Secret pal ????---or i may shoot myself for this

so--it has been a very long time since we have done secret pals on this board-and the request has been made by someone other than myself to start up a new one--
we have many new ppl on the board so lemme explain some stuff!!!!

brief history-
we have had lots of fun sending things-like a card- to someone (ex :i would send to joycein massachusetts-she would mail to my pal so my pal has no clue where i live or who i am) -at the end of the specified time (do we want to do Christmas or Halloween or pick a date ??) ; you would then send a gift or whatever and reveal who you are--many of us like to send a variety of things before the end date- example-cards, silly small gifts ( i know postage can be a bit much!) , emails and e cards (some set up a fake pal acct for this) --sometimes it's a random act of kindness- i may have "dianesoandso" for my pal but i might send a card to "juliathisperson" also for fun! and then send something bigger at the end with our reveal.

we use a site called elfster.com--it is sometimes very user friendly! it can also be a headache-mostly for me as the head elf!!!
you go in there and create a free acct--if you have one and don't remember your user name or password they can send you that info--if you don't remember which email you used it may be just easier to set up a new acct! when you set up that acct you MUST be sure to have your first and last names on there AND your mailing address!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if the mailing address is not on there or correct when the draw occurs you will be removed from the draw!!!!!! i will check!!!!!!!!!!!the site allows you to go in and create a wish list-and once we have the draw it allows you to anonymously ask questions of your pal or others in the draw...
also lets you specify things you don't need or want-example eileen has allergies to many things starting with fragrance so bath stuff or hand creams  or candles are not a good choice for her!!!

ok- so--i ask who is interested-you answer me on here thru private message --you may answer here on the thread that you are interested but thru PM  (and PM ONLY!!!!!! )you give me your first and last name; your correct email acct and i set up the draw- ****if you choose to set up a secret pal email--that is NOT the one i want- i want the one i should send your invitation to and the one the person who draws you will send to--you MIGHT want one to send FROM. --sorry-not trying to confuse folks!!!!!****

then;i send invitations out thru email thru the elfster acct-it may say santa margo or something--you respond to elfster and then on a certain day ; i hit the draw button! and the games begin--elfster will notify you that the draw has occurred and tell you to go to your acct to see who they drew for you- and you can play!!!

i know the economy still sucks-i know some are not working or not earning what they need for frivolous--- i know postage is expensive- i know many of you are crafty-can make cards or scrapbook stuff- i know that fall festivals are abounding and school craft fairs etc--use your imagination- have fun and enjoy--it's a great way to get to know someone else !!! and i personally LOVE snail mail -even silly stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i also know that we each of us, needs to take care of us sometimes and do something cuz we enjoy it!!!!!

so---i am going to suggest that Halloween is too close and Christmas is too far--we also try to acknowledge that not all of our board celebrates traditional Christmas--i am going to suggest a Thanksgiving end date- even the Canadians on the board can celebrate that i hope! also-i know that i am truly thankful for all of you on this board!!! by using that time frame your end gift could be holiday related or something totally different!!! (one lucky person got a pen made by marc once!! how envious i am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)also-using that end date give you plenty of time to mail and get crafty etc!!!(and why do we still not have a turkey or Christams tree smiley?????)

i will set the draw date for at least a week away- to allow time for ppl to get back with me to show their interest--and i will sit back and wait for you to PM me with your info--even if you know i have your email please put it in there cuz sometimes i have the wrong one in my own email address book!

who wants to play???????????

btw i do not know how to bump this post up so maybe kathy will see this????

 Good morning...woohoo!!!  Please count me in!  What a fun idea...I hope it doesnt turn into a nightmare for you tho!  Thank you so much for starting this - I am looking forward to participating in my first Secret Pal group!  I will PM you my personal info per your request.  Thank you Margo for spearheading this!  Have a blessed Sunday!  ~Payson~

PMed the personal info
I'm  looking forward to my first participation!!  
Thanks Margo!

Girl, I do not envy you this task.  Did you not learn before?  LOL.  I, for one, will not participate in this project, but I will sit back and watch the drama unfold.  This shall be entertaining. Margo, are you sure you want to undertake this task in the middle of your move?

Thanks but I'll not be playing..... I've got permanent Secret Pal burn! Good Luck!

It was really hard on me too.  But, since I did it one year, it is much more difficult for the organizer than those who participate.  That's why I commend Margo.

Oh...I didn't mean anything against Margo. She's taken on a momentous job and deserves all the credit she's gotten. I just meant I've joined too many Secret Pal exchanges and been burned, so now I avoid them. They are great fun for some, just not me.

Ill do the secret Pal thingy!!!!! Carla

Me too, never done this before and sounds like fun...
I'll pm you later tonight..
Thanks for doing this.
Sheri