| Note From Tami And Bar_bar
 NOTE FROM TAMI AND BAR_BAR
Ladies,
Thank you for helping us to make the Secret Sister Club a wonderful place to meet new friends.
When we first started this club, we were "winging" it for the first few months until, eventually, the Club developed into a wonderful meeting place.
The thought behind the club was to help create friendships from all over the world by sending letters, emails and even small tokens to get to know each other better.
Over the last 3 yrs (can you believe it?) the club has changed over and over again, with members coming and going. We created rules to try and form an even and equal month-to-month sending and receiving schedule. We love our members who have been with us from day 1 and we always look forward to each new month to meet the new members who have decided to join us.
For these reasons, it saddens me to say that it appears that our club is taking a turn for the worst. In our eyes, it is starting to look like more of a challenge of who can send the biggest snail mails or the most emails, rather than having fun really trying to get to know the person who you are sending to each month.
It is important to realize that each and every member has a family life outside of the forums. With spring upon us, many schedules will start to get hectic once again. Those who have jobs, kids in activities, vacations...whatever the reason, not everyone can send 4-5 emails daily. Many would prefer to send once really special email or ecard every
few days, than to send 4 or 5 randomly chosen cards that really don’t mean anything.
Many women join our club because they are hoping to find someone to talk to, laugh with or even share secrets with. They may or may not have the resources available to send huge or multiple gifts each month. Many times, a welcomed shoulder to cry on is more precious than any gift they can receive.
This is not to say that our members don't go the extra mile to send very special gifts! I want to reiterate that it is not necessary to spend a fortune to belong to this club. If you are in it for the gifts only, you are involved in the wrong club.
Please remember that each and every member is different. You might receive a lot of stuff one month and then the next, no so much. Try to understand that is what makes this club so special--everyone gives in their own way.
Of course, we must remember that when you sign up to become a Secret Sister, you are promising to pay attention to your Secret Sister for the WHOLE month--unless an emergency should happen. Please treat your Sisters the way that you would like to be treated. Remember, there is a very good chance that someday she will be your sending Secret Sister!
Everyone in this club is so special to both bar_bar and me. We want everyone to enjoy their time here with us.
With this being said, I am going to post a reminder of the rules. Please take a few minutes to read them over again.
Here are the Guide Lines for joining our club:
1. When you fill out the questionnaire about yourself, please go into detail about your interests, hobbies and favorite things.
2. You must send one type of email (e-card, an email letter, an e-postcard....etc) each week. Getting these little notes helps to brighten everyone's day.
PLUS
You MUST send at least one item per month, by snail mail to your Secret Sister. This can be something as simple as a post card or whatever you can dream up! Remember not to use your name on the return address envelope! We ask that you send one snail mail by the 15th of the month so that it will have time to get to your SS's house. If you have to wait until the last week of the month to send your one gift, please let us know this when you fill out the questionnaire for the club. Contact your secret sister to let her know too.
Failure to meet with the requirements for each month's exchange will result in a one month suspension. The second time will result in two month’s suspension. The third
time will result in not being allowed to participate in the Secret Sister club any longer.
Please contact Tami or bar_bar (if possible) if an unexpected event happens and you are unable to fulfill your month's requirements".
Please Note:
If your Secret Sister fails to follow the rules and communicate with you at the minimum of one ecard per week and one snail mail, she will be removed from the exchange for the following month. Do not take it into your own hands and begin bashing your Secret Sister publicly on the boards. THIS IS GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL AS WELL! Anyone who chooses to publicly humiliate their Secret Sister by stating that they haven't heard from them in the proper manner will be removed from the club the following month along with their Secret Sister. This website will not tolerate this type of behavior. The month end questionnaire is where you may list your complaints, and you may also contact Tami (ajrsmom) or Amanda (FamilyCorner) privately.
3. There is no monetary limit to what you can spend on your Sister. To be fair, I would suggest that you set the same limit to spend every month. Keep in mind, however, that it is not the size of the gift but the thought that you are reaching out to brighten someone’s day.
4. Don’t be afraid to send something unique! It is always fun to receive a one-of-a-kind gift. You can always use email to send a unique gift too….a special poem, a nice e-card or just a note to say “Hi”. Please remember that you will still need to send one snail mail
by the 15th, too.
5. Please remember to “Treat others as you would like to be treated”. You will be receiving gifts as well as sending them. Please don’t forget about your Secret Sister!
Continued next post......... |