BigTent Blog | Product updates and news for groups

BigTent allows you ultimate control over your information. While group leaders may require certain information, such as address and phone number, to approve your membership, you can choose whether that information is shared with other group members.

Information about you is shared with other members on your profile and on the member list (if enabled by a group leader). There are two ways you can control what information is shared with other group members:

During registration:

1) Check the box to beside each piece of information if you would like it to be visible to group members on your profile and the member list (if enabled).

2) Complete the enrollment process.

If you are required to enter any information (address, kids’ information, etc.) which you are uncomfortable sharing with the group’s leaders, please contact a group administrator directly.

After you’ve registered:

1) Go to my bigtent > settings > profile privacy and choose your group from the drop-down menu.

2) Check the box next to any information you’d like to share with the group. Leave unchecked any information you don’t want other group members to see on the member list or your profile.

3) Save your changes.

To view your profile, go to my bigtent > profile. Use the drop-down menu to see how your profile looks to other members of your group(s). To edit any of the information on your profile, click “settings” and choose from the personal, contact, and family info tabs.

Cheers,
The BigTent Team

As we enter into the holiday season, sharing of events becomes ever more important. In order to help manage your group events, you can give all members (or just one member) permission to post events to your BigTent group calendar. Here’s how:

1) Go to manage > manage membership > permissions.

2) Choose “events: [your group name] ” from the drop-down menu and click “Filter.”

3) Under “Post,” you’ll see your current permissions. If it says “all group moderators,” click “change”  and use the drop down to choose “all group members” and hit “submit.” This will give everyone in your group permission to post events to your calendar (e.g., they will all see the “Add event” link).

4) If you would rather only specific members have permission to post events, click “add a member” under “Post” and add the name or email of the specific member.

As always, please visit support.bigtent.com to find solutions to any BigTent questions, or please contact us at support@bigtent.com

Wishing you a great start to your October!

Cheers,
The BigTent Team

It’s that time of year again. While the weather cools down and the days get shorter, families are adjusting to having school become an integral part of their schedule. And if you have a child who is entering school for the first time, chances are this month is rather stressful for you!

If your child is a first-time rider of a school bus, here are some helpful pointers on how to ease their anxiety.

Clothes, backpacks, pencils, and now even iPads, are just a few of the items on parents’ shopping list. If you have a kindergartener, we suggest this handy holder for crayons, which is as fashionable as it is useful. For more shopping inspiration, check out DailyBuzz Moms.

Bullying has become a hot topic as of late, and it can be a good idea to prepare your child for how to handle prickly situations they may find themselves in either in the classroom or on the playground. Here are some pointers on how to bully-proof your child.

Preparing the packed-lunch menu can also be a stressful task for many parents. Here are 30 ideas for school lunches from Good Housekeeping, as well as a full array of delectably easy recipes from Family.com.

Wishing your family a smooth transition into the school year!

Cheers,

The BigTent Team

We are excited to share a cause you should know about and is worth sharing with your groups!

Many of us at BigTent are parents who want our kids to have the education they deserve. Did you know that 80% of all states have slashed public school education funding since 2008? 49% of districts have also cut or reduced art, drama and music programs.

We are excited to hear that our friends at Schoola are stepping up to do something about school funding challenges by presenting the World’s Biggest School Fundraiser. The event is called Shop for America’s Schools and your local schools are invited!

To make sure all your local schools benefit from this massive fundraising effort, encourage all the moms in your community to get involved. Event details are below:

When: This September 24 – 28

Where: On your school’s very own personal fundraiser page – all you need to do is activate and Schoola will set you up with you school’s own deal site!

How: Schoola brings deals from great national brands you’ll want – you bring the great local deals from merchants you love. Just promote these deals to your school community and enjoy the proceeds!

RSVP: Click the button below and you’re on your way!

We’re very excited about the event and hope you take advantage of this easy way to raise money for your child’s school.

Cheers,

The BigTent Team

in partnership with  

Launching a new group on BigTent? Here are 8 things you’ll want to do before sending out those invites.

1.  Set up your membership form.

• Go to manage > invite members > member types and forms.
• Learn more: Video & Guide: How do I collect information from my members upon registration?

