The current round of Secret pal exchanges has now ended; December
packages should all have been received now and because this is the round
in which you identified yourself to your pal, I have not bee monitoring
the thank you messages, although if a package has failed to arrive I
will
still make enquiries.
The new round of Exchanges will start in February 2006. Please send
your
applications to me by Friday 13th January - good or bad omen!. I will
work on the pairings over that weekend. In previous rounds a large
majority of people have asked for overseas pals and it has been
difficult,
even within USA, to pair people with a new same country pal, so again
this
time the same country option is not available, you will almost certainly
get someone from abroad.
EXPLANATION
For the newbies, a Secret Pal is a person you send gifts to anonymously
for five months, then reveal your name with the sixth package. You
would
be receiving gifts from a different person than the one you send to. The
thank you's for received gifts are to be posted to Lace-Chat (or to me
to
forward to your pal).
The gifts are supposed to be tokens of friendship, not expensive items.
10GBP is the suggested amount to spend each month. Favourite things to
send
are sweets/candy, chocolate, tea, bobbins, thread, regional
specialties, pin
cushions, small pieces of lace or bookmarks, patterns, notecards,
toiletries
etc. It's also nice to include something about the area in which you
live,
pictures of your lace and in the final package maybe a photo of
yourself.
Anything you like will probably be liked by your Secret Pal.
SECRET PAL ADMINISTRATOR
I am Brenda Paternoster from Kent, England and it's my fourth and final
time
as Secret Pal co-ordinator.
--
APPLICATION
Arachnians who wish to participate should apply by Friday 13th January
2006.
I will try to have all the secret pal assignments finalised by the end
of
January so that the packages have time to be assembled. They should be
mailed by 5th February.
This exchange will run from February 2006 until July 2006 when you will
reveal your identity. This is a SIX-MONTH COMMITMENT.
To apply, send an email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the
following information:
1. Your name
2. Email address
3. Complete mailing address
4. Affirmation of the following statements:
_I have read and understand the rules of participating.
_I will mail my packages by the 5th of each month.
_I will email a thank you message to Lace-chat within
THREE DAYS of receiving each package.
_I will notify the coordinator immediately if something will
prevent mailing my package on time or if I have to withdraw.
_I understand that I will be summarily removed from the round
if I fail to fulfill my agreement.
5. Give a brief bio of yourself to assist your Pal in selecting items
for you - stage in life, family, pets, favourite activities, favourite
colours, types of lace you make or like, non-lace hobbies, pierced ears
or
not, food allergies or diet restrictions (no nuts, sugar, chocolate,
etc),
preferred bobbin styles if you do BL, and anything else you wish to
share.
The more info you give about yourself the easier it will be for your
secret
pal to choose goodies for you.
6. Please tell me the names of people with whom you have already been
paired
with in previous rounds of secret pal exchanges.
RULES
1. Please be prompt in mailing each month so that your secret pal gets
the
package by the 15th of the intended month. It is depressing to expect a
package and not get one. If you must be late, email me
[EMAIL PROTECTED] before the mailing deadline so your special
pal
can be notified.
2. Include a real, usable return address, not your own. Mine will be
fine
for UK use. Other countries please find a friend who will let you use
his/hers. All packages need a return address in case of delivery
problems.
Packages sent abroad should bear the necessary customs declaration.
3. When the package arrives, as soon as possible post a brief note to
LACE-CHAT (not Lace!!!) to say Thank You. This lets your sending pal
know
that it was safely received. It's not necessary to write a long
message--
just acknowledge the package. You can send your thank you messages to
lace-chat@arachne.com even if you don't take chat. alternatively you
may
send a message to the co-ordinator at [EMAIL PROTECTED] to
forward
to your pal.
4. Pack carefully. A padded bag may not protect a fragile item. Liquids
aren't good in containers going overseas, and are not recommended in any
package. UK's Royal Mail states that anything "resembling a powder" is
best
avoided or at least double wrapped.
5. If you have not received a package by the 20th, tell the
administrator
so she can find out what has happened. Secret Pals exchanges are a SIX
MONTH
COMMITTMENT. If you are unable to continue for
