The Bulletin Needs YOU!

by Angela Sanford

This week’s thoughts are a bit of a rant—one that stems from last week’s reflection on apathy. I’ve been feeling both frustrated and confused, particularly around the idea of collaboration.

To be clear, collaboration doesn’t mean: “I’d love to have something, and by mentioning it to you, you should provide it for me.” True collaboration means supporting one another and combining our skillsets to achieve something better together.

In just the past few days, I’ve had three separate instances where someone reached out for “help.” But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that what they actually wanted was for me to do the task for them—sometimes even when I had no knowledge of the subject—or they just wanted another opportunity to say they weren’t getting the support they felt they deserved, but hopefully that was not the case.

Through the High Tides Bulletin, I’ve invited individuals and groups to submit reports or updates in a blog-style format, at no cost. It’s a great way for them to highlight their cause and invite community involvement. But despite this opportunity, these same groups publicly lament that no one is engaging.

So, what more could I do? I have even offered to take their raw information and craft the post myself—yet, still, no content came my way.

Some have relied solely on social media to share their news, but that’s limiting. Not everyone is online regularly, and if your chosen platform requires membership, it may not even be accessible to the people you're hoping to reach. Broadening how and where we share content—like through a community bulletin—can greatly expand reach and foster stronger engagement.

On the same day as one of these conversations, someone else asked why a particular event wasn’t listed on the community calendar. The only answer I could give: the event organizer never sent me the details.

Yes, there is a small cost associated with maintaining the calendar, and I understand that can be a barrier for some. But I also don’t have the capacity to chase down every local event myself. The onus is on event organizers to share their information and I a timely manner to reach as large an audience as possible.

The community calendar exists to help everyone: it offers event organizers a way to avoid scheduling conflicts, it allows for long-term planning, and it showcases the vibrant range of things happening in our area. The print version is only as useful as the information received before the deadline—but people do use it. I’ve heard from residents who hang it on their fridge to keep track of local happenings.

That said, printed materials can quickly become outdated. That’s why the digital version is updated as new events are submitted. The bulletin is there to help—but it’s a community project at its heart. While I may publish it, it only works with your input.

The third incident involves the recently launched tourism platform. A community member commented that their area needed to “up their game” when it came to sharing local services—and I couldn’t disagree. But again, no one is being forced to list a service, and yes, there is a small fee to participate so I understand why some may opt to not market their service on this stage.

Still, I believe it's crucial that we work together to encourage tourists to extend their stays in our region. The more information we can provide—about dining, gas, groceries, accommodations, and local services—the more likely we are to see a boost in the local economy. And who wouldn’t want that?

The High Tides Bulletin reminds me of the dedication of a local crafter—someone who puts countless hours into their work, not for financial reward, but for love of the craft. That’s how I feel about the bulletin. It’s a passion project—one I hope helps the greater good and brings our community together through our collective voice.

I hope my contributions—through my volunteer work, the bulletin, and the tourism strategy—are seen as efforts to uplift and support the Hants North area. At the end of the day, we’re all in this together. That’s the only way we’ll build a thriving future. Let’s work together and show the world what an amazing niche we have right here in our own backyards.