I am trying to determine the best solution to the lagging sign ups to the NSSSF swap (which has never ever happened before). Please respond. This poll is not a commitment of any type. I just need feedback.
If you would like to e-mail me your response instead of posting to the group e-mail me at: tmussel11 AT sbcglobal DOT net.
Poll Questions:
1) What months would you be most likely to sign up for the NSSSF swap?
2) Are my post effectively communicating the NSSSF benefits?
3) Are my post effectively communicating the sign up requirements?
4) Is the form on our website easy to use?
5) If the swap was changed from a 3 month commitment to a 2 month commitment, would this change your decision to participate?
General questions:
1) What would encourage you to join the NSSSF swap?
2) Any feedback to improve the swap?
For past participants:
1) Please share you past experiences and impressions of the swap.
2) Did a previous experience leave a bad impression?
a. Did you notify the host of the swap?
b. Where you satisfied the host resolved the issue in the best possible way?
I have never participated and probably would not. As I understand it you go out and buy scrap stuff for someone else that you think that they will like or don't already have, pack it all up, take it to the post office and then pay to ship it to their house and in return someone does the same for you. Then I have to worry if the person likes what I picked out or if she hates it. Personally I would rather skip all that extra work as I already have enough errands and chores to do each day and just buy what I want or need.
I know I am a party pooper but I doubt that I am the only one who thinks this way.
Not a party pooper I feel the same way. I did it once and though I really enjoyed getting to know someone else on a more personal level. I really kind of feel like we all have scrapbook items and with the internet there really aren't any surprise type things to get for one another. I've often thought maybe without the mailing of scrapbook items it might be more up my alley. Just getting to know someone through emails, letters, phone calls... maybe mailing of personal items if one feels like it. Like my NSSSF said they really loved toast. So, I mailed them some of my favorite jam that I make.
I haven't signed up for this before mainly because of budget constraints. I just don't have the money to spend on something like this. That is not to say I wouldn't participate in the future once I get a job. =) Tammy, I think you do a good job with announcements and instructions. The form is not too difficult to follow either, in my opinion. I think everyone just has personal reasons that are keeping them from signing up.
I signed up lots of times, sending to the states and they to Canada can cause a few problems. I have been charged duty a few times and end up paying a small fortune to get a package of items that are nice but already have. I like Lynne's idea of maybe cutting out the scrapping part and getting a bit more personal. Barb:o)
In another group I read they do an interesting secret santa although I believe they call it something else as there are a large number of nonChristians and dare I say it....antiChristian/anti-all religion posters there. They have to send a gift that is unique to the place where they live. It can be food (I don't know how I would ship a Philly cheesesteak or soft pretzel to Europe LOL..) or a framed photo of something where you live, or it can be something handmade (although surprisingly a couple there do not appreciate handmade gifts and call those who send them cheap....it is a tough crowd.) I have never participated but I do enjoy reading about and seeing the things that they send one another.
I have never made jam although I believe that I can make jam/jelly and even butter somehow in my bread machine.
I have wanted to participate, but like Crystal, it's mainly a money concern, and I'd want to do a good job, so I keep waiting til my life is in control enough to do so. :)
I have participated 3 times so far and all 3 times were wonderful and I was able to get to know them a lot better. This time of year between all the birthday parties and nice weather I don't have time to participate in the swap. I do better in the cold months (winter) then I do in the spring and summer.
I've been wanting to participate but again it is a money issue -- trying to buy a house and all. I'd love to play but maybe something homemade or the like would be great. It isn't a matter of what month or months for me but maybe a two month sign up would be great or even PICK a birthday girl/boy and spoil them on their birthday.
As far as your communication is concerned it has been great. the web form easy to use.
I've participated a number of times and loved it. I haven't in the last while, but i would love to do that again soon. Of course, there is more to it than the gifts. what makes the NSSSF program so wonderful is getting to know the people. Perhaps we can morph it into something else. I'll need to think for a while about what would work better.
Perhaps, we could each put aside a 6x6 or 8x8 album. For each NSSSF round we would be teamed with a different person. The round would last one month, in which time you would be expected to send at least 2 electronic cards, 1 real handmade card and a two page layout (two different pieces of paper, not back to back) of yourself and send it to that person. The list could be emailed to each of us for the next 6-12 months and we would be required to send an email to the group and the NSSSF Coord when we completed a round and started another. That way we could actually make all the pages and cards the same, or for someone like me that prefers to make things different, we could make individual cards and layouts.
