Secret Elf Exchange

Holly's thread reminded me that I needed to do this. I'm sorry for not doing it earlier. The end of this exchange is the last day of June..so this month. Please be getting those final cards/gifts out..with a little note to let them know that their elf was you.                               The next one....                                           I am REALLY debative on how to do the next one. With this one finishing up, when I asked for feedback, I got negative feedback on about half of the participants. When you are talking about ~50 people, that is really discouraging. So...this will be the last time that I open it up to all who are on the directory. If the next 6 months are like the last 6 months, the 2009 Elf invitations will ONLY be sent to those who I had recieved good feedback for and for the new people who had joined OH after the July update of the directory. I am going to ask once again that people know themselves. If you are not the type of person to think of birthdays, anniversaries, etc..then DO NOT join the elf exchange. No one will think less of you for declining. If you accept the invitation and then don't think of your person at least once a month...THAT is when people feel left out.                                         I will send out an invitation via email to those IN THE DIRECTORY ONLY the beginning of July...after Floyd sends out the July Version of the Directory. If you are not in the Directory, send Floyd a note: [email protected]. Include: OH screen name, first & last name, address, phone numbers (if you don't mind people calling you now & then), birthdate, surgery & wedding anniversary dates, spouse/significant other's name. I use this Directory to send out Elf information but it is also a good source to contact one another off-line. Say if Bill & I decide at the last minute that we want to check out the Indiana casino's, I may refer to the Directory and give LaChelle a call. Or if I was going to go to Terre Haute, I may refer to it and send an email to all the gals that are from TH & Clinton that is on it to see if they'd be able to get together for lunch while I was there. The directory is to NEVER be used for sending out Spam. I don't know if I might be asking for too much..but Floud..it might be a good idea to add a spreadsheet for a yes/no if people would appreciate being put on funnies lists (clean/'adult'), card recieving list (ecard/snail card/Christmas card). That way, we'd all know who it is  to send stuff to.                  So..keep an eye out on your email...~July 15th or so. I'll be setting up that exchange to be from July 27th to December 31st.                         Sherri

Ok, so I am new to all of this.  How do I know I am on the directory or not.  I am wanting to become more involved with this website and people from Indiana because we do not have a support group in Marion that I am aware of. Soooo, give me some pointers on how to find people in my area and how to get in the directory.   Thanks, Tracy

Tracy, If you have never sent Floyd a note with the info, you are not in the directory. This is something that is done & maintained offline from ObesityHelp. If in doubtn of if you have done this or not, send your info to Floyd at [email protected]. He takes care of keeping the directory up-to-date and also sends out the latest version to those who are on the directory. Those not on the directory does NOT have access to the directory. Since the addresses are listed, it would be easy enough to go down the list and see if anyone is in your area.                                      We have several get-togethers through-out the year. Most are located in the Indianapolis area...but mainly because those who are arranging the activity lives in the Indy area. We do try to reach out to other parts of the state as well though such as the Holiday World fun coming up on June 27th and the camp-put in Middlebury August 8/9. In the Indy area, we have clothing exchanges/ptch-ins ~3 months. The next one will be in July (and lots of posts will be done the closer that date gets here). Annually, we also have an ornament exchange (hosted by Floyd & Brenda) and a hot tub & hot tea party (hosted by Bill & I..usually in Feb/March but this year couldn't do it because of medical issues). In the past, we've had swimming parties as well at members homes. If there is a fun get-together thing that you'd like to suggest near you, by all means, do!! Even with the gas prices, several of us are not opposed to driving to see our OH buddies!             Sherri

Sherri, I want to be a secert elf and Floyd has all my info....Thanks Pamela Powell

Pamela, I'll be sending out an email ~July 15th with the info & link for the secret elf exchange. I'll be sending it out to everyone in the directory (except those that I received negative feedback on from this last exchange). I'll probably put a note here on the board so everyone will know to keep an eye out for it in their email. Sherri

I just sent out my info to Floyd to be on the Secret Elf..love to meet more people and support all of you. Holly