wharvey

Official 2015 Secret Santa Thread!
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IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR FLYERTALKERS!

I may be crazy.... but here we go again!

Greetings from your Flyertalk Secret Santa coordinator William (wharvey).

A few of you already messaged me about this annual experience!

Santa is still hoping for a new job in the Athens area, so if you want to make him real happy…. Hire him! 

I am happy to step forward for YEAR 13 and coordinate this for the Flyertalk community. Hard to believe this tradition has continued for so long. I hope the community appreciates this experience. While I no longer personally participate in FT Secret Santa, this is my small way to return something to this tremendous community! I appreciate hearing about the gifts exchanges and the friendships established as a result of this event.

This is the official thread for the 2015 Secret Santa Extravaganza. Any questions or comments should be limited to this thread or private messaged to me and no other threads should be started. Any private messages sent to me should have a subject of : <your FT handle> Secret Santa 2015. (and yes, you should replace “your FT handle” with your ACTUAL handle; that was an issue for some the last few years!)

I hope many of you choose to participate in this years’ event. I would love to have lots of new faces joining in the festivities. Take the challenge to "recruit" one new FTer to join in the festivities this year! After you sign up, you will get the Santa icon in your profile to show that you are part of the festivities! Feel free to link your Signature to this thread!

While you are thinking about what to get for your FT "friend", consider also purchasing a gift for a child or making a donation to your favorite charity. If you do not have a particular charity in mind, please consider a Flyertalk sanctioned charity, such as Kiva. Please do not use your Secret Santa gift as your donation.

Below are the rules for the 2015 Secret Santa event:

1. Any questions on the Secret Santa process should be directed to me via this thread or via private message (please do not use email). Subject should always be: <your FT handle> Secret Santa 2015. (and yes, you should replace “your FT handle” with your ACTUAL handle) I plan to respond through the PM system so make sure you have enabled that feature if you want to participate. I also recommend that you set up automatic email notification of messages.

2. The expected minimum on your gift purchase is $50 USD and does NOT include shipping, tracking and packaging costs. Of course, I am sure no one will mind gifts of higher value or certain paper from airlines and hotels that are "priceless". I expect your gift to meet the $50 USD minimum. I do not enjoy dealing with members who get “cheated”. Again, this minimum is exclusive of shipping and packaging costs. Also, plan to send something personal to people; NOT donations on their behalf to a charity organization. This should be a minimum of $50 out-of-pocket; NOT a $50 item you got on clearance for $10!

CONTINUED FROM LAST TEN SEASONS: If you are interested, you may volunteer to be a Secret Santa for up to five different Flyertalkers. If you sign up for one, two or five... it means you will also have one, two or five FTers with your name... UNDERSTAND, there is no guarantee for you to be assigned more than one person. Santa reserves final decision rights on this plan!! I also reserve the right to limit participation based on FT tenure or problems in years past. You may not receive all assignements at the same time. Be patient!

This is my thirteenth year of running Secret Santa. While my memory and files are good, know that it is possible you may get someone again that you had before… I try to cross check… but too many people are involved to be 100% perfect. Feel free to tell me that info if you remember...

CONTINUED BY POPULAR DEMAND: Ever wished you got a specific person as your Secret person to gift? Now is your chance. Again this year, you can "request" particular individuals you would like to get assigned to you for your gift buying. No guarantee... but I will do my best.

3. Secret Santas have the option of remaining anonymous. I will not disclose names nor addresses of anyone who participates to anyone other than their Secret Santa. I expect that any information you receive from me will not be shared with anyone else.

4. The coordinator assumes no responsibility for delivery or non-delivery of gifts. I want this to be fun and hope that everyone who participates will have fun and get into the holiday spirit. Understand, however, that failure to deliver will result in your being denied participation in future years. I highly recommend that you "track" your gifts so we do not have issues of people saying they do not receive gifts you say you shipped. Iantolee, JEDP, Chang Hung, Babybuns29, AntinSeattle, HSXAgent, DEVIS, MarySunshine, Tfmpa, Jim_USAIR, Icorproadie, Adam100, Tokyotraveler, Mrstaralliance, Phoenixdude, Woodyth, fsfsfsfs, USA18DCA and Neuroid are on Santa’s bad boy list for failing to deliver gifts in the past even though they received gifts… so they will not be allowed to participate this year. In addition, delivering gifts more than 6 months after the holiday does not count as delivering. This has happened in the past, even to me. Everyone has a right to expect a gift during the holiday season. If you cannot commit to this, do not participate. I also highly recommend that you include a delivery verification mechanism when you ship, that takes care of a lot of problems we have had in the past.