2.  Set up you new invitation and new member welcome letters.

• Go to manage > invite members > new invitation settings.
•  Learn more: Video & Guide: How to Customize Member Invitations.

3.  Set up renewals if your group has members renew.

• Go to manage > invite members > renewal settings.
•  Learn more:How do I set up automatic renewals on BigTent?

4.  Set up payments on BigTent.

• Go to manage > accounting > settings.
•  Learn more:How does BigTent disburse funds to my group?

5.  Set up your BigTent public page.

• Go to manage > Group Public page.
• Learn more: Video: What is the Group Public Page? What’s on it?

6.  Customize the look and feel of your group.

• Choose a color theme. Go to manage > customization.Learn more: How do I change the theme color or background color of my group?

• Feature content on the group’s home page. Learn more: Video & Guide: How do I feature photos, news, polls, or a video on the Buzz page?
• Go to manage > group information to edit information, group picture, and other settings. Learn more: Where do I add or edit information about my group?
• List your group’s leadership team for members to see. Learn more: Video: Assigning Leadership Titles

7.  Post a forum message to welcome your members.

• Learn more: Quick Overview: Forums  Find content for your post here.

8.  Send invites to your members.

• Go to manage > invite members and add or invite your members now.

Check out these helpful guides and FAQs about inviting members to your group:

• What’s the difference between inviting and quick adding members?

• Video & Guide: Inviting members to join your group or subgroup

As always, please go to support.bigtent.com to find answers to any additional questions, or contact us at support@bigtent.com.

Cheers,

The BigTent Team

Hi BigTenters,

Have you recently started a new group, or have had an influx of new members recently join your group?

Here is a quick-start guide of the 4 things you need to know to start using BigTent. Share this guide with your members, or anyone you know that is new to BigTent!

1) How to add or update your profile picture. 

  - Go to my bigtent > settings > personal info and click “change” next to the profile picture.

- Learn more: Video & Guide: How do I upload a new profile picture?

2) How to change or update your notification settings on BigTent.

  - Go to my bigtent > settings > email options.

- Learn more: Video & Guide: How do I control the emails I receive from my group(s) on BigTent?

3) How to edit or update your profile on BigTent.

  - Go to “my bigtent” and click the “settings” link.

 - Change your personal information.  To learn more about making these changes, see the FAQs in the “Profile” category.

 - Edit the information you choose to share with your group.  Click “settings,” then choose “profile privacy.” Use the checkboxes to decide what information group members can see for each of your groups. Learn more here: How can I control who sees my personal information?

 - Suspend or resume your group membership.  Simply click the “membership info” tab then click “Suspend membership” under the group in question. See this FAQ for step-by-step directions: How do I leave my group or subgroup?

4)  How to participate in your group(s) forums.

  - You can participate via email or online, and you can search for specific topics. Go to “my groups” > group name > and click on the “forum” tab.

- Learn more: Quick Overview: Forums

As always, please go to support.bigtent.com to find answers to any additional questions, or contact us at support@bigtent.com.

Cheers,

The BigTent Team

Independence Day may be the best time to indulge in BBQs, outdoor activities, and sunshine with family and friends.

Here are some helpful tips and resources to make your Holiday safe and fun-filled!

Proper food preparation for your outdoor feast

• Make sure to buy cold meats and poultry right before checkout, and guard against cross-contamination with other food items in your cart by ensuring they are properly sealed in plastic bags.
• Be sure to keep food cold until placed on the grill, and cook thoroughly until the safe minimum internal temperatures have been reached (Poultry: 165 degrees; Ground meats: 160 degrees; Steaks, roasts and chops: 145 degrees and allow to rest at least 3 mins).
• Be sure to have plenty of fresh utensils and plates so that the same ones are not used for raw and cooked meats. In hot weather (above 90 degrees) food should never sit out for more than 1 hour.

Looking for some summer recipes to add to the table? Check out DailyBuzz Moms’s Summer Cooking collection.

Recreational safety

• If boating, be sure you and your family members are wearing life jackets! Boating fatalities are at their highest level since 1998, and of the drowning fatalities last year, 84% of victims were not wearing life jackets.
• Be sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying and using them.  Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of a fire or other mishap, and after fireworks complete their burning douse the them with plenty of water before discarding to prevent trash fire.