Input Wanted

inyourhonor · #1 October 29th, 2011, 09:00 PM

With certain things being brought to light in the last few days, it was mentioned how some members feel left out and now some feel they don't know others all that well.

Would we like to do a buddy up type thing and spend a good week getting to know your buddy and at the end of the week we post in a thread what we learned about them? Then you of course would keep talking because you're better friends now! We could do this a few times so we could all get to know a few people better. Thoughts?

Also, it was brought up in FB chat the other night about doing another Christmas Ornament Exchange. Would we like to?

I am hesitant since we've had 2 people in our last two exchanges bail and not hold up their ends. They both have left our group and if they do come back they will not be allowed participate in another exchange.

I am okay with setting it up, I cannot participate with the move and not be able to provide back up ornament in case someone falls through.

The rules would be MUCH stricter this time. It was suggested all planning and discussion be in the Cabana (which we ask to get the password with the requirements that you have 12 main board posts a month and keep them up) and again if you bail (unless something really happens and you keep in contact with Kristy and I) you wouldn't be allowed in anymore exchanges.

Thoughts, ideas and such?

inyourhonor · #2 October 29th, 2011, 09:11 PM

What do you all think about the stipulations on the Ornament exchange, or do you have a few ideas of your own?

I'm also looking for input on how we'd like to have them run.

MamaAnna · #3 October 29th, 2011, 09:21 PM

I wouldn't take part in an exchange simply because we don't celebrate Christmas, but I do like the idea and hope that you can avoid the problems you had last year.

On the other, I like the idea of giving people a nudge to talk, but I don't like the idea of posting about them at the end of the week. I might talk to some people about things I'm not as comfortable talking about with others and wouldn't necessarily like them to be posted on the board. Take Miranda as an example. We may talk more about religious things, but I would hesitate to be open even though we share the same beliefs if I knew she was going to have to turn around and summarize them for everybody. I'll gladly answer questions if people ask, it just feels weird to know a week of conversations would turn into a biography that I have no control over. Does that make sense?

inyourhonor · #4 October 29th, 2011, 09:40 PM

Very good point Anna. What if maybe we shared one non very personal thing we learned and talked about our experience or something? We don't have to share anything deep and what not.

I don't want to create a thread with "ok, switch!" I don't want it to feel like speed dating haha.

inyourhonor · #5 October 29th, 2011, 09:47 PM

I can post on the fb group that there are new posts regarding it, but all planning would be done in there. To take place, I think you (general) need to be an active poster on the main boards. While I think our FB group is nice it is taking a lot away from here and as host, I want you all to post here. As I've said before, without this place, we wouldn't have met each other! So like I've done in the past, post the link or a reminder to check the boards but the posts be made on the boards.

We can vote on that. I believe we had a set limit. I think the limit for the birthday exchange is what you're thinking of when it was mentioned on possibly doing 2 different ones. I think with an ornament exchange we only need one. That is my thought though.

MamaAnna · #6 October 29th, 2011, 09:53 PM

I would be fine with sharing a little something, just not everything. I know with that sense of privacy removed there's no way I'd just open up to people. There's a lot I don't post on JM and it is for a reason.

inyourhonor · #7 October 29th, 2011, 10:21 PM

I wasn't thinking we'd post every single thing we learned, but an idea of what we got from them, you know? That we learned a good deal that we didn't learn before, no specifics but letting it be known in a way that it wasn't a complete failure. I hope I'm making since, I have like 3 things going on in my brain right now between the pr and planning our trip in less than 2 weeks, I'm trying to not do a cross over between the two haha.

inyourhonor · #8 October 29th, 2011, 10:23 PM

Basically a check in. Yeah, I learned a lot I didn't know before! Something like that. I don't want you to pin point everything like "Did you know Sally has hairy knees?!"

Jeanie915 · #9 October 29th, 2011, 10:24 PM

Yes and Yes.

I like the idea of only posting a little we learned about our "buddy." If we posted too much then it would be hard for the next person to learn about the new buddy. It would be hard to open up to a person we hardly know in a weeks time and share personal info. But if we only did one fact then it would give room for the next week's buddy to learn more.

