Guidelines of the Singles Network Newsletter, January 13/10

ELIGIBILITY
1.1 An event is judged to be eligible/ineligible to be listed in the newsletter using the following criteria:
    a. the event must be held in Canada within a 100km radius of Ottawa, or group transportation to the event must be available.
    b. the event must expect to attract mostly single persons. An event will meet this criterion if:
        - the organization holding the event is a member of the Singles Network OR
        - the word "single(s)" appears in the name of the event or the name of the organization holding the event OR
        - one of the organizers of the event is well known to the Singles Network and they can convince us that the event attracts mostly single persons OR
        - a member of the Singles Network vouches for the event.
    c. the main function of the event must be to socialize with members of the opposite sex.

Seeing as the above criteria are subject to interpretation, the final decision on whether or not to list an event is the Single Network's.

1.2 Note the following: Due to a proliferation of requests for promotion of counselling seminars regarding singles issues, and our inability to determine the credibility of the organizers, combined with the high cost of such seminars, we are implementing the following policy. We will no longer promote any seminars, educational workshops or events of a similar nature regardless of subject matter. We feel this decision is in the best interests of our subscribers.

CALENDAR
2.1 Calendar entries shall have the following format:
- day, date, organization name + event name, time, location name, location address, city/region, province, age range, contact information.

i.e.
- Wed., Nov. 11, Singles Network Cocktails/Dinner, 7:00pm, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 101 Lyon St., Ottawa, ON, 40+, reserve singles.network@sympatico.ca

Notes:
    a. The following fields are mandatory: day, date, organization + event name, contact information.
    b. The organization name may be a person's name.
    c. Contact information consists of a telephone number and/or an email address and/or a website, plus a preceding word such as "reserve"or "info." All telephone numbers must have an area code.
    d. Contact information may not currently contain a name (subject to review).
    e. Dates and times in the calendar will be in English and common English format. The rest of the entry may be in French.
    f. We reserve the right to add other information in the case of an exceptional event, such as "cancelled!", "note change of location", "open on the holidays" etc.

2.2. A calendar entry must fit on one line of text on my computer, full screen, 1024x768 pixels, 96 DPI, Arial 10 point or in other words about 150 characters/30 words.

2.3. Every calendar entry must have a corresponding paragraph in the lower portion of the newsletter. Note that multiple calendar entries may refer to the same paragraph.

2.4 No weekly calendar entry may refer to an event more than 10 days in the future or after Wednesday of the following week.

2.5. No calendar entry may refer to an event more than 17 days in the future or after the Wednesday two weeks in the future with the following two exceptions:
    a. the event requires out of town accommodations. In this case, the event will be removed from the calendar early.
    b. the event has a registration deadline more than 9 days preceding the event. In this case, the event will be removed from the newsletter after the deadline has passed.

2.6 Guidelines for calendar entries for events requiring out of town accommodations.
    a. events requiring out of town accommodations for 3 nights or less may be listed up to 2 months in advance, but no less than 10 days in advance.
    b. events requiring out of town accommodations for 4 nights or more may be listed up to 4 months in advance, but no less than 17 days in advance.

PARAGRAPHS
3.1 No one organization or individual may have more that one paragraph in the lower portion of the newsletter. The special Christmas/New Year's events section is not included in this guideline.

3.2 A paragraph must contain contact information consisting of one or more telephone numbers and/or one or more email addresses and/or a website address. All telephone numbers must have an area code.

3.3 A paragraph must fit on five lines of text on my computer, full screen, 1024x768 pixels, 96 DPI, Arial 10 point or in other words about 125 words.

3.4 A paragraph may be in English and/or in French, however if it has both languages it must still comply with guideline 3.3

3.5 There are two types of paragraphs at the bottom of the newsletter. Some are permanent and are always there regardless of whether or not there is an entry in the calendar referring to them, some are transient and only appear if there is a corresponding event in the calendar. The difference is the first type gives a general description of the organization and optionally general information about events but does not contain any information about a specific event, the second type refers to a specific event by date and gives details. The second type of paragraph is reserved for organizers who never have two or more events in the calendar at the same time.

FAVOURITISM
4.1 Members of the Singles Network are given consideration over other groups, not-for-profit groups are given consideration over for-profit groups. This is reflected in the order of the paragraphs in the lower portion of the newsletter and in the calendar when two events occur at the same time. Order of the paragraphs in the lower portion of the newsletter is determined first by category (member organizations, other events/organizations, for-profit singles organizations) then by date/time and then alphabetically if the paragraphs have no date/time.

4.2 The Singles Network (our parent organization) is given special consideration over all other organizations.

BILINGUALISM
5.1 Email to the Singles Network Newsletter editor may be in English or French, however, email from the editor will only be in English. Spoken communication with the editor must be in English.

DEADLINE
6.1 Submissions must be received before Sunday at 1:00pm to guarantee consideration for inclusion in that day's newsletter.

6.2 The newsletter is released whenever possible every Sunday after 1:00pm.

END