Short SECRET PAL Game - Last Call!!

I will let everyone know if this is a go or not...depending on how many people are interested and willing to participate. The following is from the post last week: Okay, I know in the past there have been problems with the secret pal game. So I have been thinking about a shorter game. When I was involved in the last round I noticed it was common about three months that people started not receiving anything from the secret pal. I, myself, found it hard to 'remember' or 'get around to get something' for my pal due to being busy in the fall. So...... is anyone interested in a seasonal secret pal game? This would run with the seasons: Spring - March/April/May Summer - June/July/August Fall - September/October/November Winter - December/January/February Each season you would have a choice to continue or not. Therefore, you can do Spring and Fall, just Spring, just Summer.... Whatever you choose! It will help around busy schedules, help for financial problems (ie Christmas time, summer vacations, etc). Each season you would get a new draw (you may or may not end up with the same secret pal). The only strict rule would be if you do not send your pal a gift you will be dropped automatically from the game as it is not fair for you to receive and not give. If there is interest, I would be glad to take care of the specifics. Michelle

Can you explain the program a little more? It sounds great especially those of us who are just beginning WLS life. Thanks! Krysti

People who decide to participate have all their names thrown into a 'hat' and their name is also written down on a sheet of paper. Going down the list, you (the person running the game) pulls a name out of the 'hat' and then writes it along side the first name, going down the list until all are filled. This is then your secret pal. There is generally one person that knows the matches (the person who is running the game). At the start of the game you will out a questionnaire and email it back to the person running the game. This will give your secret pal some ideas of what you may or may not like. After the names are matched your secret pal will receive a copy of your questionnaire, along with your personal information (ie full name, address, birthday, etc) and you will receive a copy of the person you have been matched with. Once a month you will receive something from your secret pal. In turn, you send something to the person you have been given for your secret pal. The monthly limit is usually 10.00, but no more than 15.00. You should send out your package (without your return address listed or your name) so that your secret pal receives their little something by the last day of the month. The last month of the game is the reveal month, when you let your secret pal know who you are. Several participants set up a separate email account and are then able to send their secret pal ecards, emails, etc. Secret pals may also send/receive birthday wishes or 'snail mail' cards. Whenever you receive something from your secret pal you should always thank them on the boards. This will let them know that you enjoyed your little something AND that you have received it. Several times people don't thank their secret pal and then the sender wonders if they received it or not...or if they like it. It is a fun little game. However, in the past, there have been several that did not continue partcipating, which did not make it fair for their secret pal. I think that has kept several people away from wanting to do the game again...which is why I thought of a shorter game. In the past it has run a year, but a year has so many changes. It can be hard to commit to a full year without knowing how busy you are going to be, your finances, marital problems, your child/childrens various activities, medical issues, etc. If you want to partcipate, just send me a message. On February 26 I will let everyone know if we have enough people to participate or not. Michelle

Michelle, Thanks for the information. It sounds wonderful! The only thing I wonder about is the cost. $10 per month doesn't sound like a lot but when you add up that cost plus shipping it gets up there. What if we could somehow use the internet as a means of contact. What if we give/receive something once a month like a card, recipe, inspirational words, poems, sharing of experiences, or gifts of friendship or even a monthly card in the mail?. I wonder if people dropped out because of the cost. As someone just starting the WLS experience I will be spending quite a bit of money in the next several months plus ongoing expenses for the next year. It would be great to even just get monthly cards in the mail for inspiration... Would this option work better for people? What are your thoughts? Thanks for sharing your game - it is a great idea. Krysti

Krysti, The cost, in most cases, has never really been a problem in the previous games that others have run. Shipping first class ends up costing 15-20, or less, a month. Most people are comfortable spending that amount. The main reason people did not continue (in some cases they did not drop out, they just did not continue sending a little something to their secret pal until it was caught they were dropped from the game) was due to lack of interest or time to find a gift, mail the gift, the time of the game (a year), etc. On occassion there were those that could not afford, based on unexpected cir****tances. Which is understandable. They are dropped from the game and if later, when they can afford, then they would have the opportunity to get back in the game. But with a year long game, that can be hard to give them a new pal. Secret pals do send emails, ecards, etc to their recipient. It is highly encourage to set up a 'fake' email so the recipient does not know who you are. Most pals love this. Some do this, some do not. Depends on their schedules. Some will send a card through the mail, for example....if someone has their surgery scheduled their pal may send a get well card for them to have when they get home. As far as your costs....believe me, it's amazing how little I have spent! The amount of food you can consume after surgery is a huge savings! I never would have thought I would save so much in just food.