A Note from Editor: Making Our Stories Count by Rob Carr

I want to thank you for the thoughtful contributions you’ve shared over the past month. From the burning humanitarian issues to your personal reflections on travel, art, and our reunions, the variety ensures there is something here for everyone.
As I settle into my role as editor, I am reminded daily that this is your blog. Our community thrives because of your unique perspectives; without your content, we lose our chance to connect and discuss the things that matter.

Many of us come across interesting articles daily and want to share them with the group. However, I’ve noticed that a link alone often gets overlooked. I encourage you to take two or three minutes to provide a little context.

By adding some words on why an article caught your eye or what it made you think about, you do more than just share a link—you invite a conversation. Let’s help each other find the "must-reads" by giving them the introduction they deserve.

Submiting at article is easier than ever with the latest tips here.  I have added some additional tips on sharing links that I hope would help:

• Sharing links - if you want to share a link to an interesting article please do not make your post only the link.   Readers need to have a reason to click on an article and those that are just links are rarely if ever looked at.  However, if you provide your own analysis and reasons why we should read it and then inclue the link - then it entices readers to go there.  Taking a couple more minutes to provide some kind of summary or tip could mean that someone will actually read it.  Also please make sure readers can access your link - LINKED IN reqiuires membership and log in to read it and is often a link within a link within a link.  Go to source article and share rather than just LINKED IN.  Also links like NY Times and Washington Post require memberships as well and may not be readible at all by many XUNICEFers.  

Also make sure your NAME is in the title of your submission - that way we know who sent this.  The new submit function does not tell us who sent it so we need your name.  

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, photos, drawings, poems, ideas, rantings and those interesting articles!!!

If you have any more questions or need help posting articles shoot me an e-mail at:  farmerrobert1963@gmail.com and I will try my best to support you.