With all the new people joining the CivicActions team in the past few weeks, it's easy for us all to forget an important part of the on-boarding process of new civic-minded nodeists.

Profile pictures.

An appropriate profile picture is essential to one's ensconcement into the CivicActions fold. Before you go digging through iPhoto for that winning head-shot, let me present a brief analysis of what makes a properly awesome CivicActions profile photo.

1) We're people, not machines. Why risk the opportunity for confusion? Avoid photos like Aaron Pava in which it's difficult to tell where the person ends and the machine begins. Besides, the "bird-with-a-camera-fluttering-over-me-while-I'm-at-my-laptop" photo is SO 2005.

2) Similarly, try to include nature. Photos like Owen Barton and Jenn Sramek remind the world that yes, we actually do leave our computers every once in a while, despite the risks of sunburn, oxygen, and possible human interaction.

3) Don't get carried away with nature, however, or you may end up with the "why is a lawn growing in my lap" photo courtesy of Zoey Kroll.

4) Find a camera operator who won't bisect your face, like Kevin Walsh, otherwise how will anyone know that you're not some supervillain from a Batman comic? Don't let him flip that coin!!

5) Try to look as frickin' awesome as possible, a la AJ Roach, though make sure to crop out as much beer as you can. I'm not asking for every beer, just make the effort.

6) When in doubt, just look cute, like Sadie Honey, Rose Liebman, Stella Power, and
Peta Hoyes. But since we recently hired a dude-fest, I suggest y'all stick with the "awesome" strategy. Though I will say Francois' beard has a certain je ne sais quoi to it....

7) If all else fails, have a cute baby attacking you like Hailu Dyami. Instant win!

As an example of the proper application of all these rules, take a gander at my profile photo. It's the perfect blend of lack of machinery, nature, non-face-bisection, and awesomeness, courtesy of several afternoon beers in Barcelona at a topless beach. I may look like I'm on a lot of happy pills, but really, that's just the good vibes a-flowin'.

So, to all the civi-n00bs, I say, upload a profile photo! The team is a lot different than it was 9 months ago, and despite us being all over the world, there's no reason we should be strangers.