Minnesota

The recent upgrade of WordPress created problems for bloggers from several Horizons communities trying to upload photos into their blogs. Mike from North Dakota came up with a helpful set of instructions that simplify the process and help work around some of the issues people have been having.

Click the link to download the instructions on embedding photos.

For many of you looking to change the look of your blog posts, WordPress now makes it easier. Just click the “Show/Hide Advanced Toolbar” button (the third button from the right that looks like a bunch of little squares) and get easy access to more options such as adding color, underlining text, inserting characters, & more!

Many of you have asked if there is a way to measure hits to your blogs. Here is one relatively easy (and free) service that you can add to your homepage. For an example of what the web counter may look like on the Minnesota page, look to the right at the top of the sidebar.

To download the instructions, click adding-a-web-counter.doc

For those of you wanting more sophistication and detail, the blog team has just installed Google Analytics. I’ll post more information on that service when it becomes available.

For all of those impressed by Lori’s recent post and eager to share their own photos and slideshows, here are some simple instructions for adding a Picasa slideshow to your own blog.

Thanks to Cheryl in South Dakota for making these available!

Click here to download the instructions: adding-a-picasa-slide-show.pdf

Here are some photos from around the state. I’m learning how to make our blog fun, just like you, so this is my first attempt at embedding a slide show. Smile, you might be on the Horizons blog.

The Horizons Team in St. James has developed a great document to use in reviewing funding requests from their Future Squads. I’ve shared it with some of the southern communities, and promised to follow up by posting their example here. I think the document does a great job of keeping the work focused on poverty reduction and on the community vision. At the same time, it’s not too cumbersome to fill out. Please feel free to adapt and use it, if your Horizons Team decides something similar would work for them.

Stay warm!

- Jessica

St. James Horizons Funding Application

The Horizons Team in Chisholm has also created some documents to help them with their work, hopefully it can also help you with yours. Their documents lay out the process required to receive funds, as well as forms to submit. Another unique add is the Chisholm Horizons Creed.

Chisholm Funding Request Forms and Horizons Creed

As we begin an exciting new year, there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot to reflect upon. I believe 2008 is going to be an amazing year of unprecedented movement and change for all the Horizons communities.

What’s your perspective? What does your world look like at the turn of the year? Below are some questions that I’ve been using to stimulate my thinking. We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments — feel free to post a comment or drop us a line.

• What was the most memorable thing that people said or changes that you saw in your Horizons work in 2007?

• Where did you experience hope, joy or fulfillment?

• How would you characterize 2007 using a song or book title?

• What are things you saw or heard in 2007 that are going to stay with you? (Things that you have seen in yourself or in others)

• What would you like to be able to say at the end of 2008 about your year?

• What’s the “one thing” you want to be able to say is different, stronger, or deeper?

• How will you celebrate, both now and throughout 2008?