Here is a thought. We are paired with an NSSSF for two months. The NSSSF has to look up where we live and then assign us a place to go visit, volunteer at etc. Something that they are passionate about and would like for us to experience. We would be required to complete the assignment and create a two page LO about our experience and what we learned from it. I bring this up because those of us who have done Flat Stanley, know that it makes us think of ways to go to different places, often things right in our back yard that we've meant to do! The person giving you the challenge to do would have to adapt it to where you are and your lifestyle. do you have children, a job? Those would figure into the challenge you were given. The person would learn more about you, you would learn more about them, yourself and get out of the house to go and complete your assignments.
You would post your assignments here and how you are doing with it. You could also post the LO to your galleries and share. Your next NSSSF would not be able to give you the same assignment so all of us would learn more about each other's towns, hobbies and passions and better still it doesn't have to cost money, you can use your current stashes to complete your assignments.
For example, if I had Tammy in TX, I would call her and talk to her about what she is doing this month, if she is going out of the country. Where she is going. I would then look up things to do where she is going that might interest both her and me and tell her about it and give her the assignment of going there and taking pictures and learning about the place and how it came about. I would not pick someplace expensive to go in, but maybe a statue, a neighborhood etc.
Anyhow, I am sure I am writing too much, but I hope I've painted a picture. It would require care about the other person and interest to do it right. Hope this makes sense,
I am not sure i could handle doing all that research and such things..if its hard for others to just send little things i feel maybe this may be way too much for some to do also.. i so enjoy the NSSF as it is and i had so much fun learning about Tammy and chatting with her..she and i emailed and in our packages they were just something to cheer each other up with...i dont think we always need to put scrapbook items i feel if you want to make that person something then you should..homemade gifts to me mean alot cause it is a part of you that your giving to that person and that means alot.. i know we all have busy lifes and projects happening but i think taking a little time to just chat with someone new would turn out to be a good t hing for each other.. Life to short to say next time cause you never know if you will have a next time..just my 2=A2 chatty
I participated once a couple of years ago. It was fun to get to know my NSSSF better. I haven't done it lately because of the cost and time. I like M-C's idea of doing a page swap about yourself and your town and I think sending something homemade would be great. I would really enjoy receiving cards or handmade embellishments.
I participated in the NSSF twise. One of the times I got absolutely nothing, no cards, no emails, no e-cards; nothing. The other time I did get some nice things but was stressed about whether I was going to get anything in return for my efforts going out.
So, that is why I do not sign up; Disappointment, stress, and effort.
In all the yrs I've been here I've never done a nsssf swap. I have enjoyed reading about the pleasure that the the players get out of their new pkgs. The reason I don't join though is simple, I'm a procrastinator and dread the thought of a deadline like having to shop & send a pkg every month for 3 months. I love the SS swaps though. Once a year I can handle. lol
I really like M-C's idea of sharing 6x6/8x8 los and learning more about the area that we all live in. It's actually like a combination of our old circle journals and my poor lost duckies all in one w/out the extra expense of shipping since we'd only be mailing one lo a month rather than whole journals/albums. I think the volunteer/ scavenger hunt might be asking a bit much though. Heck, if some of us don't have time to do a little shopping and get to the po where's the time for volunteering or running all over the city, or even for researching the other person's locale to find something you'd like them to do? I see where she's coming from though. Kind of a nudge to get out experience something new.
Tammy, maybe it's time to just take a break from nsssf. You've done a great job hosting but maybe now it's run it's course. I very much like the idea of retooling it though. Take out all the shopping & sending and make it more personal.
Katr> I participated in the NSSF twise. One of the times I got absolutely
Please keep the responses coming. A speacial thanks to all that has replied so far!
I am going to add a few things but I still want to hear more about what you guys want! It has been hard not to respond to all of the wonderful ideas going on though. (lol!)
First, I would like to add my two cents on what the swap means to me and what I would like it to mean to the group.... I enjoy the swap not for the scrapbook supplies but for the friendship bonds that are formed. I will not ever say that I don't like receiving things by any means. *grin* When I started reading this wonderful group (a long time ago) my perception was this swap about the friendship and not about the "gifts/packages". I have enjoyed all the people I have met through this swap and probably otherwise would not have gotten to know. I am fairly shy about sharing things most of the time. This swap got me out of my "box".
