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Holiday Card Exchange 2023!
It’s that time again! If you’re new here, here’s the deal:
Every year, a number of us exchange Christmas Cards with fellow CS members across the globe. We collect sign ups from people each year, compile a list, send it out in early November, and then we flood each other's mailboxes with glitter Christmas cheer.
So, the timeline:
You have until Saturday, November 4th to sign up (that’s roughly 6 weeks from today), I’ll post the list so you'll be able to see how many people are planning to participate, and if you decide you can't handle that many, you’ll have until November 11th to opt out and I’ll send out the list on November 12th. Sound good? Then follow the instructions at the end of this post and sign up!
Now, for a quick FAQ List...
Can I make my own cards, or do they have to be store bought?
Either way. Whatever jingles your bells. Just as long as you remember to sign ‘em.
Religious Themes: Yay or Nay?
Again, it doesn't matter. They don’t even have to be Christmas-themed. This event is about friendship and holiday cheer.
Can I add gifts?
Because someone once asked me about favors…in the past, some people have included various little gifts in their cards – crocheted snowflakes, handmade bookmarks, paper cranes, etc. You are more than welcome to add a little something if you like, but be assured there is absolutely no expectation for anything more than a card from anyone. Anything extra is entirely up to you.
If I sign up, do I have to send a card to EVERYONE?
YES, and in a timely manner too. I cannot stress this enough. It is selfish, rude, and seriously unfair to sign up and get cards from everyone else and not send any of your own. If you wish to only send cards to a select few members of the CS community, please make such plans on your own.
Are e-cards allowed?
No. Once the final list goes out, this becomes a snail mail event. Postcards are allowed, however, if you wish to save a few pennies on postage.
What happens if I sign up and don't send out my cards/don't send out my cards until after the Easter Bunny has visited?
People who sign up and don't follow through make Baby Jesus cry, and thus are automatically placed on Santa's Naughty List for the next year. Oh, and on my naughty list as well. No-shows are banned from participating in future events. A first offense gets you banned for one year. A second offense gets you banned for life.
But what if an emergency comes up and I can't?
I'm not an unreasonable person, and we’ve found that most members of CS that participate are very accommodating. If an emergency comes up, all I ask is that you PLEASE let me know. I will handle things accordingly and you will not be penalized in any way.
How many people will sign up?
It varies. We've had everywhere from 19 to 60+ members sign up in previous years. Unfortunately, my crystal ball hasn't been working lately like it should, so I can't tell for certain how many of you will sign up this year. I will stop accepting Sign Ups on November 4th, and I will post a complete list of who has signed up, and you will have until November 11th to opt out, so if the list swells to an amazingly large number of people and it is no longer feasible for you to participate, you can drop out by sending me a PM and letting me know you can no longer participate. Once the opt out period ends, I’ll email the list to everyone. Once the list is sent out, however, you're in it for the long haul. Also, I will not make any changes once the email goes out, so please, please, please make sure your address is complete and correct before hitting the submit button (please?). I have no intention of sending corrections because you didn’t proofread.
How much is postage?
It depends on where you live, how many people have signed up, and how many of the cards you send will be international. In the past, the majority of participants have been in the US, plus a handful in Canada and the UK, and occasionally a few other far-flung places.
Suggestion from our resident Postal Worker:
If you are in the US, please go to USPS.com and get your +4 zip code. This makes the zip code 9 digits long and looks like 12345-6789. This makes it less likely a card will go missing because the computer has more info. (Thanks for the suggestion, Aethian!) If you go to that link and enter your street address, it will give you the complete, standard format for your address. Use that format when you sign up and things just might go that much more smoothly. Standard US format looks like so:
Your Name
123 Your Street
Faketown, WY 12345-6789
My Significant Other and I are both members. Can we sign up with both of our names?
Yes. If you are signing up as a couple, please give me the other person’s screen name as well.
How do I share my joy in having received a card from someone?
Go ahead and post a note in this thread and tell us who you’ve received cards from. I’ll be keeping tabs on it and check off on my list that people are receiving your cards.
Did I mention that you have until November 4th to sign up?
So sign up! It’s fun!!
TO SIGN UP:
Scroll back up to the top of this post, click on my name, and send me a private message!
Be sure to include:
Note: I will send the list as a pdf file formatted to print on a standard 30-label sheet. If for some reason you have a problem with the file, either reply to my email or send me a PM, and I can resend it, or send it in a different format (Word or Excel) if needed. The list will come from my personal Gmail address. If you don’t receive it, check your spam folder or send me a PM and I’ll tell you what address to look for or resend as needed.
Every year, a number of us exchange Christmas Cards with fellow CS members across the globe. We collect sign ups from people each year, compile a list, send it out in early November, and then we flood each other's mailboxes with glitter Christmas cheer.
