2012 official SECRET SANTA/RESCUE ELVES sign-up - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

lolonurse · 09-11-2012, 11:00 AM

2012 DT SECRET SANTA/RESCUE ELVES

Welcome – It’s the *Fifth* Annual DT Secret Santa/Rescue Elves gift exchange and holiday extravaganza!!

PLEASE take the time to read the rules completely, and be prepared to follow them if you want to participate. (PS - You need a sense of humor to participate - the folks who join this merry, raucous adventure tend to be playful, irreverent and impish, and if you take things "personally", this isn't for you!)

Please DO NOT sign up unless you are going to follow through. If you sign up and then disappoint your expectant Dober-friends, Santa and the Chanukah Mensch and all the elves and reindeer and a flock of angry eye-pokey pigeons will descend upon you, and flog you senseless with seasonal ribbon!!

So be forewarned!!

Below, you will find a VERY long set of instructions and explanations about the Secret Santa happening. I think I’ve incorporated all the questions folks have sent me over the last several years, so it is about as complete as can be. Please READ IT thoroughly, because if you PM me questions, I will refer you right back here.

And now... to the official sign-up announcement:

The Rules:

I can’t emphasize this strongly enough - DO NOT SIGN UP UNLESS YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE!!! READ ALL THE RULES…

If you sign up but then do not send your Dober-partner a package, your name and your unhappy victims will be posted, and you will be publicly shamed.

- Monetary limits - please be prepared to spend a minimum of 25-30 dollars on your gifts. This does NOT include postage! No maximum is set, but use your best judgment - more than 50 dollars should not be necessary, though based on the last 4 years’ packages, we have a lot of VERY generous and indulgent (and shopaholic) members! Gifts should be dog focused, and include at least some of the items from their wish/like/need lists. You can get their humans small gifts if you would like, but please make sure gifts for the dogs are primary! ((If you send early, Parcel Post is generally the most reasonable – but if you procrastinate, and have to use Priority Mail or FedEx, it will be a lot more. If you use the Post Office, pay the extra 80 cents and get tracking/delivery confirmation!! If you are sending custom made or personalized items, or to another country, insure your package. Shipping to other countries may require customs forms, and we have some members who can advise us how not to have our packages stalled at a border!))

Rescue Elves gifts: DT members are magnificent… they feel very strongly that they like to share their holiday good fortune with less fortunate Dobes. Our Rescue Elves holiday drive chooses several Doberman rescues with volunteers who are DT members, and each group gets several elves to shower the needy Dobes with toys, treats and gifts like blankies and sweaters; medications and other care supplies; or a gift card for Petco, PetSmart, WalMart, etc., for general supplies. When you sign up, let me know if you want to participate. It is totally up to each individual, as I know there are many people who give throughout the year, or who work or volunteer in rescue and foster. These packages are separate from the SS gifts - last year, we had over 50% participation in both portions and a few Rescue Elves only - maybe this year, we can bring that up to 75%!

- People all over the world are encouraged to participate, so when you sign up, PLEASE mention in your PM to me if you are willing to ship overseas or out of your country, or even Mars (I believe I read that one of our members is residing there part-time now) - if so, I will try to match you with someone who is far away!! It’s quite thrilling. People outside the US/Canada must expect to ship overseas.

-Deadline to sign up is 11:59PM Mountain time, October 27th, 2012 –

I will PM each person their info by November 2nd. If you are participating in the Rescue Elves, I’ll PM your rescue’s info by November 7th. (A very few people said there ‘wasn’t enough time’ to shop or order things online and still mail the packages in time, so now there’ll be no excuse!)

Deadline to ship out all gifts will be December 1st for overseas packages, December 5th to/from or within Canada, and Dec 10th within the U.S. Please have your SS gifts shipped by then! SHIPPING TO/FROM CANADA or OVERSEAS – PLEASE mark your packages as holiday gifts, so they aren’t held up in Customs for weeks! (perhaps some of the folks who had experiences with this last year would post pointers on this for us). Rescue Elves packages can be shipped any time after they’ve been assigned, but no later than December 10.

The Process”:
If you want to participate, sign up before the deadline. That's what a deadline is for!

