OT: Secret Santa

Heck I hosted a few rounds of this on Dmarie a while back and on another forum too... if you want a host, I'll do it.. not a biggie, I've done it a bunch of times.

Basically, you write a questionarre, post it... give an email addy for it to go to. You give a cut off date. You take all the questionairres and match people up and email them all thier info and make sure everyone got someone and nobody is double matched (like nobody has who has them). Then you send out reminders weekly to everyone and field questions back and forth (like someone wants more info about their person, they ask you, you ask their person and get the info back to them so nobody knows who is who). Then you keep track of who got what to make sure everyone is participating and make sure you have delivery conf #'s of the last package by the due date (so you have time to send something if someone gets in a bind).

Thats the gist of it.. LOLOL

That makes 3 very gracious offers to host: Jacqui, Katrina in KS, & Ronni. Can we decide on a host from that? We are getting very close to November! :-)

Sounds exciting. Count me in.

I will be happy to post whatever info is needed on the website. As to figuring out who should host the Secret Santa, that's more difficult. I know that it takes a lot of time and patience. Shelley was kept quite busy with it. So because it is different from an ordinary swap with many more emails for the hostess to deal with, I think someone who done this before might be the right way to go.

I believe Theresa in IL was one of the first to offer to host the SS. Irene

First come, first to get all the work seems fair to me.

I would like to join in sounds like fun Lin

First to get all the fun too... I agree Theresa in IL are you willing to organize the Secret Santa swap?

Lynne

Sure! I'll take it!

I'll put a call out in a new thread for participants over the weekend.

If anyone has anything to add to the list of *rules* that Tab posted, email me and I'll check them out.

:-) Theresa in IL

Sounds great!! Thanks Theresa :) I'm so excited!!

I agree, but we know I can't be allowed to do it because since I have opinions on things, I obviously can't do anything right or "correctly" for everyone.....

Except that I can do anything I put my mind to. And I do. And I've hosted over 50 swaps in the last 4 years, was in charge of an entire board and a moderator, on 4 design teams ... etc... etc....

Oh yeah I forgot... its not politically "correct"...... and heaven forbid I hurt someones feelings because they are so thin skinned.

OOPS.

At times I love this place, and others I hate it. People lying. People saying untruths about others to make themselves bigger. People starting rumors that aren't true.

I don't know if I want to be here anymore.... but I'm too stubborn to leave or let those who "supposedly" left rule what I do on here. RCS is as much mine as it is anyones.

I know there are those of you grumbling. I hear it. I can feel it. I know others of you don't want to look like your my friend because you are a fence sitter and don't want to "hurt anyones feelings". I know some of you have enough balls to be friends with whoever you want no matter what and thats just the way it is. You I applaud.

I'm one hell of a friend if you just get to know me. I will bend over backwards to help someone I don't even know.... but so many people just don't bother trying to get to know someone.. instead make a snap decision. GROW UP!

You don't get to know people and their true identities until you get out of your comfort zone a bit and give a person a 2nd chance, a 3rd chance... and then spend enough time to get to KNOW them. I feel for those of you who are too close minded to open yourselves up to that.

I'm tired of the emails. I'm tired of the innuendos. ENOUGH.

Shelley, you are lurking, and like I said before... its all water under the bridge.... so we all hurt each other a bit... dust yourself off and get your butt back here... RCS is yours too. I had mud of my own I had to wipe off but I'm still here.

Dave, I love you hon... please let go of the anger and hurt. Yeah, it was intentional.. not all people are nice... so ignore them and move on. The bitterness only hurts YOU.

April. You rock. I just wish so many more people here would get to know you. You are the most generous person I know, and I don't mean in scrapping stuff. You have the most giving heart and you give it so freely... please don't let pain shelter you from friendships that could be so wonderful.

M-C You are our Switzerland. You don't take sides and you are a sweetheart. Your so loving I just wanna run over to LR and hug ya! There is so much more about you I'd love to get to know someday... I can feel your wisdom from here.

I could go on and on... so many of you are incredible. You all know who you are... just a few I felt I needed to target....

Now lets go scrap!

The thing that any host needs to keep in mind is that if there are any flakers, there are hard feelings. As for me, I always tried to make up for what the flakers didn't do BUT I don't know that it should be a requirement. I think it would be important to set the expectation that the host/hostess does NOT have the obligation to make up for someone that might not come through. What do the rest of you think? S

I hosted "Secret Angel" a couple of years ago. I liked "Angel" vs "Santa" because it wasn't specific to Christmas. We have quite a diverse group of people and therefore the potential for adiversity in beliefs. I just wouldn't want anyone to feel that they couldn't participate because they don't celebrate Christmas. That's my .02....for what it's worth. S

What brought this on? I thought we were all playing nice this week.

Lynne

I remember one year we were really on a roll. Not only did we have Secret Santa but then it was Secret Valentine, Secret Leprechaun, Secret Bunny and Secret Pumpkin. We must have worn out the idea because Santa and Bunny were the only ones repeated. Peggy in NJ

A few emails and a few comments. Nuff said.

What you waiting for Ronni, get yourself over here! My arms are wide open ready to give and get a biggie sized hug. There is a lot about you I want to get to know too! A lot I am sure that you could teach me! I know from meeting you that you have a good warm heart. And you're right, there are many, many wonderful people here on RCS and each of us has something to contribute. Oh, and I'm glad you didn't compare me to the UN. I'd never get anything done, LOL. At least the Swiss are known for their cleanliness and efficiency!

WHO TO HOST Now since there is no way to flip a coin to pick amongst the people who volunteered for the Secret Santa, I think it's fair and easier all aroung to simply go with the first person who volunteered. Hopefully the others will be happy to assist her at the start to get things off to a great start.

WHAT TO CALL IT Personally I'm not sure there is anything wrong with calling it Secret Santa. Secret Angel seems far more religious. Historically Xmas has been a day of peace and truces even when the opponent was non-Christian. Santa is just a jolly old man (yeah I do know that Santa is St. Nick and as a matter of fact I've always given my DS a present on Dec 6th as I celebrated St Nicks with my Belgian grandparents when I was a kid, I even have a picture to prove it). We can even call it the "Annual Non Xmas RCS Festive Xchange Day" LOL. But whatever we call it, it's first and foremost about joy and peace and exchanging gifts with the friends we have made here.

nuff said ... change topic

again

Well, Irene pointed out that Theresa in IL was the first to volunteer for hosting, so if it's first come first host, then she's it. Sounds like playing tag...you're it!

I don't have a problem with "Secret Santa" or whatever. I'm not a Santa fan, but I think the idea here is to have fun, exchange gifts among friends, and hopefully get to know some more about each other. To me, that last part makes it fun...getting to know each other better!!

So I am all for getting this party started! LOL