So, the timeline:
You have until Saturday, November 4th to sign up (that’s roughly 6 weeks from today), I’ll post the list so you'll be able to see how many people are planning to participate, and if you decide you can't handle that many, you’ll have until November 11th to opt out and I’ll send out the list on November 12th. Sound good? Then follow the instructions at the end of this post and sign up!
Now, for a quick FAQ List...
Can I make my own cards, or do they have to be store bought?
Either way. Whatever jingles your bells. Just as long as you remember to sign ‘em.
Religious Themes: Yay or Nay?
Again, it doesn't matter. They don’t even have to be Christmas-themed. This event is about friendship and holiday cheer.
Can I add gifts?
Because someone once asked me about favors…in the past, some people have included various little gifts in their cards – crocheted snowflakes, handmade bookmarks, paper cranes, etc. You are more than welcome to add a little something if you like, but be assured there is absolutely no expectation for anything more than a card from anyone. Anything extra is entirely up to you.
If I sign up, do I have to send a card to EVERYONE?
YES, and in a timely manner too. I cannot stress this enough. It is selfish, rude, and seriously unfair to sign up and get cards from everyone else and not send any of your own. If you wish to only send cards to a select few members of the CS community, please make such plans on your own.
Are e-cards allowed?
No. Once the final list goes out, this becomes a snail mail event. Postcards are allowed, however, if you wish to save a few pennies on postage.
What happens if I sign up and don't send out my cards/don't send out my cards until after the Easter Bunny has visited?
People who sign up and don't follow through make Baby Jesus cry, and thus are automatically placed on Santa's Naughty List for the next year. Oh, and on my naughty list as well. No-shows are banned from participating in future events. A first offense gets you banned for one year. A second offense gets you banned for life.
But what if an emergency comes up and I can't?
I'm not an unreasonable person, and we’ve found that most members of CS that participate are very accommodating. If an emergency comes up, all I ask is that you PLEASE let me know. I will handle things accordingly and you will not be penalized in any way.
How many people will sign up?
It varies. We've had everywhere from 19 to 60+ members sign up in previous years. Unfortunately, my crystal ball hasn't been working lately like it should, so I can't tell for certain how many of you will sign up this year. I will stop accepting Sign Ups on November 4th, and I will post a complete list of who has signed up, and you will have until November 11th to opt out, so if the list swells to an amazingly large number of people and it is no longer feasible for you to participate, you can drop out by sending me a PM and letting me know you can no longer participate. Once the opt out period ends, I’ll email the list to everyone. Once the list is sent out, however, you're in it for the long haul. Also, I will not make any changes once the email goes out, so please, please, please make sure your address is complete and correct before hitting the submit button (please?). I have no intention of sending corrections because you didn’t proofread.
How much is postage?
It depends on where you live, how many people have signed up, and how many of the cards you send will be international. In the past, the majority of participants have been in the US, plus a handful in Canada and the UK, and occasionally a few other far-flung places.
Suggestion from our resident Postal Worker:
If you are in the US, please go to USPS.com and get your +4 zip code. This makes the zip code 9 digits long and looks like 12345-6789. This makes it less likely a card will go missing because the computer has more info. (Thanks for the suggestion, Aethian!) If you go to that link and enter your street address, it will give you the complete, standard format for your address. Use that format when you sign up and things just might go that much more smoothly. Standard US format looks like so:
Your Name
123 Your Street
Faketown, WY 12345-6789
My Significant Other and I are both members. Can we sign up with both of our names?
Yes. If you are signing up as a couple, please give me the other person’s screen name as well.
How do I share my joy in having received a card from someone?
Go ahead and post a note in this thread and tell us who you’ve received cards from. I’ll be keeping tabs on it and check off on my list that people are receiving your cards.
Did I mention that you have until November 4th to sign up?
So sign up! It’s fun!!
TO SIGN UP:
Scroll back up to the top of this post, click on my name, and send me a private message!
Be sure to include:
- Your real first and last name
- If you are signing up as a couple and are both members, please include your spouse/partner’s screen name as well
- Your full, correct, proofread, verified, properly-formatted mailing address.
- Your email address so I can send you the list!
- Privacy policy: I assure you that your email address will not be shared with anyone (and will be deleted from my computer and CS inbox once the event is over), and your other information will only be shared with those who have signed up. You are, of course, expected to keep this information private as well.
Note: I will send the list as a pdf file formatted to print on a standard 30-label sheet. If for some reason you have a problem with the file, either reply to my email or send me a PM, and I can resend it, or send it in a different format (Word or Excel) if needed. The list will come from my personal Gmail address. If you don’t receive it, check your spam folder or send me a PM and I’ll tell you what address to look for or resend as needed.
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