secret pal quarterly swap

[Marilynsgrammy]

I haven't gotten all the kinks worked out but this is my proposal

we can have a quarterly swap...

the first quarter sign ups will start Feb 15th, names will be swapped by Feb 28th and gifts need to be sent to your partner by March 20th so they can receive them by the end of the month.

the second quarter sign ups will start May 15th, names swapped the last day of May gifts need to be sent to your partner by June 20th so they can receive them by the end of the month.

third and final quarter swap sign ups will start August 15th, names swapped the last day of August gifts need to be sent to your partner by September 20th so they can receive them by the end of the month

fourth quarter will be Secret Santa and handled seperatly from this one.

I will need all of your contact information

real name
forum name
address
phone number
e-mail address
and for contact purposes the name and number of someone who I can contact in the event I can't get ahold of you... this will serve two purposes.. one, we will be able to find you and know you are alive and well and two, in the event you can't communicate for whatever reason someone can fill us in or go check on you...

I will need the above information before signing you up for this swap...

in addition to the above the rules are....

from the time you get your pal's name to mailing day you have 20 days to send something...please do not put this obligation off till the last minute... when you sign up it is an obligation and if you are late or if you fail to send a gift (gift certificates are acceptable) you will be asked to step aside for the next 3 SP swaps....

if, after sitting out for three swaps you are late or fail to send again you will be asked to sit out in this and any other swap I host...

Yes, emergencies arise... that is why I asked for an emergency contact person...and why I suggest you keep a few little gifty things on hand to send in the event you can't make it to the store...

I have heard quite a few excuses in my other swaps...my husband forgot to mail the package... it got lost under a pile of whatever, it fell under the car seat, etc.... if I can't contact you an emergency contact person should help in this area as well..

PM me as soon as you mail your package (or send your gift certificate)if I don't hear from you by the 20th of the sending month I will be contacting you or your contact person...to find out what happened.

PM me as soon as you receive your package if I don't hear from you by the end of the sending month I will be contacting you or your contact person...to find out what happened.

also, upon receiving your package post a note on the secret pal thread that you received it so that your pal knows it was received....

I would strongly suggest using delivery confirmation.. its cost is under a dollar and lets you track your package...

in the event your package doesn't show up and you didn't use delivery confirmation I will assume you didn't send anything and you will sit out for three swaps...

if you did use tracking and your package fails to show up you will get to participate in the next swap providing you give me the tracking number so we can see where the package is.

I think this pretty much covers it... I run a pretty tight swap... we can "what if" till the cows come home but in the end it's an obligation and it needs to be taken seriously...if you are a person who can't send on time or if you think my rules are to strict please don't sign up for one of my swaps...

I will post the sign ups on Feb 15th, hope to see you then....

Chriss

[purrfect-lady]

Sounds good to me! Let the fun begin!

[meagsmom]

Is this instead of a monthly swap. Makes sense,with the increased postal rates and the busy times that come up quarterly sounds awesome. Sign me up.
Maureen(meagsmom)

[maryq]

Chriss....GREAT IDEAS!

I'm in for March... probably not May as I will hopefully be in Alaska then.

May I throw this thought out there... slap me Chriss if you do not agree. The purpose of having an emergency contact phone number, is not merely to make sure a Pal has sent a gift... but to Check up on a Pal's Welfare. For example, I live alone, there's no one here that can post a message and say something like "Oh dear, Mary is in the hospital... she had a heart attack, but is expected to be okay, and she can't have her cell phone in the hospital to text anybody" Ok so that's a little dramatic. But my DD Jen would sure know if something was up with me and would have my permission to let my friends here know what's going on.... if for no other reason that maybe I could use some extra prayers and support... and isn't that what it's all about anyway! So if you are panicky thinking about sharing an emergency contact info with Chriss.. think of it that way...

So that's my 2 cents...

[Marilynsgrammy]

ding, ding, ding,ding... you are right Mary... that is the only reason I want a second contact... only to make sure you are ok and not on life support or something awful like that.

if we have no way of knowing what the story is we, as women, assume... and when we assume we make mountains out of mole hills.... and before you know it your in the hospital having a wart removed and we are assuming you are on your death bed...

I have no desire to contact your secondary contact person and I certainly won't share their information with anyone.. not even anyone on this forum... I won't even share your information with anyone on this forum not connected with this swap...the only reason your secondary person will be contacted by me is if I can't get ahold of you at all....and I will try and try before contacting them...

Chriss

[gershwin64]

Sounds very good to me ) I'm in and looking forward to it! )
Tina

[towens71]

Sounds good to me too! Gives you more time to get goodies for your buddy!

[grammiequilts]

I love all your ideas....I will think about this one...

[Marilynsgrammy]

glad you girls are liking this idea...

I have already had quite a bit of interest... remember sign ups won't be until February... I will re-post and get things started then.

Chriss

[fanquilt]

I like this idea instead of a monthly swap also. So sign me up and I'll sign the sheet (email) in Feb.

June