I do not always read all the posts, I am too busy for that.
Sometimes this gives me a different perspective than the rest of you. How heartrending it is to here the anguish in Kristen's voice in the posts.
Here is my two cents worth.
Kristen, YOU ARE WONDERFUL. give yourself a pat on the back, You are doing a great job.
To all others.
Please remember that this is a" social group" with it's intent to be to meet and get to know other quilters. not a clique. Sending to your "friends" is great on a personal level but here is Mail box surprise, You all have or had the opportunity to get to know someone new and send a gift of love. Don't loose sight of that fact. Also if you don't like the way it is being ran then Maybe just Maybe next year you will step up to the plate and run the group. This is a big undertaking, and not as easy as it looks.
To me this is quite simple.
You sign up, are assigned to a group, or if you choose maybe two, You welcome new comers, bless people who leave your group, send your gifts with love expecting nothing in return, and receive your gifts with gratitude and thanksgiving.
Wendy,well said ,,we who do the hosting of groups are all volunteers and we do this because we love this craft and enjoy working with people ,but we do make mistakes ,and sometimes a nice pat on the back is very welcome. We don't get paid for doing this ,and it can be very difficult to try and keep everyone happy . I think Kristin has been doing a fabulous job of keep everything running smoothly . I want to thank her for making this a fun group ... Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
Ditto on all this. After all, it is only common courtesy to acknowledge and express gratitude for goodies received! I also like it that people post when they send a squishy off to someone. :-) I might have not posted often of late, but I do try to keep up on all the messages. Life is getting back to normal now--well, a new normal--after a long battle with Altzheimer's, my mother passed away at the end of January. It has been rough, especially the last 6 months or so. She forgot how to do just about everything. While we miss her, the disease was horrible and took her away from us in little bits until nothing was left but her outside. She even forgot how to swallow. Sigh...it has been all very sad and depressing.
I've been quilting a lot lately the last few weeks, to keep busy and distracted....and it's really been feeling kind of good. I've missed it.
Anyway, GOOD JOB to Kristin. I'll try to keep up on my end of this swap, no worries.
Renton Washington
Yvonne, I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom , I lost mine in Dec to a hit and run driver ,They still haven't found the person.I know how you feel aoubt getting back to a normal routine .took me a couple of months to even go back to my guild meetings. I to think I'm back to "NORMAL " as I'll ever be, You are in my thoughts and prayers.Barbara
Wendy : I do not always read all the posts, I am too busy for that. Sometimes this gives me a different perspective than the rest of you. How heartrending it is to here the anguish in Kristen's voice in the posts. Here is my two cents worth. Kristen, YOU ARE WONDERFUL. give yourself a pat on the back, You are doing a great job. To all others. Please remember that this is a" social group" with it's intent to be to meet and get to know other quilters. not a clique. Sending to your "friends" is great on a personal level but here is Mail box surprise, You all have or had the opportunity to get to know someone new and send a gift of love. Don't loose sight of that fact. Also if you don't like the way it is being ran then Maybe just Maybe next year you will step up to the plate and run the group. This is a big undertaking, and not as easy as it looks. To me this is quite simple. You sign up, are assigned to a group, or if you choose maybe two, You welcome new comers, bless people who leave your group, send your gifts with love expecting nothing in return, and receive your gifts with gratitude and thanksgiving.
I agree with most of what you say, but also have to say that we are all adults here. I don't check the Mailbox surprise area all the time either. But when September, my birthday month, rolls around I will check the group and send acknowledgements, as we all should do. I agree that Kristin is doing a fine job, but she is also limited as to what she can do. I agree the forum as a whole is a social group, but also those who signed up for the Mailbox surprises did so as an exchange, not only of gifts but as sharing a part of who we are -- the social portion, if you wish. We all agreed to post in the Mailbox surprises received, and optionally in the sent area as well. To not acknowlege a gift within a week of it being received is just plain rude. If a person is ill, she can ask someone else to post a short note for her. Kristin should not have to chase people down and do the level of maintenance on the group she is being forced into.
I'm sorry I haven't sent my February surprise yet to Deloris (Group 5) but I have been away from home so much lately because of DH's dental surgery that I completely forgot to check if I had anyone due a surprise this month. Deloris if you see this message I will get your surprise in the mail (probably from Branson as we are leaving for the retreal on Monday). Please forgive me. I promise to do better in the future.
Kristin, it is a shame that you have to remind and babysit "adults". but just know that the majority of us think you are doing a fantastic job and certainly do not blame you for others who are not living up to their commitments. Must acknowlege reminds me of two of my grandchildren who no longer receive gifts. After 3 warnings that if they could not send thank you notes, or pick up the phone or even email there would be no more gifts. Guess they thought their old Grandma would forget, but alas they no longer get presents.
You just rest girl and know you have done all in your power and faults do not lie with you but with the participant who does not properly participate!
Kathy
nicely stated, Wendy! I'm a newbie and very excited to be in this group!
Karla:
Not a problem, I have had computer problems and STILL can not figure out how to post. Thanks. Deloris