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Secret Santa 2017 Official Thread

Old Nov 17, 2017, 1:32 am
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Last edit by: steveman518
The wiki is an UNOFFICIAL record of gifts received. Remember to PM wharvey when you send and receive gifts!
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Gifts Received
aquamarinesteph #1
AStarr #1 #2
AtomicLush #1
bergamini #1 #2
b00mer89 #1 #2
Bravada04 #1
BXIAN #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
canforce #1
Catman #1
CDTraveler #1 #2
Cjacq #1
ckidder331 #1 #2 #3
compubit #1 #2 #3 #4
CPH-Flyer #1 #2 #3
Dark Blue #1 #2
Deds1 #1 #2 #3
dee1843 #1
DeepUnderground #1 #2
DevilDawg1960 #1 #2 #3
diburning #1 #2 (part 2) #3
Dogmatick #1 #2
erikatcuse #1
flo-e #1
FlyingCow #1 #2 #3
ginoa724 #1
Gregor #1
gsch #1 #2
HeavenlyJane #1 #2
holloway1000 #1
HWGeeks #1
iMedic #1
jamesteroh #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6
jetset09 #1
jcnkc #1
Jinxy #1 #2
JoelThomas #1
jondabomb #1
jsds #1
Karl Gustav Annus #1 #2
kauppias #1 #2
kipper #1 (part 2) #2 #3 #4
kirkwoodj #1
linzbh #1
Lisabeth #1 #2 #3
malexander131 #1
MappingChick #1 #2 #3 #4
Marcia3641 #1
mario02423 #1
mdbe #1
mdovenmuehler #1 #2
Meneer Guggenheimer #1 #2
Micp3208 #1
miko2a #1 #2
MissChele #1 #2 #3 #4
missydarlin #1
MrDplus #1 #2
nomadic.relief #1 #2
nwncl #1
obunewbie17 #1
ohlradio #1 #2
omriba #1
onetess #1
onlyairfare #1 #2
onthewaytoadventure #1 #2
PandaSoPink #1
Recondite #1
Redhead #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
samosa #1 #2
sammyindc #1
sandratravels #1 #2
santina91 #1 #2
ScGhost0 #1 #2
shutterbugguy #1 #2 #3
smc333 #1
spartacus #1
sperkins921 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
steveman518 #1 #2 #3 (part 2)
stingtx #1
sweetcreamytea #1 #2
tcl #1 #2 (part 2)
Thatguyatthebar #1
token385 #1 #2 #3
TokyoFoodie #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Tpa-flyer #1
tzvilev #1 #2 #3
WIRunner #1 #2 #3
WriterGirlLinds #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
yunicorner #1 #2
YVRorange #1
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Secret Santa 2017 Official Thread

Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:31 am
  #1  
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,027
Secret Santa 2017 Official Thread

[SIZE="4"]Official 2017 Secret Santa Thread! [/SIZE]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR FLYERTALKERS!

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

I am stepping forward for YEAR 15 of this event 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 2017 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 2017. (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. Please do not use your Secret Santa gift as your donation.

Below are the rules for the 2017 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 2017. (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! Please keep any receipts proving you met the minimum so we do not have an issue.

CONTINUED FROM LAST TWELVE 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 assignments at the same time. Be patient! Exception: Due to some problems in the past... if this is your first time participating, you can only sign up for one Santa.

This is my fifteenth 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. EnglishSmoke, Bayhouse, Egoods, Iantolee, JEDP, Chang Hung, Babybuns29, AntinSeattle, HSXAgent, DEVIS, MarySunshine, Tfmpa, Jim_USAIR, Icorproadie, Adam100, Tokyotraveler, Mrstaralliance, Phoenixdude, Woodyth, fsfsfsfs, USA18DCA, Neuroid, Marcoua and RedwoodA320 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. In addition, you must have Private Messaging enabled, I do not plan to communicate via email.

6. Deadline to participate is November 13th, 2017 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 2017. For example, it should say "wharvey Secret Santa 2017" 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. Is this your first time participating in Secret Santa?:

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. 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? Also be as specific as possible.

j. 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 13th 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:

2016 Official Secret Santa Thread

2015 Official Secret Santa Thread

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! I recommend you subscribe to this thread.

William

Last edited by wharvey; Aug 28, 2018 at 1:27 pm
wharvey is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:31 am
  #2  
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,027
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. If this is your first time participating, you can only participate one time!