The best things that were given to me that I especially remember are the items that were not scrapbook supplies. Barb sent me some wonderful berry food items from her neck of Canada, Cathy sent me some wonderful handmade cards, Dave sent me some yummy chocolates and my favorite scented candle... just to name a few. I even made Cathy something this round. For those of you that mentioned something about handmade items, I kept it as a catagory for the NSSSF swap since it was such a huge hit with the SS.
I do agee the time commitment is high with this swap. I also agree that getting to the post office is a chore (one that I really don't like as a matter of fact). I do find time and put up with the people at the post office since I find the swap to be a rewarding experience. I know I will make new and/or better friends that share my passion of scrapbooking. I am realistic though, I know you and I can not do the swap 4 times a year. My job just doesn't allow it some times as I know your job and families won't either.
I am up for change! Kinda like Spring cleaning but I do not want to give up the swap all together. I have a few ideas on how to go about changing the swap. I will work on my ideas and post later this weekend. In the meantime, keep the ideas and responses coming.
I also like the idea of the 6x6 or 8x8 LO's about us and our area. I enjoy the e-mails and e-cards. I've participated in a few NSSSF rounds over the past few years and enjoyed them. I love getting a surprise once in a while that I didn't have to go get for myself. And I have usually always received some of the latest supplies on the market to try. I think one of my favorite gifts was a 2 page swimming LO Barb did for me right after we got our pool. All I had to do was take the pictures and add them to the LO. Getting a LO from a friend meant a lot to me because it meant she took the time to get to know me and took some of her own scrapping time to make a gift for me. I do agree that with times like they are and getting worse (at least in our area they seem to be) it's hard to spend money on things the receiver might not be interested in or even want. Time has been my issue. This last round it took me two months to get to an LSS to do some shopping. They close at 6 and I get off work at 5:30 if I'm lucky 22 miles away.
Sandy
I really like M-C's idea of sharing 6x6/8x8 los and learning more about the area that we all live in. It's actually like a combination of our old circle journals and my poor lost duckies all in one w/out the extra expense of shipping since we'd only be mailing one lo a month rather than whole journals/albums. I think the volunteer/ scavenger hunt might be asking a bit much though. Heck, if some of us don't have time to do a little shopping and get to the po where's the time for volunteering or running all over the city, or even for researching the other person's locale to find something you'd like them to do? I see where she's coming from though. Kind of a nudge to get out experience something new.
Tammy, maybe it's time to just take a break from nsssf. You've done a great job hosting but maybe now it's run it's course. I very much like the idea of retooling it though. Take out all the shopping & sending and make it more personal.
Katr> I participated in the NSSF twise. One of the times I got absolutely
I'd love to do this, just hasn't been a great time this past year! I just (as in one hour ago) quit my second job, and our house remodeling should be complete by the end of May ... and by then I hope the new dog and I have settled into a routine. I don't think a 3 month commitment is to long, in fact, I like that idea. Its my own time that I find hard to commit.
I really enjoyed the NSSSF swaps when I participated in them! It was great getting surprises in the mail, and getting to know the other person. Tammy, you have done a great job organizing it. The form is fine online, For those of us who have been scrapping for a few years, I think its hard to make a list of scrappin things you want that everyone can afford, because your needs change so much, and theres always something new out there to try! Mainly the reason I have not participated lately is budget issues. I just bought a newer car, and we are trying to buy a house someday and need to get some things cleared up, so I have to really be careful about extra money, if we ever want to stop renting! I am trying to save for the cruise next March too! I would like the NSSSF swap be a getting to know you thing... like making a "Top Ten Things..or a list about Me" and use a different theme for each session, or make a couple of 6x6 pages of yourself, and where you are from, and everyone keep a 6x6 book to keep them in, kind of like what we did at the Barn. We could also include a surprise gift ,a handmade item or something from that persons' wish list.. I am just throwing ideas out here..a lot of everyones ideas are good! I am all for a revamp to make it fresh and fun again!
I really like MC's idea about the 6x6 or 8x8 pages. For me I would prefer an 8x8 page because 6x6 albums seem to be harder to find. It would be great to be partnered with different people each session and receive 2 or 3 pages about that person. Everyone that participated would have an excellent album about our RCS friends. I agree that the scavenger thing would be a bit much but people would be able to incorporate things into their pages at their own pace. This idea keeps growing on me the more I read other's opinions.
I'd love to participate in an 8x8 album that is more geared to a "day in the life of Me" or "me and my town." Then you'd get to know the person and then where they live and what they do. If you are a stay at home mom then it could be a favorite recipe and/or thing you do with your kids.
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