After much discussion on how to approach the matter and numerous sessions of head scratching with Jim, our webmaster, and Benson, the webmaster for the Boston calendar, we have agreed on some basic rules for posting information the Tangopulse website calendar. I don't want to bore everyone with all the information so it is outlined below. But this information is important and may effect your community. although this was a group decision, i take full responsibility for any fallout that may occur. most organizers have been great about supplying information in an easy readable format. for the rest, I'm a little surprised that i have to be so hard-nosed. please try to understand that this is not about egos or wanting to make anyone's job harder.
If you want to read benson wong's comments about submitting information for his boston tango website check out this link http://www.havetodance.com/articles/faq.html ...after reading his faqs, we'll seem mild. :-)
1. If you want your event listed, please submit events to jim at jim@tangopulse.net and copy me at jackie@tangopulse.net in the following format. Please do this even if it's a regular scheduled event because we need confirmation. also e-mail if your event is canceled because people need to know that too. they won't assume it's canceled just because they don't see it on the calendar. Assume we need to be spoon-fed if that image helps you.
IMPORTANT: failure to do so will result in removal of all your information from the calendar and we will provide a hyperlink below the calendar directing people to your website for information on your events. it will not be in bold type or in flashy colors. Hopefully, you have an updated website.
For the website:
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Date and Time
Weekly/ Monthly:
Event:
Location:
Contact person:
Website or e-mail link that we can post in the calendar:
phone # for the calendar:
Special Notes:
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Contact information (phone &/or e-mail) if we have questions or want to send an updated e-mail - will not be posted on the site unless it is included above:
Remember that the calendar listings are CONCISE- look at the calendar and use those listings as a guide - I really don't want to sort through long biographys or detailed event descriptions - put that information on YOUR website - we will provide a link in the calendar. - Jim
2. We will NOT visit your website to try to figure out what is relevant. Many of the websites have outdated information. it is the organizer's responsibility to give us the information.
3. We will NOT read through wordy e-mails. We will shudder and then they will be deleted.
4. We will NOT read a mass posting on an e-mail list like bostontango and assume that you want that information on our website.
5. We do scheduled updates only once a week. (Sunday Morning) So please send your information in a timely fashion (Sunday afternoon may be too late!). of course, there are exceptions .. emergency cancellations etc.
6. If you are going to send out an e-mail to just your e-mail list and don't want to e-mail us separately, consider adding our event format to your e-mail at the beginning and then putting all the other information afterwards. we have gotten a lot of positive response on our change to this format.
7. please check the website after you send us the information to make sure links work etc.
8. We list milongas, workshops, and practicas. We do not list ongoing classes because the revisions/updates would be ungodly. even if you want to discourage folks from just coming to your practica and not to your classes, we encourage the listing of practicas because it provides a link to either your website or to your e-mail address. it's free publicity.
NOTE: the primary purpose of this calendar is to be a tool for the community and to encourage community building. however, it is a misuse of our goodwill to expect us to work 5 times harder to get the information we need that helps you. so please... no comments (at least not to us) about not being community minded. you can use the B word if you want.... B for bodacious... :-)
If your community's events are suddenly not on the website next month, speak to your organizer first...not us. and if you, the organizer, don't want to or can't do this, because god knows we're all busy, try to recruit a volunteer. offer a free private in return. massages are good bartering tools too. just remember that if you're too busy to try to remember to give us the information and it's your event, why would you expect us to remember? also try to imagine that we run the local calendar in the newspaper. our local newsroom would send me hate mail if i ever sent information laid out in the way i have received many e-mails.
Feel free to forward this information to folks that you think need to read it. thanks. and remember, if there's any fallout, i take full responsibility.
Jackie