One of our central goals here at Big Red Tent is to provide the tools for individuals to create an online community where they can foster change. An exciting feature we will be providing that helps our users achieve that goal is groups. In the coming weeks, users will be able to join and create their own groups.

What exactly is a "group" you ask? Well, a group is a tool for people to create their own mini-community here at Big Red Tent. This can be anything from, "Conservatives for Fred Thompson" or "Boston Area Republicans" to "Texans for A Secure Border". Each group will have its own blog posts, forums, newsletter, and a calendar with group specific events.

Use the Big Red Tent group feature to create an online home for your organization, candidate, or just to stay in touch with your friends and fellow politicos. You can use the group to raise money, send email alerts to the group's members, and highlight your cause or candidate de jour. These mini-communities can be almost anything you want them to be.

We're putting you in charge. You'll be able to determine how and who can join your groups. Will you open the registration to anyone with similar goals, or have it be by invite only? It's up to you.

We hope you're as excited about Big Red Tent and its coming features as we are.

If you'd like to suggest some features of your own, head over to the Launch Community page and add a suggestion in the comments.

Stay tuned for more exciting features to come including, The Stump, candidate slates, and Big Red Tent fundraising widgets that you can plug right into your own blog or website.