As explained above, we can’t simply expect new member nations to stay in our region and become active on their own. Instead of ignoring new nations and forcing them to decide for themselves whether staying in Taijitu is worth it, we need to take the first step by approaching all new nations with open arms and assuring them of the opportunities and benefits of our region. This can be done with a Citizen-Mentor Program.
As Citizen-Liaison, I will introduce a Citizen-Mentor Program that will increase the number of active members in our region simply by reaching out to new nations. In order to become a Citizen-Mentor, one must simply apply for the position by posting in an application thread, with the only requirements being that all Citizen-Mentors must be registered Citizens in Taijitu, have a broad knowledge of the region, its history, its government, its forum, and its functions, and be willing to carry out the position of Citizen-Mentor as effectively as possible.
When a new nation arrives in Taijitu, a Citizen-Mentor will be selected to guide the new nation (Citizen-Mentors will take turns claiming responsibility for new nations). The following are appropriate steps that a Citizen-Mentor must take in order to successfully fulfill his or her role in assuring that new members of the region decide to stay and become active:
1. After a new nation joins our region and a Citizen-Mentor is selected to guide them, the Citizen-Mentor is responsible for sending a telegram the new nation with a general introduction to the region and its forum. While this role might seem similar to simply sending a recruitment telegram that describes our region, the PM that the Citizen-Mentor is responsible for sending is to be more specific and personal. The template for the PM is as follows:
Hi, [new nation username]! :D
My name is [Citizen-Mentor username], and I'm a Citizen-Mentor here in Taijitu. I'm delighted to see that you have decided to join our region, and I was wondering if you would like a little tour in order to better understand all of the great opportunities that you now have as a member of Taijitu.
The first thing that you need to do as a member of Taijitu is join our regional forum, located at http://forum.taijitu.org. This forum is where the vast majority of our regional activity takes place, so it is essential that you join in order to gain the full Taijitu experience. In order to register, simply click the 'Register' button at the upper-right corner of the page and follow the instructions carefully. Once more, most of our region's activity by far takes place on this forum, so it's really important that you join in order to become a full member of the region.
Now that you're a member of the forum, the first thing I recommend you do is introduce yourself to our community in the Welcome Area (http://forum.taijitu.org/introductions/). Here, you can tell us a little about yourself and your nation, and you can also apply for Citizenship (http://forum.taijitu.org/the-ecclesia/citizenship-applications-and-updates-9396/msg156691/#msg156691), meaning that you will be able to vote in our regional government elections and even maybe run for office yourself! If you're interested, you can also join the Citizens' Militia (http://forum.taijitu.org/citizens%27-militia/enlist-in-the-citizens%27-militia/msg157099/#msg157099), which is responsible for protecting our region and other regions across NationStates from the Raiders, who try to hack into regional governments and destroy regional communities. You'll learn more about your duties and responsibilities as a member of the Militia when you sign up.
Now that you've introduced yourself to the region, applied for Citizenship, and joined the Citizens' Militia if you so choose, you can start exploring the other parts of our forum, which contain ample opportunities for you and your nation. First, under the 'General Category' Section on the main forum index, you can feel free to discuss non-NationStates related subjects to your heart's content, such as video games, arts and entertainment, and your real life experiences.
Up next is the 'Taijitu World Building' Section, which can also be found on the main forum index - this is where the real fun gets started. If you're into nation role play, this is the spot for you, as at any given time we will a variety of RP events and experiences open to all members of the forum that you can feel free to participate in. You can also post fact books and stories from your nation in this section - feel free to check out those from other nations in order to get an idea of what you can do. Also, feel free to make a page for your nation on our Wiki (http://wiki.taijitu.org/wiki/Main_Page), and feel free to check out the Role Play Guide (http://wiki.taijitu.org/wiki/Taijitu:Role_Play) as well, so you can learn how to role play with your nation and what world building opportunities Taijitu has to offer.
Under the World Building Section on the main forum index is the 'City Center' Section - this is where you can join the University of the Glorious Revolution (our main regional university), post about your nation's religious centers and other organizations, and read our nation's news in the Voice of the People.
Finally, you should check out the 'Government of Taijitu' Section on the main forum index - this is where our regional government operates from. As a citizen, you can vote on regional matters in the Ecclesia (http://forum.taijitu.org/the-ecclesia/), or you can run for government office and join the Tholos (http://forum.taijitu.org/the-tholos/) (of course, I recommend you get a little experience in the forum before doing this).
Are you excited? I certainly am. As you can see, our region is full of great opportunities and experiences for all nations, old and new. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by messaging me back, or join our region's chatroom (https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.esper.net/taijitu) and discuss - well, anything, I guess - with other members of the forum community. Feel free to introduce yourself in the chatroom as well - we won't bite! :P
All in all, I'd like to thank you again for joining our great region, and remind you to feel free to contact me at any time with any questions you might have.
Thanks! :)
- [Citizen-Mentor Username]
2.
After the new nation has been sent the Introductory Telegram by the Citizen-Mentor, the Citizen-Mentor is responsible for accurately answering any and all questions asked by the new nation, as well as greeting the new nation on the regional chatroom.As shown, having Citizen-Mentors in Taijitu will greatly improve the activity levels of new forum members, as new nations will be encouraged to participate in the region more actively and will have a senior forum member to talk with and ask questions.