PM me (“lolonurse”) the following information, with the subject "SECRET SANTA":

1- your username, your real name, and your gender (not everyone knows all members’ genders, some names are not gender-specific).
2-A full mailing address!
3-Your dogs’ names, genders and ages, and their colors if you like – For the purposes of this exchange, PLEASE only include your Dobermans (unless you have no Doberman, then you are allowed 1 honorary Dobe) – we have many people with multiple breeds and species, but that could get very dicey, so we limit it to our mutual breed. (if you are asking for dog apparel like a collar, sweater, jammies, etc, please include your dog’s measurements – height at withers, chest girth, length – base of neck to beginning of tail, neck circumference).
4-Your dog’s likes and dislikes
5-Any items you do NOT want your dogs to have (eg, some folks don’t let their Dobes have stuffies or rawhide…)
6-Any food or other allergies your dog(s) have!!!!
7-A wish list of what your dogs might want, enjoy or need.
8-Also, please note if you want to limit (or not limit) the number of dogs you would be buying for – if you have 1 or 2 dogs, and you don’t want to buy gifts for 6, say so. I generally match the numbers as closely as I can. (1 only, 2-3, 4 or more)
9-Lastly, please indicate the following:
a) Willing to send to a distant member? If not, – it’s perfectly OK – but I need to know.
b) Participating in Rescue Elves? We send care packages of toys, blankies, collars, towels, snacks, shampoos, flea meds, gift certificates, or whatever, to some of our most active and deserving Doberman Rescue organizations. It's truly a wonderful part of this activity. You will get assigned to 1 rescue, and get their wish list as well as your SS participant’s.

I will confirm that I have your information (please note, if you do not get a return PM from me within 2 days, send your info again!)

After sign-up is closed, I’ll get all the names together, divide them by groups as far as who is willing to ship far away, number of Dobes (FYI - if you have 6 Dobermans, I will NOT give you a 1-Dobe household), who’s doing rescue, etc. Then I’ll stick the names in a pillowcase with liverwurst, and let Willie and Annie reach in and pick at random, and will PM each person their lucky member’s info.
I will PM each person their lucky member’s info by November 2nd.
! will PM each participant their Rescue Elves info by November 7th.

The deadlines are firm, but you can ship anytime AFTER December 1st. You can put your name on the return address if you like, or just “Secret Santa”, but you will be “exposed” after Christmas, if your recipient hasn’t already figured it out. You need to put your return address, though, just in case the package gets lost or damaged... For the Rescue Elves packages, those may be sent at any time after you receive your victims' info, as rescues need "holiday" packages 365 days a year, and every package or donation is a celebration.

Please realize that some folks have 1 dog, others have 3 or 4 or more. That being the case, some dogs will get 4 or 5 or more items, because they are only children, while others will get 1 or 2 each, because they have to share - it's just the way it is. No-one has to buy 3 gifts each, for 4 dogs. We don't want anyone spending Christmas under a bridge, while some gang of black, red, blue and fawn monsters shred their 19th squeaky dragon!

You can post vague hints, teases, etc. You can talk about your shopping trip, if your dog went with you, etc. Post when you have mailed a package, post when you have received a package – and as Christmas approaches, PM me if you have NOT received a package yet, and I’ll contact your Santa. (Don’t PM me on Dec 15th just because you’re anxious… after the 20th.) Some people send their victims cards and notes, to torment them. It’s fun, as long as you don’t give away your identity! Send the note to a friend in another city, in an addressed, stamped envelope – and have them stick it in the mailbox, to throw your nosy victim off the trail! Do NOT mention any dogs’ names, or address anyone by their name – try not to let your identity, or your victims’, slip out.

Don’t have online items sent directly to your victim unless you can time it so they arrive after your regular package, and you send an anonymous card to warn them not to open until Christmas. Last year, people were getting things via UPS or USPS, and had NO idea they were gifts from their SS. And if you do order online, be timely, so you get them in time to include them in the package, before the deadline.

- There are MANY reasonably priced web sites, and many holiday sales at both pet and regular stores … shop SMART! If you know of great toy, apparel and/or training supply sites or sales, please do share. There are always great tips from members. And many sites have free or reduced shipping specials.

Some people like to wrap each gift individually – I don’t think the dogs care (mine don’t), so it’s up to you if you want to wrap them or just stuff them in a box.

About December 1st, I will start a reveal thread for photos of pups and their packages (since some people and dogs just can’t wait till Christmas Day anyway!!). It may be a bit early, but at least it will be there for people to use if they just were too giddy to wait, and got their packages early! Plus Chanukah starts December 8th, and our Jewish Dobes may want to open their packages then! Everyone MUST post at least 1 photo of their dog/dogs with their gifts - this is part of the fun and one of the rules - Santas want to see their victims' Dober-smiley faces. (Again, beware the EPP’s if you do not!)

After Christmas, I will post the list of who was whose Secret Santas, in case any members didn’t figure theirs out.

Well, I think that is everything, but I'm sure other things will crop up.
On your marks, get set . . . GO! It's never too early to be merry! hoho, Lolo

(OOOHH!!! did anyone noticed that I shortened it up a lot this year??)

**dax0402** · 09-11-2012, 03:40 PM

PM signup sent!

**Brandy&Melanie** · 09-11-2012, 03:42 PM

Are these all the rules? Or is there a link to a rule page that I missed? If these are the rules, then hooray! I will send my PM!

blueberry · 09-11-2012, 04:19 PM

Will PM later!

missabaldwin · 09-11-2012, 04:45 PM

Gah! So excited! Filling out the survey and waiting for the husband to give the 'wishlist' a thought. Will be PMing tonight! Thank again for putting this all together again!

lolonurse · 09-11-2012, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandy&Allison

Are these all the rules? Or is there a link to a rule page that I missed? If these are the rules, then hooray! I will send my PM!

