diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ca06a7c41..9ddc031e5 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -40,5 +40,5 @@ Change all but the first "pick" lines to "s" and save your changes. Your $EDITOR
 
 ## Tests
 
-* run all tests: ./run_tests  (or "npm test")
+* run all tests: "npm test"
 * run tests for a single plugin: ./run_tests tests/plugins/bounce.js
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS.md b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f46b7764
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+# Contributors
+
+This handcrafted artisinal software is brought to you by:
+
+| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/261635?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/msimerson">msimerson</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=msimerson">1581</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/662371?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/baudehlo">baudehlo</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=baudehlo">969</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/550490?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/smfreegard">smfreegard</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=smfreegard">794</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/959600?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/godsflaw">godsflaw</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=godsflaw">171</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1674289?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/Dexus">Dexus</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=Dexus">42</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/934254?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/analogic">analogic</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=analogic">39</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/82041?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/gramakri">gramakri</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=gramakri">37</a>)|
+| :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: |
+| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/203240?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/lnedry">lnedry</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=lnedry">23</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/748075?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/celesteking">celesteking</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=celesteking">21</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/791972?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/lpatters">lpatters</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=lpatters">20</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/366268?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/chazomaticus">chazomaticus</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=chazomaticus">19</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/271024?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/hayesgm">hayesgm</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=hayesgm">16</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/123708?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/arlolra">arlolra</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=arlolra">16</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1573133?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/gauravaror">gauravaror</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=gauravaror">14</a>)|
+| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/260607?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/typingArtist">typingArtist</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=typingArtist">14</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/158380?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/darkpixel">darkpixel</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=darkpixel">12</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/11343494?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/superman20">superman20</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=superman20">12</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/9887966?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/KingNoosh">KingNoosh</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=KingNoosh">11</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/5229495?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/tstonis">tstonis</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=tstonis">10</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1746394?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/wltsmrz">wltsmrz</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=wltsmrz">9</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/2176651?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/fatalbanana">fatalbanana</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=fatalbanana">8</a>)|
+| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/231081?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/EyePulp">EyePulp</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=EyePulp">8</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/81561?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/Synchro">Synchro</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=Synchro">8</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/3957811?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/gene-hightower">gene-hightower</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=gene-hightower">7</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/8224508?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/DarkSorrow">DarkSorrow</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=DarkSorrow">6</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/103802?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/joshuathayer">joshuathayer</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=joshuathayer">6</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/298453?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/zllovesuki">zllovesuki</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=zllovesuki">5</a>)| <img height="80" src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/132251?v=4"><br><a href="https://github.com/schamane">schamane</a> (<a href="https://github.com/haraka/haraka-plugin-access/commits?author=schamane">5</a>)|
+
+<sub>this file is maintained by [.release](https://github.com/msimerson/.release)</sub>
diff --git a/Changes.md b/Changes.md
index 4a5e9a175..92848fee2 100644
--- a/Changes.md
+++ b/Changes.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #### Changed
 
+- doc: add CONTRIBUTORS #3312
 - check for local_mx only when default route is used #3307
 - test: add a connection.response test case with DSN #3305
 - deps: bump all versions to latest #3303