diff --git a/cmd/review/main.go b/cmd/review/main.go
index 1022c9e..248c5e3 100644
--- a/cmd/review/main.go
+++ b/cmd/review/main.go
@@ -49,6 +49,17 @@ func (r *reviewer) Review(s *models.TownSignup, decision models.SignupDecision)
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (r *reviewer) AddNote(s *models.TownSignup, content string) error {
+	note := &models.SignupNote{
+		Created: time.Now(),
+		Author:  r.adminName,
+		Content: content,
+	}
+	note.Insert(r.db)
+	// TODO
+	return nil
+}
+
 func renderSignup(s models.TownSignup) string {
 	out := fmt.Sprintf("[-:-:b]submitted:[-:-:-] %s\n", s.Created.Format("2006-01-02 15:04"))
 
@@ -157,7 +168,16 @@ func _main() error {
 	notate := tview.NewForm()
 	notate.AddTextArea("note", "", 80, 10, 1000, func(string) {})
 	notate.AddButton("submit", func() {
-		// add note and update
+		fi := notate.GetFormItemByLabel("note").(*tview.TextArea)
+		err = r.AddNote(signups[signupIx], fi.GetText())
+		if err != nil {
+			errorModal.SetText(fmt.Sprintf("error! failed to add note: %s", err.Error()))
+			pages.SwitchToPage("error")
+			return
+		}
+
+		// TODO force redraw of current item
+
 		pages.SwitchToPage("main")
 	})
 	notate.AddButton("cancel", func() {
diff --git a/models/models.go b/models/models.go
index 4cc6a51..876d26e 100644
--- a/models/models.go
+++ b/models/models.go
@@ -9,11 +9,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 // TODO this is in flux; might want SignupNote and UserNote structs separately
-type AdminNote struct {
-	ID    int64
-	Admin string
-	Note  string
-	When  time.Time
+type SignupNote struct {
+	ID      int64
+	Created time.Time
+	Author  string
+	Content string
+}
+
+func (n *SignupNote) Insert(db *sql.DB) error {
+	// TODO
+	return nil
 }
 
 type SignupDecision string
@@ -34,7 +39,7 @@ type TownSignup struct {
 	Why     string
 	Links   string
 
-	Notes        []AdminNote
+	Notes        []SignupNote
 	Decision     SignupDecision
 	DecisionTime time.Time
 	DecidedBy    string