Thanks,

Santa

================================================== =================


Aeisenmann - 1
Angeloedades - 1
Anya Polyachenko - 1
Aquamarinesteph - 1
Astarr - 1
Atomiclush - 1
Beautifuleva - 1
Bergamini - 1
B00mer89 - 1
Bravada04 - 1
Bxian - 3
Canforce - 2
Catman - 1
CDTraveler - 2
Cjacq - 1
Ckidder331 - 4
Compubit - 3
CPH-Flyer - 2
Dark Blue - 2
Debidovey - 2
Deds1 - 2
Dee1843 - 1
Deepunderground - 2
Devildawg1960 - 3
Dfwgolfer1 - 1
Diburning - 3
Dogmatick - 2
Erikatcuse - 2
Flo-e - 1
Flyingcow - 4
Gregor - 1
Gsch - 2
HeavenlyJane - 1
Hockeymom93 - 2
Holloway1000 - 1
Horizontal - 3
Hwgeeks - 1
Ilikepancakes - 1
iMedic - 1
Jamesteroh - 4
Jcnkc - 1
Jcrew7384 - 1
Jetset09 - 1
Jinxy - 3
JoelThomas - 1
Jondabomb - 1
Joshua362 - 5
Jsds - 1
Kaka - 1
Karl Gustav Annus - 1
Kauppias - 3
Kipper - 3
KirkwoodJ - 1
Linzbh - 2
Lisabeth - 3
Malexander131 - 2
Mappingchick - 2
Marcia3641 - 1
Mario02423 - 1
Mdbe - 1
Mdovenmuehler - 2
Meneer Guggenheimer - 1
Merestarks - 1
Micp3208 - 1
Miko2a - 2
Mileage Lover - 2
Milz02315 - 2
MissChele - 4
Missydarlin - 1
MRDPlus - 1
Nclaxx18 - 2
Nomadic.Relief - 2
Nwncl - 2
Obunewbie17 - 1
Ohlradio - 2
Omriba - 1
Onetess - 1
Onthewaytoadventure - 2
Onlyairfare - 2
PandaSoPink - 1
Poohbear808 - 1
Recondite - 1
Redhead - 4
Richard Chen - 1
SammyinDC - 2
Samosa - 2
Sandratravels - 3
Santina91 - 2
SCGhost0 - 1
Shayflyer11 - 1
Shutterbugguy - 3
Singtx - 1
Smc333 - 1
Spartacus - 1
Sperkins921 - 5
Steveman518 - 3
Sweetcreamytea - 1
TCL - 2
Tdnpf - 1
Thatguyatthebar - 2
Token385 - 3
Tokyofoodie - 5
Tpa-flyer - 1
Tzvilez - 2
Wirunner - 3
Writergirllinds - 5
Yunicorner - 1
YVRorange - 5

Updated: Nov 14, 2017

Last edited by wharvey; Nov 14, 2017 at 8:12 am
wharvey is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:32 am
  #3  
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,027
Hold for future Santa announcements!
wharvey is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:55 am
  #4  
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Location: Tokyo
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Posts: 20,805
Wow, we already have to think about Xmas....

I will need to think a bit about my write up around santa wishes, while last years was really excellent gifts, I need to think about new suggestions and ideas.

Thank you for arranging this year after year.
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:56 am
  #5  
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
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Posts: 4,628
Thank you for arranging this again! I'm ready for the fun
SDQBound is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 7:20 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: AA Gold, OW Ruby, IHG PLT, JB Mosiac, Delta Silver, VA Silver, AK MVP, Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 151
So excited!! Had a blast last year shopping for everyone!!
sperkins921 is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 7:39 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Location: Toledo, OH
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Posts: 15,391
Thanks for continuing to do this. It's a lot of fun
jamesteroh is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 9:01 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
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Posts: 992
Lightbulb

Just sent PM in! Darned excited, FT SS is especially precious this year both personally and in light of divisive national trends that make decency and generosity even more of a premium than prior years. May we all remember to just savor our shared love of travel and its many joys which shall outlast so much else.
Redhead, tcl, kirkwoodj and 1 others like this.
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Old Sep 6, 2017, 10:15 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
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Posts: 9,516
I'm in again, PM sent. Thanks William - you are the BEST!
Redhead is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 12:58 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 108
PM sent. Looking forward to this again this year!
Thatguyatthebar is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 1:12 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 39
Yay! Posting as a reminder to myself to send my participation PM later tonight.
MappingChick is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 2:47 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: North Pole
Programs: Santa's Workshop
Posts: 104
A couple of days ago, while mrs. headelf53 and I were enjoying lunch at Durgin Park in BOS, she was asking when I would open the Workshop for the holidays. I told her What's the rush?

Now that Santa wharvey has opened the 2017 thread, I'll have to head downstairs and start dusting off all the areas of the workshop. I know the elves should do that, but this boss is a nice guy.

A note to (new) readers of this this thread. I'm here to help. If your Santee doesn't give you enough information for their gift, please PM me. I'll send a message without anyone knowing who you are. I keep that confidence.

HE53
HeadElf53 is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 10:52 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
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I noticed that a question from previous years was omitted this time around. Was this intentional?

i: Specific FTer(s) you have been assigned in the past:
diburning is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2017, 3:40 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
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wooohoooo! Holiay spirit!
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Old Sep 7, 2017, 4:48 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Southwest, Delta, Hyatt & IHG
Posts: 138
Count me in.
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