LOL!!!!! Those are 'all' the rules ... Have to laugh, because many folks just groan at how MANY there are! Thank you for making me smile!

DogsR4Life · 09-11-2012, 07:03 PM

Finally, a year i can join

OliviaB · 09-11-2012, 07:08 PM

YAY

Sending my PM now. You are SO awesome to do this again

Chelse · 09-11-2012, 08:27 PM

I am soooo excited?!?!?!??! I can't wait for my victum!

workingk9s · 09-11-2012, 09:31 PM

I love you lolo.

Will send PM once I measure as a certain Dobergirl's old jammies are in tatters so I need to measure.
/
Did I mention that I love you for taking the helm on this

Chelse · 09-11-2012, 10:55 PM

yes I meant to say that Lolo is amazing for doing this! Thank-you so much

Meldrew79 · 09-11-2012, 11:07 PM

Woot! So excited to do this! Thanks Lolo!

**NOX** · 09-11-2012, 11:08 PM

I signed up, Gimme Chelse as I already have her addy!

SoCalGirl · 09-12-2012, 09:37 AM

Yay! Elke is super excited to sign up. She had so much fun picking out gifts last year and is raring to go shopping again!

Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this, Lolo! I know it takes a lot of time and effort and it is much appreciated by the Dobes (er, well, the owners).

PatchworkRobot · 09-12-2012, 01:00 PM

I''m so excited and lolo, you are incredibly wonderful for organizing this year after year!

I will hopefully be sending my PM to you later today. Be prepared, future victim(s), as I will be spoiling the **** out of you!!

lolonurse · 09-12-2012, 01:06 PM

Wow ... don't know if it's how rough this year has been for so many of us, or maybe the crazy heat wave that hit the whole country making everyone want to feel Christmas sooner rather than later... but we are already at 58 people signing up, eager as heck for holiday cheer, feel-good-itude, and fun! ...and maybe some cooler weather that holiday season brings. We just moved from hot to hotter (ugh), and I know we're eager for crisp fall days! Thank you all for the kind words - they make me smile. Yes, it's a lot of work, but the rewards are huge - especially when I see many people sharing with rescues. I'm proud of you!

dobermansrule · 09-12-2012, 01:19 PM

Q is offering to be the gift warehouse - send them all to him

Sam1491 · 09-12-2012, 02:38 PM

Hopefully signing up soon, just have to look into a few things

love this idea!

**Brandy&Melanie** · 09-12-2012, 03:02 PM

Signing up soon!! I just need to measure Brandy for her *crosses fingers* JAMMIES!

AnonymouslyYours · 09-12-2012, 03:21 PM

Yay! Roz and I are super excited!

Thank you so much for organizing this! x

Meldrew79 · 09-12-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Signing up soon!! I just need to measure Brandy for her *crosses fingers* JAMMIES!

Must be a Brandy thing, she's got jammies on her list too!

ZeldaRules · 09-12-2012, 03:29 PM

I know Prime will be so depressed that I can't afford to participate this year. He had so much fun opening his gifts last year. I will enjoy looking forward to the hint and photo threads!!

Sorceress_Mage · 09-12-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaRules

I know Prime will be so depressed that I can't afford to participate this year. He had so much fun opening his gifts last year. I will enjoy looking forward to the hint and photo threads!!

That is QUITE a shame. Hero really enjoyed his gifts from you and is still enjoying a few of them. That was and is a gorgeous collar you got him and I love it (I'm sure he loves it too).

Well, then again, I know how it is. I wanted to participate the year before and couldn't. I don't know about this year; however, if there is a way I'll be pming Lola.

Jonesy'sMom · 09-12-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolonurse

(OOOHH!!! did anyone noticed that I shortened it up a lot this year??)

This was NOT shorter!!!!

PM in-work

I am going to be more creative this year I promise!!!!

Also for anyone reading this....

If you want a collar or jammies... or something else that requires a size PLEASE put that in your PM

It helps

ZeldaRules · 09-12-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorceress_Mage

That is QUITE a shame. Hero really enjoyed his gifts from you and is still enjoying a few of them. That was and is a gorgeous collar you got him and I love it (I'm sure he loves it too).

Well, then again, I know how it is. I wanted to participate the year before and couldn't. I don't know about this year; however, if there is a way I'll be pming Lola.

It is a shame! It's one of those things that you just look forward to the whole year. I enjoyed spoiling Hero, he is one handsome Doberman and collar shopping was fun. I applied to go back to school so hopefully soon enough I'll be living comfortably with a better job and can afford to do fun things again.