(I know, I know, they actually said that for day twelve... I had to do it anyhow. Haha.)
Today, we'll cover two things - site notifications and how to find and sign up for regional events.
First of all, let me say that the notifications are still being worked on, so you may not get pinged as often as you think you will - at least not at this point. Checking your site notifications and messages was covered in yesterday's post, if you didn't see it and want to refer to it. There are a couple of ways to adjust your notifications, but I'll just cover the easiest to find way.
If you click on the little arrow next to your username, a small dropdown menu will appear. If you select the "Settings" gear, you will see three tabs - "Account", "Privacy" and "Preferences". Click on Preferences and you'll see the list of checkboxes pictured above at the top of the tab. The default is for them to all be check on, except for the "Word sprints about to start" box. In order to be notified on the site when there are ML messages, Buddy messages, new Regional events or any of the other things listed, you need to have that particular box checked.
Scrolling down beneath the site notifications menu is a box for email notifications. This, too, is not quite working yet, but, once it is, if you select "NaNoMessages from MLs", once this feature is working, you should get an emailed copy of any official regional messages sent by either of your MLs. (I, personally, find it helpful to have various notifications send me email, just in case I visit the site and then forget I have a message to answer or an event coming up, etc. I also like to get the newest info from HQ. But, you do whatever works for you.)
And now, what you've all been waiting for: EVENTS!
In the Region hub, there are two tabs. The default tab that you see when you log in is labeled "Overview" and it was covered in the first post in this series. Right next to it is a tab labeled "Events". Now that some events have been added to the official schedule, when you click on that, you will see a list of them once you click on this tab.
Above is a small sample of what the Events list will look like. The name of the event along with the date and time it's taking place are listed in this view. In order to view the full details of the event, just click on the name of the event. When you do, you will see details like this:
Read over the event and decide if you'll be able to attend or not. As part of this feature, if you RSVP, you will be notified by the site if the event has been cancelled for some reason. (As long as you have that selected in your notifications!) How do you RSVP?
All you have to do is click the "Count Me In" button. This adds you to the guest list inside the event (there is also a button inside the event itself - you don't have to go back a screen to opt in).
Once you're signed up, you will see this at the bottom of the event (except for the ML tools... unless you're an ML ;) . ) As you can see, there is a link to use if you need to remove yourself from the event for any reason. There is also an event specific chat box for asking questions, getting clarification, checking for event updates, etc.
We were very fortunate as a region last year to have participating WriMos who hosted 77 hours of writing in various areas of Tacoma/Pierce County! It's a big region and no ML could possible cover it all by themselves, so we're happy to have people volunteer to host write-ins at dates and times and in locations that are convenient for them. To avoid any confusion over who is hosting an event, though, and to keep volunteer Hosts from having to check or update more than one place for any event(s) they host, please DO NOT post your events on the site calendar. Instead, please visit the Regional Write-Ins and Events thread in our regional forums. There, you will find helpful hints on hosting a write-in as well as instructions for how to sign up to host one or more write-ins. All official and participant run write-ins will be listed on our Regional Google Events Calendar, which is linked in the first post in that thread and will be updated regularly. Feel free to add the calendar to your own in whatever way works for you.
Currently, our Regional Calendar has 3 online Meet and Prep Events, our Kickoff Party and our Preptober Workshop listed. There isn't a way to directly link you to our response forms for the Potlucks, but they're there to copy and paste OR you can find them linked in the event itself on our Google Events Calendar. More events will be added as things are finalized, so keep checking back!
Once again, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the box below, send them via the comments box in the sidebar or send an email to PCSockmonkeyWriters @ gmail . com. I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.
Looking forward to meeting you virtually or in person this November!
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