nicki dahling
CyndiAKADisneyqueen<br><font color=deeppink> I can
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2000
- Messages
- 1,685
I just wanted to say that as one of those who has been a hostess and who has at times been late in getting them back to people ( always because of life circumstances, or flakers, or people being late, but never because of personal issues with anyone ) I would like to opologise in public to anyone I may have offended . It was never my intention to do that. That is just not in my character. I did reconize that swaps were taking over my life ( especially while going through several deaths among family and friends ). On one occasion I had 3 deaths within a two month period ( while hosting a swap ). It knocked me off of my feet at the time , and made it almost impossible to function for a while. I tried to relay this to my swappers, and tried to check in as much as possible with updates. The last swap I held there were several issues with my local post office. I also do not drive, so I was at the mercy of my hubby or daughters schedules. I realize now that I had become overwhelmed with swaps and have since taken a step back from them, because I am one of those people who doesn't like to dissapoint people. My life has become more hectic since when I first began swapping here a few years ago. I love everything I have ever recieved and a lot of them have become parts of my albums that I will always treasure. But I reconize that for me swapping may not be the best thing for now.
What I have learned about being a hostess :
1) I am too soft and want to give everyone the chance to turn in their items ( even if it is weeks late ). As a matter of fact I assume that most flakers must have had something really serious to have happened to them for me to not have heard back from them.
2) Postage stamps worked the best for me ( I figured this out after doing a few swaps ). My post office has become a not very friendly place to visit, so my husband brought me a mailbox big enough to hold swap packages. And surprise, surprise, my mailman will actually pick them up at home for me ! But people do not always read that in my final instructions, so you have to be flexible when you recieve a check or cash.
3) As much as I loved being a hostess, life is to short to get caught up in the drama. I would rather maintain my friendship with the people here then jeopardize that by dissapointing them.
4) There is not a better group of ladies around then those on this board.
5) If you keep the lines of communication open most people are willing to work with you.
6) If you mess up, fess up and move on. And try not to repeat the same mistake over and over.
What I have learned about being a swapper :
1) Do the best you can ( knowone here is looking for perfection, but at least follow the guidelines). We all have learned new techniques from each other.
2) Communicate with your hostess. If you are going to be late let her know so that as a group they can decide if they are willing to wait. If you are going to flake out, at least step up to the plate and admit it, so that the hostess can make timely decisions. ( you don't have to tell the whole board, but at least be big enough to own up to the hostess ).
* side note as a hostess : Not hearing from someone, always freaked me out, because I was worried something had happened to that person. I now have on-line firends that have my address ( and my family has there's ) so that if something happened to them someone would have a way to contact you all. I know its a stretch that this is the case with most flakers, but now you see another reason I've backed away. I'm just too soft.
3) If you know you have a busy month and can barely see straight, maybe now is not the time to swap.
4) There is not a better group of ladies around then those on this board.
5) Early is always better then late, once you have been given the ok from the hostess. Start working on those swap items. Whether its 7 or 24.
6) Always write your name on your items. Its nice to know who sent what.
I know this was very long, but I wanted to publicly state that I am one of those who has messed up, and I didn't just want to privately say I am sorry. Maybe we all need a break from swapping. Or maybe we just need to determine what works best for us and stick with it. Sometimes saying no and coming back later is a good thing. But let's not take a break from each other. I state again....life is just to short.
Cyndi
What I have learned about being a hostess :
1) I am too soft and want to give everyone the chance to turn in their items ( even if it is weeks late ). As a matter of fact I assume that most flakers must have had something really serious to have happened to them for me to not have heard back from them.
2) Postage stamps worked the best for me ( I figured this out after doing a few swaps ). My post office has become a not very friendly place to visit, so my husband brought me a mailbox big enough to hold swap packages. And surprise, surprise, my mailman will actually pick them up at home for me ! But people do not always read that in my final instructions, so you have to be flexible when you recieve a check or cash.
3) As much as I loved being a hostess, life is to short to get caught up in the drama. I would rather maintain my friendship with the people here then jeopardize that by dissapointing them.
4) There is not a better group of ladies around then those on this board.
5) If you keep the lines of communication open most people are willing to work with you.
6) If you mess up, fess up and move on. And try not to repeat the same mistake over and over.
What I have learned about being a swapper :
1) Do the best you can ( knowone here is looking for perfection, but at least follow the guidelines). We all have learned new techniques from each other.
2) Communicate with your hostess. If you are going to be late let her know so that as a group they can decide if they are willing to wait. If you are going to flake out, at least step up to the plate and admit it, so that the hostess can make timely decisions. ( you don't have to tell the whole board, but at least be big enough to own up to the hostess ).
* side note as a hostess : Not hearing from someone, always freaked me out, because I was worried something had happened to that person. I now have on-line firends that have my address ( and my family has there's ) so that if something happened to them someone would have a way to contact you all. I know its a stretch that this is the case with most flakers, but now you see another reason I've backed away. I'm just too soft.
3) If you know you have a busy month and can barely see straight, maybe now is not the time to swap.
4) There is not a better group of ladies around then those on this board.
5) Early is always better then late, once you have been given the ok from the hostess. Start working on those swap items. Whether its 7 or 24.
6) Always write your name on your items. Its nice to know who sent what.
I know this was very long, but I wanted to publicly state that I am one of those who has messed up, and I didn't just want to privately say I am sorry. Maybe we all need a break from swapping. Or maybe we just need to determine what works best for us and stick with it. Sometimes saying no and coming back later is a good thing. But let's not take a break from each other. I state again....life is just to short.
Cyndi
)
) and I personally will not be making the choice to join any more swaps for a while...
)
) but like others I worry about letting the side down.
or get on with writing a cookbook 
) Crap like that happens and we all live with it. But you were big enough to admit it publicly (not just to me) and let us all know what was being done to right the situation. Thanks.
