Welcome everyone, to the February Update. I assume this will be pretty short based largely on my current “hiatus” yes, in quotes, because despite everything I am still constantly lurking and creeping and see everything. I am just that freaky. Anyways, to all our old members welcome back, and to all our new ones welcome. We hope you stick around, because all the current members are getting a bit tired of posting with each other a million times hahahahah.

First off, speaking of new members, February has so far been the month of promotion! All the admins, and tons of the non-admins have been plugging our site whenever possible (and for good reason, as we are pretty awesome). So, if you can think of ways and places to plug BSW just let us know, or just… do it… but let us know, especially if a link back is required. So far I’ve been running into problems with people not getting back to me about links, so hopefully people will start getting back to me soon. Thanks to everyone who has gotten back to us.

We’ve also joined a number of topsites (though, as above only one has accepted us) so if you have a minute mosey on over to the thread entitled ‘Vote’ and give us a vote. The site isn’t particularly active, so if we top it (or come close) we won’t be doing too badly… it ranks high in google, whatever.

We also have groups on The Leaky Cauldron and Facebook, so, members should feel free to join them should they be so inclined.

Now for some more at home stuff. We had our first prefect run forum events, and let’s face it, they were amazing! With Hufflepuff decorating the Great Hall (something I believe people can still get in on if they like), the Gryffindor Match-Making service which should be pretty dramatic, and of course, the highly celebrated Slytherin auctions. Everywhere you look on the forums there has been new stuff going on.

Speaking of new stuff, due to retirement of our Slytherin Male prefect positions have been switched around, with Carmen’s Hare Leri leaving his service with Ravenclaw to make room for Eva’s Daggett Prox, and Carmen’s Karin Takeshii taking over for the Snakes. Make sure you know your prefects so you can bug them and not the admins >D

Continuing, we didn’t pick up any new canons this month, though Filius Flitwick and Narcissa Malfoy both dropped if you’ve ever wanted to play either of them now would be the time to apply. Just a reminder to all special positions, keep active, or you can lose them, so as to free up space for people who actually might. Also, rules may be going up as to a maximum number of these positions you can occupy, not to be mean or anything, but we want new people to have a chance at these spots. We’ve decided as an admin team that we want there to be a lot of focus here on welcoming new people and giving them a chance to be a real part of our community, that being said, it’s no fun if every cool job is taken. Sue us =P.

We did however, finally get us an active Avatar Maker, welcome to the machine AM#2! For those of you who remember Pyrolila Opaleye from TWF this would be her new incarnation over here on BSW. She promises to make an actual character soon, which I can’t wait for. Anyways, she is our AM#2 so give her some AMing to do, I’m sure she’ll be most pleased. Also, speaking of the Avatar Shop, a bit huge reminder to all members, you must have permission to use any image you want to use as an avatar, or it must be the official illustration of something or it’s a no. This is to protect the rights of artists which the admin team had decided is very important to us. So, suck it up.

We have had some other special positions picked up, but I’m having trouble remembering what they are. I think Sunni got one of the metamorphagi, and people got animagi? Probably? Whatever. We’ve mostly filled up everything, at any rate, though being the admin team that we are we’d probably bend for someone who had no special characters at all and wanted something. We’re good like that.

Quidditch has been going well with the first game going to Gryffindor. (yey). The next game is going to be starting soon between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. People who have never played Quidditch – try joining your house team, your captain will thank you.

Next, Kitty is starting up the Daily Prophet proving yet again how much more useful than me she is. And she is looking for writers, so if you’ve ever dreamed of being a reporter (on a Harry Potter forum that is) send her off a PM. It will start as soon as she gets enough interested people. So go, go I say!

Finally (I think) just as a notice, the rules are going to be totally revamped. All of the stuff we take as no brainers will be iterated, and it will be formatted so it looks all pretty and easy to read. Any suggestions? Let one of the admins know.

Well, that’s it for February, I’m sure I’ll remember stuff just as soon as I post this, but there you go.