Heartland is all about strengthening rural communities. We’re doing our bit to try and get communities to see where their networks are, to actively use them and to help people communicate with each other.

We are also trying to build partnerships with schools throughout New Zealand, to help them connect with their wider local community, and to bring every small rural community on-line at Heartland.

But this relies on people like you getting involved. The ongoing success of your Heartland community also depends on you getting involved too. Here's how you can help:

Get your community onto Heartland

The first step is to make sure your community gets onto Heartland. Search and see if your community is up and running. You can tell by the message in the Welcome section at the top of the community home page.

If your community isn't on Heartland, don't worry - you can help. Contact your school and let them know all about Heartland - they will be pleased you did as they can earn some easy, valuable fundraising dollars.

Give them our website address or even better, ask them to read all about our school fundraising initiative at www.money4schools.co.nz. Alternatively you can email us and tell us about your community. We'll take it from there.

You can help promote Heartland

Once your community is alive you can help make it thrive. Here are some of the ways you can make this a success and really strengthen your community:

• become a member and add your own notices too, free. And when you join you can enter our member competitions.
• tell everyone about Heartland and get them involved too
• if you run a business, list it on Heartland
• if you are a member of a group then get it listed too
• tell your local school about Heartland and their fundraising opportunities
• make your Heartland community your homepage
• come and visit us every time you go online - the more Heartland is used the better it will get.

So, do the Heartland thing, get involved today!