OK, so this looks great, but how do I get in on the action, you ask? Well, we're glad you did. Here's some basic steps (click on the highlighted links to get more info on that step):

Looking Around

1. Watch the intro video on the home page. It will explain the basics of why this site is here and why we think it's important.
   
   
2. Link to pages you are interested in and poke around. The links across the top are to different areas of the site; the ones on the left are to pages created by users. When you are on a category page (for example, Faith Communities, you will see any child pages (i.e. pages that are part of a larger group of pages) under the parent page's link.
   
   
3. Check out both the news pages and bookmark one or both. The News page gives you automatic up-to-date feeds of some of the top local news. Local Service News is a user-created page with links to articles specifically related to the service community of Thurston County.
   

Getting started and adding information

1. Register as a member of the site. While you should be able edit pages anonymously, this site is more than a repository of information. Please register: if the goal is to bridge people together for the common good, it doesn't make much sense to hide who you are. And nothing will be shared without your permission.
   
   
2. Update your profile page. Help us to know a little about yourself; maybe add a picture. Nothing is required, but the more we know about each other, the better we can work together. Tell us what you're passionate about.
   
   
3. Find out if the Faith Communities and Community Serving Organizations you are involved in already have pages here. If they do, take a look and use the "EasyEdit" button on the top left of the page to add information, photos, and links that might be useful. Remember that the focus here is on forming connections in outreach, so this shouldn't look like an exact copy of your church or nonprofit's website.
   
   
4. If your organization doesn't already have a page, create one by clicking "Add a New Page" at the bottom of the top left sidebar. If you don't see that or get a message saying you don't have permission, message nate.porter to ask to become a Moderator. This step is a necessary protection against SPAM.
   
   
5. Tag yourself to your organization's pages by clicking "edit keyword tags" at the bottom. This helps people find others who share similar goals or interests.
   
   
6. If you see anything that is unclear or could be improved (but you can't right then), use the boxes at the bottom of the page to comment or click "More tools" - "Add a To-Do" to create a reminder at the top of the page for anyone to see and resolve.
   
   

When you have followed at least steps 1 and 2 above and are ready to get interactive, try the next step:

Interacting with the Community

Here is where we move the site from information source to change and collaboration agent! There are a variety of ways to do this. We suggest you try them all and see what you like.

1. Discussions - These are similar to forums you may have participated in on other websites. Browse through the "threads" of discussion already going on and add to any of them or create a new one if you're interested in finding something out or connecting around certain issues. Discussions are best for addressing specific challenges or seeking input from a broad range of people.
   
   
2. Top 20 Lists - For example, Top 20 Thurston County Needs - Here you can see what others view as important and add your own input by editing the page. You can also expand on issues other people have mentioned. Top 20 Lists are best for discovering what's most important to participants in the big picture.
   
   
3. Members - Browse through all members of the site or go directly to the profiles of those who are listed on organization pages you are interested in or connected to. You can view their information including what pages they have contributed to, send messages, and add compliments for them. Member pages are best for finding people with similar interests and passions.
   
   
4. News - You can comment on any article that appears on the News page (linked from the top bar). Feel free to speak your mind, but be sure to respect others on the site. We will moderate comments only if it becomes a problem.