Directory?

And make all the work Alice has tried so hard to fit in count for naught? I don't think so.

There are other ways of getting information we might need. . In message , Kate G. writes

I have been caught out twice recently when I sent birthday e-cards by getting emails back that the intended recipients have died. That was - at the very least - embarassing for me and distressing for the receiving family. I am fast getting to the point where I will not use the "current" directory.

I understand that people's lives can spiral out of control but I do think we could at least ask Alice to pass this task over to someone else. The "current" info is over 18months old now.

The Directory is a LOT of work and no-one should underestimate what is involved. Perhaps it has become too much of a burden to ask of one person, especially Alice when she is so very busy. I would be more than happy to assist someone with the job in future, and I think that having a couple of people work on it might help avoid this sort of problem in future.

I think we should start over. There are some new ones that would like to be included. While I know Alice is busy, I truly believe she should have asked for help some time ago. This has gone on way too long, especially since you stepped up months ago and offered to help. Thanks. Gen

I have to regretfully agree with you Cheryl - I daren't use the directory any more - with about 250 people in it and its age, it is just too risky, and now the 'new' one will be out of date too. - its a long time since we filled the form in.

If a new one could perhaps just include the people who have been approved for the one which didn't appear - but we would have to refill in the form to make sure details are up to date. That way it would be a quicker job this time round to get us up to date.(I believe it was the vetting of new entrants that slowed everything down.) Then we could go back to the usual 'new people procedure' for subsequent editions.

It is kind of you to offer to help - my computer skills are certainly not up to it - I am still tweaking my bit of our computer after its new hard-drive.

I do appreciate all Alice's hard work, and do understand that Life has just overtaken her, and that her job of course has to have priority. It surely would be a relief if this extra work was lifted from her shoulders

Gen,

At the time my life was not that busy and I also stepped up and offered to help as did others, and she wanted no help but was polite and thanked me for asking. The directory list was made in late August or early Sept. because I did not start coming to the group until August. The form was tested in August and opened the weekend of August 18th and ran through Sept. 15, 2006, I still had the email about it because I was so hoping to be in it; that's how I knew this info. I still have hopes of being in it when ever it is redone or whatever but I too think it is a little old to use, well the info is almost 9 months old, so if you all do a new one each year it is time to start getting ready for it anyway.

I don't have a lot of time so can't volunteer to help with it except I can set the form up on my site to use to sign up. Well, let me put it this way I think I could still set up a form, it has been so long since I have done anything other than add a few recipes that I am not sure if I can or not. But I would be willing to give it a try.

Jacquel>I think we should start over. There are some new ones that would like to be

Jacqueline in Kentucky, USA

to reply leave out the nopam in snipped-for-privacy@nospamgmail.com snipped-for-privacy@nospammountain-breeze.com

Well I know that right now my life is in chaos from just being beyond busy and I can imagine the load of data transfer that is involved in sending out the directory. I too would like to have a more recent copy but I will be patient... If her life is anything like mine, just taking a few moments to sit and breathe is a real treat.

MY INFO HAS NOT CHANGED THOUGH!!!!! I AM STILL AT THE SAME ADDRESS THAT IS IN THE OLD DIRECTORY!!!! lol

I am sure that many of the names that are regular posters in here are still current but as CATS said, it is a bit embarrassing sometimes when things aren't current.

~KK in BC~ who is wondering if that was subtle enough of a hint about my address not being different??? hmm...........

Yes, it was KK! It was truly subtle, and I take no other meaning from it >gg< Of course, capital letters do distort subtlety a little!! . In message , ~KK in BC~ writes

Jacqueline -- if you could get the web page set up -- I could do the after the data is collected part. I don't work outside the home.... and could devote significant time to the project (which is why I repeatedly offered to help Alice W.). I also am a fairly proficient user of both Word and Excel (I passed the MOUS exams... and used to teach/consult with folks on how to use their Microsoft Software).

So if you are up for the data gathering (I don't have anyplace to post a webpage) - -once we close the data and confirm and organize it -- I'm good to go! I would need to do it sooner rather than later... at my month of June is pretty much shot (I get to spend 15 days in Scandanavia .... woohoo!) so before and after that trip I'll be pretty busy.

Kate in MI

I have to agree with you and Cheryl, Sally. I can easily understand how swamped Alice is, but the information is no longer current in either the directory we already do have or the one that we signed up for most recently.

As Cheryl said, having more than one person do the work could make the burden (it is a lot of work, I know!) lighter for both, as well as making the information appear more quickly.

I'm more than willing to do something to help -- especially since I'm now one of the ones whose information has changed.

Pat, I know that Alice has really worked hard, and I don't think anyone here -- me least of all -- wants to minimize that. :) We just want to take a burden off of her already overworked shoulders. I don't in any way want to make her feel bad; I just hope to take some of the stress off of her, while getting the information out to people who want it.

Yes, I know, Sandy; but I can't help thinking of it from Alice's point of view, and imagining how I would feel if it were me. But - I'm used to being in a minority (often of '1' >g

Actually the directory is normally done every six months, I think, so we are overdue for an update anyway.

Yes, I have been in communication with Alice just this morning, and she said the directory is finished, with all the current changes and updates that people have posted and/or let her know about. She will have them all sent out to everyone by the end of the week-end. Whew! No mutiny needed after all. And I would like to suggest that since it is so much work, that we do a new directory once a year. What do you think about that?

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Yes, I take that point, Marcella. . In message , Marcella Peek writes

I agree - once a year would be just fine. So glad you've been in touch, Karen. . In message , "Karen, Queen of Squishies" writes

Absolutely agree. Ideally it should be a 2 or 3 woman job - then if one becomes unable to continue the other two can take up the slack. I am no computer whiz, but can set up a simple spreadsheet with the information on it and input data. morag

Agreed with once a year! If we have any changes in between updates, we can always post that there has been a change and email with anyone who cares whether or not our info has changed! It's far too much work for doing an update every six months!!!

Thanks again to Alice for the huge undertaking!

Dannielle

Given that it's so much work, once a year seems reasonable to me.

Nancy in NS