We want to create a community-maintained calendar that features events and meetings of particular interest to the LGBTQ community in western North Carolina. This includes ...

• Events that specifically target or benefit the LGBTQ community;
• Events intended for a broader audience but that are of likely interest to the LGBTQ community;
• Events that wish to throw out a particularly warm public welcome to our community;
• Events that target other marginalized communities or that focus on social justice, equity & inclusion.
• We welcome events within a 100-mile radius of Asheville as well as virtual events of interest to our community.

1. Get Permission To Post Events. In order to add and edit events, you must request permission.  Register on the site, confirm your email, and login.  Click ACCOUNT on the main menu and select Request Additional Site Permissions. Ask to be a Contributor.
2. Read Our Tips for Listers. Part of what sets our site apart is its use of unique tags to reach specific audiences.  Take a minute to understand these.
3. Post Your Events. Once you have been approved , you will see an Add Event button on the main calendar page.  You can add both single events and recurring events.
4. Wait. We review most calendar submissions before they appear.  We want to ensure that the content is appropriate to this site and that the tagging correct.  We try to do this several times a day, but please bear in mind that we are volunteer-driven.  Expect 1-day turnaround. If you enter a repeating event, the first event will show up immediately after we approve it.  Subsequent events may not show up for a few hours.
5. Maintain Your Events.  Once approved, you will have access to an Edit My Events button on the main calendar page.  If you edit an event, it may require review  again.
6. Give Us Feedback. We are continually evolving this site.  There is a feedback button on almost every page.  Use it to suggest new features or categories.

Adding Events: You can add events manually, via email, or using our automatic sync tool.  Manual entry gives you the most control and fastest turnaround. 

Manual Entry

• Prepare. There is no save-and-resume button. Once you submit an event, it comes to us for review.  You can return to edit an event, but you should understand that may post to the calendar once you click submit.
• Recurring Events. A powerful feature, but a little confusing the first time you use it because of the wording used:
  • To enter a meeting on the same date each month (e.g., the 5th), select "on the same day".
  • To enter a meeting on the same day (e.g., 1st Monday), select "on a different day".
• Venues / Organizers.  Enter the name of the organizer(s) and the location (venue).
  • If it is already in the database, the calendar will populate your event with relevant contact and location information.
  • If you have to add a new organizer or venue, please fill in all the fields.  It will help others.
• Online Events. Select "Online Event" as your Venue.

Additional Fields. It may be tempting to skip them, but we suggest that you take a moment to complete :

• Target Audience: Check a box that best describes who an event is designed for. DO NOT check all the boxes.   Example: if you have an event for the LGBTQ community, don't check all the LGBTQ options.  Just check LGBTQ community.  In general, you should check no more than 1-3 boxes.
• Event Focus: Why is someone coming to your event?  What should they hope to get out of it?
• Welcoming Pages: In phase 2, we will be launching a collection of welcoming pages.   If your event is relevant to one of these, check the box.  Your event will also appear on that page.

Other Ways to Add Events

• Email: You can send us a link to a Facebook event.  We will add it to the calendar to the best of our understanding.  However, we make no guarantees about accuracy and turnaround.  The request must come from someone registered on our site who has made a few manual entries.  Send a request and link to VCtrAdmin@BlueRidgePride.org.  
• Synchronization: If you maintain a calendar on Meetup, Google, Eventbrite, or iCalendar, we have the ability to automatically post your events.  However, this is limited to an automated weekly feed of everything in that calendar.  You will also have to rely on our judgment when it comes to tagging the event.  Contact VCtrAdmin@BlueRidgePride.org to discuss.

• Tags.We regularly review how groups tag their listings. However, there may be a lag of a few days.
• Location: We While the calendar focuses on events in Western North Carolina, we include events within 100 miles of Asheville as well as virtual events throughout the region that might be of interest to our community.
• Feedback: This calendars is a brand new undertaking. We will evolve it based on community feedback. Please share your thoughts and suggestions.

• Volunteer. We are building a team of volunteers who can monitor new submissions and ensure proper tagging. If you are interested in volunteering a few hours a week or month, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.
• Donate. We are trying to keep this service free.  As a matter of equity and inclusion, we want to make this service available to everyone in our community.  But it does cost us money to run.  We are hoping that individuals and businesses with the means can afford to kick a little something in.  Visit our donate page for more information.
• Spread the Word.  Encourage others to list here.  Click the share buttons.