As far as Christmas exchanges: I think there should be a price limit and active involvement requirement. I think last year we did a card exchange (for those that had a smaller budget) and ornament exchange. I still like the idea of both. And even though you wouldn't do the ornament exchange, (Marisa) you could still be a part of the card exchange.

Rochelle7 · #10 October 29th, 2011, 10:31 PM

I'd do the ornament exchange and I'd like the buddy thing. Since I was such a late comer it would give me a chance to get to know ppl better. One reason I don't go to the FB group is bc I have no clue who 80% of the mom's are. But, I like JM's format better than FB's anyways so that's the main reason. I like the idea of keeping the buddy experience within the Cabana.

Back to the ornament exchange. Would they need to be purchased or could it be something made at home? I have a cute idea involving Heidi so that's why I ask.

inyourhonor · #11 October 29th, 2011, 10:35 PM

Oh yes Jeanie, you're right, we did do a card exchange too! I totally spaced on that

Rebecca, handmade is always accepted!

Your post also brings me to a new idea, we could connect our facebooks to our usernames on here in a post in the cabana. Thoughts? Or on facebook, I can create a document with everyone's real name connected to their username on here. That way you can participate on there if you'd like to from time to time or just at least know who is who, you know?

A week was just a toss out idea, how long would we like to do it? Or would we like to stick with it. My ideas were just the tosser ups, you guys can come up with the final length and such

Rochelle7 · #12 October 29th, 2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inyourhonor

Oh yes Jeanie, you're right, we did do a card exchange too! I totally spaced on that

Rebecca, handmade is always accepted!

Your post also brings me to a new idea, we could connect our facebooks to our usernames on here in a post in the cabana. Thoughts? Or on facebook, I can create a document with everyone's real name connected to their username on here. That way you can participate on there if you'd like to from time to time or just at least know who is who, you know?

A week was just a toss out idea, how long would we like to do it? Or would we like to stick with it. My ideas were just the tosser ups, you guys can come up with the final length and such

Everything is posting out of order again..

I think a sticky in the Cabana and on FB would be good for keeping up with who is who on FB. But, I feel like I'm probably the only one who has trouble figuring it out. So, I hope it wouldn't all be for my benefit bc my feelings wouldn't be hurt if we didn't KWIM? But, still it would be cool.

Rochelle7 · #13 October 29th, 2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lala2007

I like the idea of a card exchange. I have never did the ornament exchange.

I'm willing to do either one or both on that account..

I<3HelloKitty · #14 October 30th, 2011, 12:35 AM

I think an ornament or card exchange is a cute idea and I'm up for whatever people decide on the getting to know you stuff.

Juliebird18 · #15 October 30th, 2011, 12:45 AM

I don't think I could open up to people in just a weeks time. If I know people I am an open book. But if I don't really know you then I don't feel comfortable sharing information and in light of what happened this weekend, I know I would not feel comfortable giving out my personal info to have things shared about me with all.

inyourhonor · #16 October 30th, 2011, 01:14 AM

Julie, I totally understand and the way I was thinking it would be done is to have sign ups. Because I wouldn't just pair up whoever randomly and one person not wanting to do it, you know? Anyways, there would be a sign up of who'd like to do this and then you can share whatever info you want. You don't have to get personal if you don't want but you can just chit chat with someone new, get a feel for that person and such. I'm not asking you to spill everything, your most deepest darkest secrets and even after lets say its' set for a week, you can continue to talk to that person afterwards in hopes a new friendship is built. Just a thought

mrsjl · #17 October 30th, 2011, 05:17 AM

I love both of those ideas!

Irish_Wristwatch · #18 October 30th, 2011, 05:19 AM

me too, I was just going to ask if we were doing an ornament exchange this year

sunshyne57 · #19 October 30th, 2011, 05:20 AM

I'm with Lori. Both are great ideas!

mrsjl · #20 October 30th, 2011, 05:55 AM

we could do it in the cabana, but not everyone goes in there so we'd have to make it well known (maybe in our fb group) that there is new information in there and that's where to find it.

are we going to do one price limit? did we do two last year? I've only done an ornament exchange twice so I don't really remember.