MCA

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How could a small community organization show it’s strength online?

We moved to the community of Mirrormont on Tiger Mountain in 2015. Initially developed in 1962, homes are woven within old growth evergreen trees. Restrictive covenants designed to protect the unique wooded character keep the neighborhood feeling like you’re deep in the forest, even though you’re just up the road from Issaquah and only 20 miles from Seattle.

With no street lights, the stars shine bright at night. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer and rabbits nibbling on greens in the yard, and the occasional bear sighting. With the charm come the very real challenges of living on a mountain. Trees do fall down, power goes out. Neighbors help each other, and there is camaraderie in the stories that surround “the inauguration storm of ’92” that left power out for nearly a week – and the one about the pet lion that lived here in the 70s.

What also exists are strong community ties and helpful programs – from “chipper week” to deal with cleaning up downed branches, to a spring clean up with recycling, community yard sales and upcycle swaps.

The stories are impressive and I wanted to help support the volunteers who make it possible. They deserve the spotlight and our gratitude.

Sometimes the best thing to do is start over.  Our website was long gone, only available on the “wayback machine.” Rather than try to re-create content from an old website, we saw opportunity for a fresh take and deeper meaning – by looking at a different source of existing content.

Tucked away in annual newsletters, the local historians of Mirrormont told stories of land development, historic a-frame chalets, logging, rail and horse trails. A new website could link these stories could serve as a hub to preserve the history of the community, while weaving in the events that keep the community engaged.

And, with a little bit of e-commerce, community membership billing gets easier – rather than hunting down checks, our neighbors can now pay online.

Fragment, 5th–6th century, Egyptian | Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase by subscription, 1889

Object Size: 5 5/8 in. high 4 3/16 in. wide