high school, and even people you wish you’d never see again, have all been invited.

The party is awesome and it’s gonna be a great time for everyone who comes out.  In fact, the more people who show up the better, and the more people that show up that I don’t know... the more fun it’s gonna be.

If that doesn’t make sense, than I’ll maybe say it a little differently.  This website and everything we do is about showing all the interesting and exciting people and things happening in this region.  The things that we write about are available and inclusive to everyone.  There needs to be an open invitation to everyone who is interested in finding out about stuff and about getting involved.

By being inclusive it forces us to be about bringing people together and growing, not about creating separation and division.

… and it’s more fun.

Local

That Small Town Feelin’ of Home

Articles and contributions should relate to something or someone in (or connected to) our geographical region.  This site is a bit of a celebration of all the neat, fun, and random stuff that happens.

What we’re really trying to do is ensure that the articles and info provided by this website and the other things we do is stuff that people (like you), care about.  Especially people, organizations, and events that you’re connected with, are a part of, or want to be connected with.

The more local connections the better.

Positive and fun.  

You are awesome.  The things your doing are awesome and your organization is awesome.  This is true.

But wait... it gets better.  Your awesomeness was not achieved through winning awards, or obtaining a certain number of recognitions, or even your hard work of getting where you are today... in fact, you were born with it, as is everyone else you know or have ever met.

The posts that are written on this site or in anything else we do need to be written in a way that is complementary, encouraging, and feels good to everyone mentioned in the post.

Contributors are about highlighting the bright spots in our community... not about comparing how much brighter one spot is vs another.

No rants, or political games.  There are other places for that, but not here.

Actionable

You can’t start a revolution without a call to action... can you?

So, that was a really great article you just contributed, but now what?

The “call to action” is the purpose for the article... It is the request that encourages the reader to investigate further, buy tickets, learn more about, make a change regarding, or take some kind of action based on the words that you’ve written...

You see, you as a contributor hold all of the power for the future.  With your words you may be able to make a successful impact on the person, event, or organization you’re writing about.  In fact, it’s not that you might be able to make a difference... it’s how much of an impact can I make?

But then again... you’ll never know if you don’t ask.

Build in a “call to action” in each of your articles and contributions.  Your fancy wordsmithing will get you nothing without one.

Call to actions can be simple... an example might be something as simple as  “checkout more of this artists work on her website at kilnhouse.ca”.  OR,  “last time I checked there were still tickets available, so come join me at this event!”  OR,  “... and that’s why I think more people should learn how to knit... I’m hosting a beginners workshop at my house this Tuesday and you’re invited.  Please pass this on to anyone you think would be interested.”

But enough of this theoretical stuff!  Let’s get started by writing articles that not only inspire and bring hope... but actually create action.

Small action is still action... something is better than nothing... and heck, if somebody else is going to start doing stuff, than so will I!

Your call to action:  Contribute an article!