Official 2007 Secret Santa Thread!
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HO HO HO,
Greetings from your 2007 Flyertalk Secret Santa coordinator William (wharvey).
I am happy to step forward and coordinate this for the Flyertalk community. It is my small way to return something to this community!
As I did last year, I am starting the process early. I will be in New Zealand for our anniversary a few weeks in November compliments of
United Airlines (The OFFICIAL Airline of Santa and his corporate staff - elves and reindeer). As such, I want to get ahead of the game.
This is the official thread for the 2007 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 2007.
I hope many of you choose to participate in this years’ event.
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 2007 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 2007. I plan to respond through the PM system so make sure you have enabled that feature if you want to participate.
2. The expected limit on your gift purchase is $50 USD and does NOT include shipping 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". Understand that this is an estimate. I do ask that people view this as an "expected" level so that some people do not get disappointed. This has happened in the past. Please plan to spend at LEAST $35 on your gift exclusive of shipping and packaging costs.
Also, plan to send something personal to people; NOT donations on their behalf to a charity organization.
CONTINUED FROM LAST TWO SEASONS:: If you are interested, you may volunteer to be a Secret Santa for up to three different Flyertalkers. If you sign up for one, two or three... it means you will also have one, two or three 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!!
NEW FOR THIS YEAR: Ever wished you got a specific person as your Secret person to gift? Now is your chance. 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 Santa has 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. Jim_USAIR, Icorproadie, Adam100, Tokyotraveler, Mrstaralliance and Phoenixdude 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 4 months after the holiday does not count as delivering. Everyone has a right to expect a gift during the holiday season.
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 post in the "Who We Are" thread to introduce yourself to the community. That thread can be found at:
Who We Are Thread
6. Deadline to participate is December 1st, 2007 (Medway, MA date) at 5 pm Boston 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 2007. 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 forms. In fact, please just copy the questions below into the private message window and answer the questions.
a. Your full name (first and last name)
b. Your 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. Your Gender
f. Maximum number of times you wish to participate: (1, 2, 3):
g: Specific FTer you would like assigned to you:
h. No more than three facts about yourself that might help your Secret Santa shop for your gift. Please make sure they are helpful hints...
i. 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 December 1st 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!!!
To read threads from previous years:
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.
William
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