Does anyone remember the Secret Santa Exchange?

[tiggerlover]

I was working on my holiday card list and I came across my DIS exchange list and noticed that we had a Secret Santa exchange two years ago. Does anyone remember this and remember what we did?

 

[Meriweather]

Yes...Serena ran it.
We just sent a one time thing to someone.
I didn't get anything The only exchange that has ever happened to me.

 

[poohtown]

i wasn't here two years ago, but on my old web page hangout (which I had to give up because I was spending too much time on the computer and had to give up one or the other) we did secret Santa and it was a lot of fun.

We set up temp. email accounts on yahoo and sent our secret santa daily messages, e-cards, lists of things we liked, etc.

Then we sent a Christmas package to be opened on Christmas. After New Years, we revealed who we were, what we got and who we were Secret Santa to.

 

[Beanie]

Sounds like fun!! Is someone organizing one?

 

[jeleebeene]

That does sound like fun - I didn't participate last year and wish I had!

 

[Serena]

I'm still sorry about that Meriweather. Other than that one instance, I think it went well.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Serena........Are you going to have another this year??

 

[Pooh's Pal]

 

[smilingmouse]

I'll join if anyone is organizing....btw, how do you organize an exchange?

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by Pooh's Pal
Serena........Are you going to have another this year??

Sorry I hadn't checked back. I actually hadn't thought about it.



brb, kid needs the computer.

 

[Serena]

Actually, I'm not that great on organizing these days. I'd prefer it if someone else got it all together.
I would help though, if I could. It sounds like it could be fun.

 

[poohtown]

bump for an organizer.... wish I could but sometimes I can't get on the computer for a couple days and I wouldn't know what to do.

 

[smilingmouse]

what's involved in organizing? If someone can give me details, I might be interested in organizing...

 

[Pooh67_68]

smilingmouse, try PM'ing one of the exchange hosts that usally host exchanges and ask your question.

scratch42
kirby
meriweather
DisneyCP2002

 

[tiggerlover]

I was wondering what was involved also. I am short on time these days, but if it wasn't too involved it may be fun. I remember having a lot of fun with this exchange.

 

[Meriweather]

Organizing takes time and you need to be around a lot to keep the threads bumped for it to be successful.

You need to set dates....about 7-10 days for sign-ups and the same for mailing.
People PM you their info.
You want to set a minimum limit on $$ to spend.
You might want people to say things they like or don't like and allergies.

I do a random draw for names.
PM them to people. Start the send/recieved thread. Keep it bumped, especially until things start moving.

Then the hard part. When the mail by date comes and people haven't mailed Then you have to get tough and get them moving so no one is left out.
I usually hope that all are received by 2 weeks after the mail-by date.......this is all a long process

If it is a large exchange, you will have nonsenders....almost assured I have 2 right now in the recipe exchange.
I get some nice, generous people to be "elves" for this reason. They volunteer to send in the case that someone doesn't follow through.
I always am the first elf (one of the obligations, IMO, of hosting).

I am keeper of the nonsender list.....and it is long!
If someone decides to host this, let me know and I will send it to you.

But....if no one wants to, there is a Disney Christmas Only exchange that has sign-ups through tomorrow.....that is anything Disney and related to Christmas.
And the next "color" exchange up is "holiday", so that is related too.
I am keeping busy with the Yankee Candle Holiday exchange that is taking sign-ups now.
And don't forget the annual ornament exchange will be starting soon too.....plenty to keep us all busy.

Good luck.

 

[Beanie]

I'm exhausted just reading that post, Nancy!!

 

[mommytotwo]

Well said Nancy. Hosting an exchange, does take up alot of time and you have to be very organized, but it is fun and rewarding when you see people recieving their items and they are happy of what they had gotten and thank you for your time in putting them together.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Oh My!....what have I done...opened a big can of "exchange" worms!! Maybe we should just put this on the back burner for now? It looks like there are just so many exchanges going on right now, maybe we could do a Secret Santa in January, where we could "re-gift" some of our "unique" gifts that we got for the 2004 holidays!!!!! It could be quite entertaining!
tiggerlover and smilingmouse...maybe you could be co-organizers

 

[Meriweather]

I would love to see another regift exchange after the holidays.
We have done 2 already
I'm trying to get lizdotcom99 to host one again. They were great fun!