5. You must be registered on Flyertalk.com at the time you send your private message. IF you are a lurker, you must register on Flyertalk.com before becoming a Secret Santa participant. You may also want to click and post in the ""Who We Are" thread and introduce yourself to the Flyertalk Community and give your Santa some clues.

6. Deadline to participate is November 20th, 2015 at 5 pm Athens, Georgia USA time. If you wish to participate, you MUST send a PRIVATE MESSAGE to me through the FT system. Subject Line: <your FT handle> Secret Santa 2015. For example, it should say "wharvey Secret Santa 2015" where you replace "wharvey" with your FT handle. In this private message, you must provide the following information and PLEASE answer the questions in the order provided below as that will help me input the data into my tracking documents. In fact, please just copy the questions below into the private message window and answer the questions. I make no promises of anyone getting into the process if they miss this date and do not follow the process as detailed.

a. Your full name (first and last name):

b. Your FULL mailing address for your gift. This address should be one where you can receive a package in December.

c. Your email address (must be verifiable):

d. Your Flyertalk handle:

e. Date you joined Flyertalk:

f. Your Gender:

g. Maximum number of times you wish to participate: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5):

h: Specific FTer (if any) you would like assigned to you:

i: Specific FTer(s) you have been assigned in the past:

j. Some facts about yourself that might help your Secret Santa shop for your gift. Please make sure they are helpful hints... (DO not be shy... is there something particular you would like to get? From a particular airline, hotel, specific travel product?) Please provide real hints/clues to people about yourself. Also be as specific as possible.

k. A "Yes" or "No" as to whether or not you are willing to send a gift outside your country. If at all possible, please be willing to ship out of your own country... especially for USA residents.

AGAIN, please help Santa out by using the SUBJECT LINE as requested.

If I receive enough participants early on, I may go ahead and match up members so you can get a head start on your gift buying. I would then provide a second match-up after the November 20th deadline. Santa has to get his rest in before the mad rush of the holiday season!

Please be sure to read Santa updates throughout this thread!!! I also encourage you to have fun and post in this thread often... tell us what you have gotten in the past, the fun you are having buying, anything related to this holiday event!

To read threads from previous years:

2014 Official Secret Santa Thread

2013 Official Secret Santa Thread

2012 Official Secret Santa Thread

2011 Official Secret Santa Thread

2010 Official Secret Santa Thread

2009 Official Secret Santa Thread

2008 Official Secret Santa Thread

2007 Official Secret Santa Thread

2006 Official Secret Santa Thread

2005 Official Secret Santa Thread

2004 Official Secret Santa Thread

2003 Official Secret Santa Thread


I am glad to step forward again this year and be your Secret Santa coordinator and hope you find it to be another wonderful experience of this great Flyertalk community.

NOTE: Do make sure you check in on this thread often... Santa announcements often get made here... and I do not want you to miss any of the updates!

William

wharvey

This post is where I will list all the members who are choosing to participate in Secret Santa.

If you are on this list, it means I received a Private Message from you that met the requirements.

This list reflects all Private Messages I have received that met the requirements as of the edit date at the bottom of this post. If you sent me a PM and are not on this list, it means you did not complete the submission properly. I am not sending personal messages out to correct, please read the instructions and resubmit. Most errors are in how the title of the PM is titled. Your handle should be FIRST... and it should be your FT handle, not wharvey! The number beside your handle is the number of gifts you committed to send.

