SCBWN Cafe

The New Year is upon us with, as always, the feeling of new possibilities and a clean slate upon which to write. Yet how often are the resolutions we set at this time of year the same resolutions we set this time next year? Or are you a person who always achieves what they set out to do? And if so what can you share with those of us that never seem to quite make it? Let us know by clicking on the comments link below.

Christmas is always a busy time of year.

For many businesses it is the peak time of the year (think double the work). Many women are the designated ‘Present Buyer’ of the family - not to mention chief organiser of Christmas Day festivities. And the Coast population tends to swell from the beginning of December on. So how do you get through Christmas? Is it a time of joy or a time of frustration? Do you have any tips on how to get through it in one piece?

Click on the comments link below and share it with all of us.

We all know the Sunshine Coast is due to be amalgamated into one Super Council, barring any last minute reprieve for the Noosa Shire. So who is your pick for the Super Council mayor and why? Do you think one of the existing Mayors, Don Aldous, Joe Natoli and Bob Abbott, should be it - or is there someone else who you think would be better suited?

Much has been made about Anna Bligh recently becoming the first female Qld Premier. It’s been called ‘History-Making’ by the Queensland Governer Quentin Bryce. Yet Ms Bligh herself has down played it reportedly saying “I’ve never done it as a bloke so I don’t know what the difference will be”. So what are your thoughts? History making or nothing extraordinary?

Come in, come in. Welcome to the SCBWN Cafe. The place to come when you feel like a little time out. The place for good company and great conversation any time of the day or night.

In here we will post articles, information and news to keep you informed, to keep you thinking or possibly just keep you amused.

And what do we ask in return?

We ask for you to contribute to ensure we all benefit from each others knowledge and insights. We don’t ask you to agree with everything that’s being said - in fact we love to hear different points of view. What we do ask is for you to be mindful of others who will call in to read and participate as well.

Some guidelines for use are as follows:

• Read any existing comments first. Somebody else may have already stated your point. Take extra care to read any comments posted by the article’s author (many blogs format author comments differently to make them stand out), as they tend to clarify the article. If you post a comment to point out something that has already been mentioned, all you’re doing is adding clutter to the comments. There are exceptions to this of course.
• Add value to the discussion. Consider whether what you are going to say will actually be of use to others reading your comment. If you aren’t certain that it will, try rephrasing your comment or maybe even refrain from posting it. If you disagree with the author’s point of view, that is fine, but explain why. If you find a mistake in a tutorial, explain what is wrong and let the author and other readers know how to fix it. And stay on topic.
• Avoid two-word comments. While getting appreciative comments is great, comments consisting of only “Great job”, “Nice work”, or “Love it” don’t really say a lot. I’m not saying that you can’t express your appreciation for an article you like, but do try to explain why you like it. With more and more spam containing only short phrases like the ones I mentioned, fleshing it out a bit also reduces the risk of getting caught in a spam trap.
• No capital letters. Using capital letters on the internet or in email is seen as shouting.
• Stay polite and civilised. Posting personal attacks and being disrespectful will not add value to the discussion. Such comments will be deleted. Again, it’s perfectly fine to disagree on something, but be constructive about it or you’re out.
• Don’t advertise. The cafe is to promote discussion and for members to learn new ideas and perspectives. Any advertising for your product or service will be deleted. There will be a link from your name to your website if you wish. If your comments are interesting and informative people will be more likely to click on your website and learn more about you - or find you at the next SCBWN event - than if you simply advertise your wares.

 If we all abide by these guidelines the SCBWN can become a real benefit to everyone. If you are not sure how to post a comment or are having technical issues, contact Rochelle Dent on 54506601. If you have an idea for an article or issue that would lead to great discussion send it through to the SCBWN Co-ordinator.

We look forward to *seeing* you and sharing your insights whenever you are ready.