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1) Why are you running for this position?

While Ive only been a member of this region for a brief time, I have been charmed by its members. I would like to contribute something to the community and I believe I am capable of performing the duties of Foreign Releases adequately.

2) What do you aim to accomplish as thane? As part of this, you must include at least one thing that you promise to do beyond the minimum listed duties of the position during your term. It should be measurable, so that it's black and white whether you fulfilled this mandate at the end of the term if you are elected.

I would like to work with citizens in creating and maintaining a fun and informative magazine or newspaper. It will be composed of articles, poems, opinions, photos, and other things (I'm thinking "Featured National Factbook", "Featured Citizen" with interviews, or WA resolution thoughts). I really want to showcase the people, culture, and events of Wintreath to our regional neighbors!

On the other side of the coin, I will work with our regional partners and their own Foreign Affair offices to review, edit, and compile dispatches designed for interregional consumption. Whether we are more isolated or intimately connected, the nations of Wintreath should be aware of the events taking place in neighboring regions.
2a) If you are an incumbent running for re-election, did you fulfill your mandate from the September election? If not, why didn't you?

N/A

3) What qualifications or experience do you have in the area that you are running in?

I am an adequate writer and editor. I've never held a position like this before, but I feel motivated to learn the ropes from Wintreath's Foriegn Affair veterans.

4) How do you plan to have the time to fulfill the duties of the position until the next election in March?

Well, I spend too much time playing video games. I'll just cut time out of that! This job will be much more meaningful.

5) Are you currently a part of any other NationStates regional or organizational government? If so, please include those regions and positions.

Just here!


Thank you all for being so kind and accepting! I refuse to let you down if I become Thane of Foriegn Releases! Even if I don't get elected, I look forward to working with you all in the future 

I really love your ambition! Our talk on Discord seems to have given you some very good ideas.

I approve of your campaign as FA Jarl, but I also have a question:

As you are not as experienced in writing and design as our current Thane of Foreign Releases, are you committed to finding inspiration and outside help (especially from people here in Wintreath with experience in the area)?

Absolutely, Katie! Looking at some of the work produced by the position, I am impressed with the level of care and professionalism employed in creating regional dispatches, especially the Orendi by taulover and Hydra. Absolutely wonderful work!

 I'd be more than willing to work with these members, and any others who have experience pertaining to the tasks expected of the Thane of Foreign Releases. I'll make sure to do my homework by reading the bulk of the material produced by the office, and Im very open to the ideas, considerations, and critiques of others. I'll make the appropriate efforts in contacting those who I may wish to seek counsel or help from.

Ultimately, I want the office of Foreign Affairs to be something Wintreath is proud of. If I feel I am not qualified for a task, I will either get qualified or find someone who is qualified to assist me.

Oh and for the record it's spelled "Wintreath" although I think it was originally going to be called Winreath

Welcome to the campaign! I have to say that it's really awesome to see a relative newbie to the region be so excited about being involved and to put together such a comprehensive campaign. That is such a rarity in my experience.

But...I still have questions!

1) One problem that this position (and its predecessor positions) has had throughout the history of the region is difficulty with getting more people involved in writing articles and putting it together, which means that it's been up to a small group of people (at best) to get the releases together. Do you have any ideas on how to better interest people in getting involved?

2) You mention working with our partners to create inter-regional dispatches. Can you elaborate on what you have in mind? How would it go above and beyond their own foreign dispatches to us?

3) In many ways, I think this department's main job is to share the essence of who we are as a community to other regional communities, which is grounded in our own sense of what Wintreath is to us. As a relatively new person to the region, what is Wintreath to you?

Thank you for the questions, Wintermoot!

1. Not everyone is going to want to write 400 word articles. I believe the key to increasing participation in our regional dispatches is offering a variety of different article types. For example, while someone may not like to write essays for fun, they may enjoy taking pictures around where they live. I could ask for players to submit to me (or a designated helper) some photos according to a theme that they would like to have featured in the newspaper. I could even make it a competition! I could hold similar things, like Haiku competition (topic might be Wintreath, national culture, or seasons) or a drawing competition (draw a snowy day in Wintreath, or draw our regional animal). These would be featured in the dispatch.

Or, I could hold some anonymous polls or questionnaires about different topics, such as "what country are you from?" or "in 10 words or less, what is Wintreath to you?". This will allow even those with very little time to have their opinions voiced and contribute to the regional dispatch.

Obviously, I would also be contacting our current members of government to see if they would be willing to participate in an interview, talk about what they're doing in their positions, or write an article about something they care about. These seem to be the most willing players historically, as they are already doing jobs within the community that they're passionate about.

While I'll be taking a LOT of inspiration from previous dispatches, I believe it's time to innovate and expand in order to showcase the region as a whole. I personally believe this should include citizens and non-citizens alike.

2. I apologize, I should have defined "inter-regional" more carefully. As I understand it, part of the job as Thane of Foreign Releases is reviewing other region's own dispatches that they send to us. So far, the only dispatches I've seen as a player on the RMB is that of Forest's monthly Environmental Agenda. I would love to see more of that! I may just be missing it though.

In addition to this, I would like to have interviews with regional founders or other regional leaders (conducted by an ambassador or someone in good standing with the other regions' communities) that will ask some general questions about what their region is up to, what their goals are, and what makes them unique. These would be standardized and fairly short, as I wouldn't want them to have to take too much time out of their day to respond. This would be a way to better Wintreath's understanding of outside communities.

I'm not sure about actually producing an "inter-regional dispatch", as in a single dispatch that players from multiple regions work together to produce. That kind of project sounds very ambitious! I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'd need to see if the interest is there. No point trying if no one wants to do it. Would be really cool if we could get people enthusiastic about it though!

3. Wintreath is family. I've witnessed a few times that citizens would go onto the Discord and share the most pressing, sensitive topics ailing them in RL. They would be met with encouragement, consoling, and other words of empathy. This is very beautiful to see, how a community really makes a difference in people's lives.
And when all that stuff happened where people were being banned, threats to the forums were being made, tensions were high, and people were leaving, you all came together in the end, talked about it all honestly, apologized for grievances, and made up. That kind of bond illustrates a community with STRENGTH and the ability to forgive. Many other regions would have completely fallen apart, never to recover, the entire incident becoming a permanent blight upon the region's history. I am thoroughly impressed with how the event was ultimately resolved. Wintreath is a family, and a strong family forgives and learns from mistakes.

As I understand it, part of the job as Thane of Foreign Releases is reviewing other region's own dispatches that they send to us. So far, the only dispatches I've seen as a player on the RMB is that of Forest's monthly Environmental Agenda. I would love to see more of that! I may just be missing it though.

Typically, regions will often post only to the embassy thread on our forums. Traditionally, they're just forum posts; TNP took inspiration from us and have a magazine dispatch also (see their embassy for examples).

I talked this over with Chanku when she was FA Jarl and included that as a responsibility; basically, it's from an unused clause in a decree from many years ago that she decided to delegate to this Thaneship. In practice, regional publications take the forum of embassy dispatches, which ambassadors are generally free to post in our region as they see fit.