Thanks,

Santa

380fanatic - 2
98103 - 2
Aaucello - 4
Akhpp8395 - 1
Amrivlin - 4
Andersonlutt - 1
Annexation - 5
Austin Fathman - 1
B7e7us - 1
Balima - 3
Bayhouse - 5
Beautifuleva - 3
Billscann - 2
Bravada04 - 1
Bune - 1
Bxian - 3
Canforce - 3
Catch330 - 2
Catman - 1
Cdtraveler - 2
Cistavoda - 2
Ckidder331 - 5
Cometcoins - 5
Compubit - 3
CPH-Flyer - 2
Danam - 2
Deds1 - 1
Devildawg1960 - 5
Dibby - 2
Diburning - 1
Drewgzy - 2
Egoods - 2
EliteWeb - 2
Ella0941 - 2
EnglishSmoke - 2
Erikatcuse - 1
Eunduklee - 2
Evanderm - 2
Extramileage - 2
Fadynaime - 1
Fleyem2thamoun - 1
Flipstah - 3
Flyerred - 2
FlyingCow - 4
Fragola - 3
Gherg - 1
Glamette - 2
Grbflyer - 2
Gsch - 2
Gsegall - 3
Hijiji - 1
Hockeymom93 - 1
James_Yuen - 1
Jameslon - 3
Jamesteroh - 1
Jerjeffr - 2
Jinxy - 3
Jturner7 - 1
Kauppias - 1
Kenme1 - 1
Kerimarsha - 2
Kevinflyaway - 1
KimmyAA - 4
Kipper - 3
KSinNYC - 1
Levenhopper - 5
Lisabeth - 3
Lisamcgu - 1
Litning - 2
Lm225 - 3
Lukasvolker - 2
Madguy2 - 2
Malexander - 2
Marcia3641 - 2
Marcoua - 1
Mbassom 2
Mdovenmuehler - 2
Miffsc - 3
Miko2a - 3
Mileage Lover - 2
Milz02315 - 2
Missydarlin - 1
Mp2 - 1
Mrdplus - 3
Navycoffee - 1
Nclaxx18 - 1
Nicksterguy - 2
Nomadic.Relief - 2
Nrdk - 2
Nwncl - 1
Nzqjyb - 4
Oenophilist - 5
Ohlradio - 2
Onfo - 2
Oliver2002 - 1
Onthewaytoadventure - 2
Pbjag - 2
Poohbear808 - 1
PSUPaul - 2
Redhead - 5
Richard Chen - 1
Rockinron - 2
Rubyredcamaro - 3
Rzamora - 2
Rxfleming - 5
Sahiljain22 - 1
SalishSea - 2
Samosa - 2
Sandratravels - 2
Santina91 - 2
Scatscatkitty - 1
Shuttle_Endeavor - 2
Singtx - 1
Snowcrash51295 - 1
Swisscircle - 4
SteveHK - 3
Steveman518 - 4
TangoThree - 2
Taseas - 1
Tblack15 - 1
Thadocta - 1
The Deal Mommy - 5
Theacendahole - 2
Thehowieee - 3
Thorpeflyer - 5
Tokyo Foodie - 5
TravelingFitzMe - 1
Tzvilev - 3
UA191 - 1
UTPharmdoc - 3
Vvbkumar - 2
Whatthemiguel - 1
Wirunner - 2
Woofly - 1
Yqmymm - 1
Yunicorner - 1
Yvrorange - 4

wharvey

Hold for future Santa announcements!

November 8th - First round of assignments private messaged to members

November 11th - Second round of assignments private messaged to members

NOTE: No additional assignments will be sent until AFTER the sign up period ends on November 20th

HeadElf53

Why just the other day, MrsHeadElf53 and her grandson PinStripeFlyer were wondering when they would be getting rid of me (by sending me down to the workshop).

I planned on waiting until after Labor day in the US, but when Santawharvey calls... it's off to the batpole for me.

Truth be told, it's pretty dusty down here. I haven't been to the workshop since New Years Day.

Here's a fun video of the old man and some of my staff.

Here's a photo of Santa that appeared in Miracle on 34th Street, where the real HeadElf53 once worked. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350324/

And yes, Santa really did speak Dutch to that orphan.

HeadElf53 looks forward to assisting Santa and you in preparing for Secret Santa. Feel free to PM me if you need a 3rd person to make inquires of your Santee. Everything is confidental.

Jinxy

In for the 5th or 6th time??! Woo hoo !

steveman518

Yes! Excited and ready to go!

BelfastFlyer

2015 has just flown in..

theacendahole

First timer. Im excited!

miko2a

Xmas, already!!!!But, I'm still waiting for one of my gifts from last year This will be my second year and I learned a lot from last year. Had loads of fun trying to find the perfect gift for my giftee's. Of course I'm going to do it this years. And fingers crossed for no bad santas this year.

PSUPaul

Last year was the first for me and it was a lot of fun! Ill message later when i get to my computer to join for the second year.

And thank you wharvey for all the work you do herding cats that are otherwise known as flyertalk members.

Fragola

After 2 years of membership and reading about this event, I'm jumping in. Sounds like it will be a fun adventure.

I've sent in my info including a rather verbose and detailed write up about my interests and gift suggestions. Sorry for the length but instructions did say "DO NOT BE SHY..."

DrewGzy

First timer and looking forward to it.....

Would it be appropriate to mention what sort of gifts I can offer (i.e. if anyone wants anything Russian let me know)? Guessing that might be hard to coordinate and the Internet makes things easier to get nowadays but I wanted to ask in case anyone is looking for something more authentic.

wharvey

Gang,

I hate to be a broken record... PLEASE read the instructions.

I have received six entries so far that failed to include their FT handle in the title of the PM to me. This is critical as I forward your messages to your Santa(s) and use the PM title to help me... so I do not have to get into each PM at assignment time.

If you fail to do that one thing, you will not be included and I do not promise to let you know.

kipper

Yay!!! I'm in again! Thank you for organizing this again, wharvey!

kipper

I love when my recipients give a good idea about themselves. It's far better to give lots of information as opposed to minimal information!