Hello everyone! I have an important update about the Northern Lights Tier, the rarest membership tier handed out once a year to as many as two members, but as few as zero can happen as well. I am making a small change to the eligibility process to make sure it is as fair and consistent as possible for everyone.
To be eligible for consideration for the Northern Lights Tier, new members must have an activated account by January 1st of the year the award is handed out. This new deadline allows me to fairly consider all eligible members, as everyone will have at least five months of activity in the Swagnilla Ice community before the award or lack of awarding it is announced on June 1st.
How It Works: Examples
To make this clear, here are a couple of examples:
- Alice registers for a free membership on November 25, 2025 and activates it two days later. Because her registration and activation occurred before the January 1, 2026 deadline, she is eligible to be a candidate for the Northern Lights Tier awarded on June 1, 2026 and going forward. This eligibility does not guarantee a spot, but merely grants her the chance.
- Bob registers for a free membership on January 15, 2026 and activates it the same day. Because his registration was after the deadline, he is not eligible to be a candidate that year. However, he will be considered for the Northern Lights Tier awarded on June 1, 2027 and going forward.
This change is the only one to the Northern Lights Tier process. It remains a free and rare reward, and I hope this change encourages everyone to get involved sooner. If you are not a member yet and want to be considered for the next award, be sure to register and activate your account before the January 1st deadline.
