14th Annual DVC CHRISTMAS Tree Exchange-Trees are on the way!

[Pirate Granny]

I will do the BCV tree. Can you link ?

 

[sarahk0204]

I will do the BCV tree. Can you link ?

Thank you! Yes, just post it here, and I will link.

 

[Pirate Granny]

HI there,
Are you staying at BCV between November 15 - January 5th? Are you inter

 

[Pirate Granny]

Sarah, it's up see above

 

[sarahk0204]

Thank you!

Now PVB (the newest DVC resort) and VWL (the ultimate Christmas resort) are the only 2 resorts without a tree share. 100 days until Christmas!

 

[sarahk0204]

 

[sarahk0204]

 

[sarahk0204]

Signups usually end towards the end of this month. PVB and VWL (they are keeping their acronym until the new ones get built, I think) still need coordinators and trees. Please join in the Holiday Magic!

 

[tvsdisney]

I can coordinate PVB. I was going to bring a tree with us anyways but would be happy to send it earlier for others to enjoy

Just created a thread can you link it please?

 

[sarahk0204]

I can coordinate PVB. I was going to bring a tree with us anyways but would be happy to send it earlier for others to enjoy

Just created a thread can you link it please?

Thank you!

Now we just need 1 more. VWL, you have to join in the fun!

 

[sarahk0204]

Lots of exchanges are filling up, and VWL still doesn't have an exchange. Act now to share in the Holiday Magic!

 

[sarahk0204]

Signups are ending soon for some exchanges.

 

[sarahk0204]

It's November! Many tree signups are ending this week.

 

[sarahk0204]

It is unseasonably warm here in the Midwest, so my DH told me it is just like the Holidays in Florida!

 

[sarahk0204]

The OKW tree is on its way to WDW.

 

[pmaurer74]

Still no tree exchange for WLV?

 

[sarahk0204]

Still no tree exchange for WLV?

No. Sorry. If no one volunteers, a resort just doesn't have an exchange this year.

 

[pmaurer74]

No. Sorry. If no one volunteers, a resort just doesn't have an exchange this year.

what is involved with managing the tree exchange?

 

[sarahk0204]

what is involved with managing the tree exchange?

Well, first you need a tree...

I reprinted the info for donors and coordinators from the first page:

Guidelines for participants


DONORS:


The tree should be decorated, 2-1/2 to 3 feet (no bigger than 4 feet, please). Trees can be themed to the resort (ie “beachy” for BCV, “woodsy” for VWL), but don’t have to be.

Even a basic pre-lit tree works fine. It just adds a nice touch to the room.

Under the direction of the resort coordinator, you'll send the tree to the resort (via UPS or FedEx) to the attention of the first person. It will then be passed to other members and shipped back to you.

My tree has visited WDW several times, even some years when I did not visit.

You should include some ornaments, lights, extension cord(s), a list of families (in addition to the one on the box), an envelope for shipping money donations, tape and a marker. Optionally you can include gifts for each family and a return shipping label (prepaid if you can).


COORDINATORS:


You may also be donating a tree, but you don’t have to. (Although without a tree, you would have nothing to coordinate! ) We need a person for each resort who takes the names and dates of everyone who wants to share the tree. Coordinators then make a schedule/spreadsheet to create the lists that go with the trees to show who shares when.

Most coordinators start a thread and take names on a first come, first served basis.

 

[sarahk0204]

Unless you are asking what I do?

I publish this thread, usually in July. I try to keep it bumped to the top and share on other boards, like the resort boards, to find donors and coordinators to volunteer.

Prior to 2013, one person coordinated all of the trees for all of the resorts. All donors and sharing families went through him/her, and sharing was assigned based on length of stay, numbers and ages of children, and some other factors. The Excel spreadsheets were a sight to behold.

This was, first of all, a lot of work for one person, and, second of all, meant that one person fielded all of the problems and complaints that people had. Apparently there was a lot of complaining and too much work. When I sent a PM to the coordinator in July or August of 2013 because the tree thread hadn't been published yet, the 2012 coordinator cited these reasons for getting out of coordinating the tree exchange. A few of us on the boards brainstormed to figure out how we could still have a tree exchange. Dividing up the workload by having exchanges at the different resorts coordinated by different people was our solution, and we kept the tree exchange from dying out altogether.

A downside to this, though, is that if no-one volunteers for a resort, the resort doesn't have an exchange. If there is only 1 tree donated but more than 1 family wants those particular dates, only 1 family can be accommodated.

It isn't a perfect system by any means, but I am glad we have it, and I am still happy to do it.