Trudy

Anytime I've ever done one with the dogs, I think there has always been something included in the package for me.

There is enough of Bev's entries to go around... maybe you will all get her

OR matching up with # of dogs...I have three and would like to be matched with the same? 1646670[/snapback] That would involve a lot more planning and quite possibly, leave people out that may wish to participate. If 2 people have 5 dogs... do they buy a $20 gift for each of the five dogs... spending $100? Or do they buy a gift for the family of dogs to share spending only $20. If we go with the you buy a gift for each dog at $20 each... this assumes that people with 5 dogs want to be entered 5 times. Maybe they can only afford to send out one gift or maybe they just want to be entered in to the exchange 2x. The rules for that would be far more strict and I think it would leave people out that may otherwise wish to participate In the ticket system there will be a line to enter the pet(s) you are entering for that ticket. The person getting your name with those pets listed will shop for you/the pets listed... be it one or be it 5

The secret santa sign-up will be released in early October. It's ready to go, but allows us to fine tune things a bit before and well, it is SEPTEMBER, too early for Christmas What is Secret Santa - it is a gift exchange between board members. You sign up and say you would like to be included (once, twice, however many times you would like). In turn, you receive the name of a member and their pet(s) (or multiple members if you sign up more than once) and their mailing address. You do some shopping for gifts (we are using a $20 package limit this year plus your shipping costs) to send to the human and/or pets. And the person that received your name does the same and sends a package to you as well

I was only insane enough to decide to do the secret santa again.. I've not lost my mind enough to also do a Christmas Card exchange. I hear breathing during the holidays is a good thing So no, I am not planning on organizing the Christmas Card exchange.

Really? I'd never have guessed :lol

Edited

DRAFT Guidelines for Greytalk Secret Santa 2005 • Use the Secret Santa Ticket System to sign up • One ticket signs you up one time, two ticket submissions signs you up two times, etc • The gift limit is $20 plus your shipping • If you are unable to participate for ANY reason after you have received a name, let us know ASAP so we can make some changes • If your gift will not be sent before the deadline for sending, let us know so that we can contact your person to let them know. Up to you if you’d like to send them a PM or a card or something to let them know as well, but you need to let us know so that we can contact them • You haven’t actually been entered into the gift exchange until you have received a response from us saying we have received your info and have added you to the list (please give us a day or two to get back to you before checking that we received your ticket) • Gifts can be for the humans too – they do not have to be just for the pets Goal is to have all gifts reach their destination by December 24. The dates below are suggestions if you are using a non priority shipping method. If you are going to use priority mail, give yourself enough time so the gifts arrive by December 24. • Sign-up deadline is November 4 if you wish to send to another country (names will be given to you by November 6) – Send gifts by November 16 if not using priority mail • Sign-up deadline is November 18 if you are sending to the same country (names will be given to you by November 20) – Send gifts by December 16 if not using priority mail • We will accept late entries, but there will be no guarantee that you will be able to participate. Absolute last day to enter will be December 13. As long as there are multiple late entries, we should be able accommodate this. Gifts will still need to be sent by December 16. Any suggestions? Anything unclear and need to be reworded?

Please let me know who you are - we have some questions for you

Can somebody from each country figure out what ISN'T allowed in and post it? And maybe also check the postal things - how much to send what by when to get to somewhere outside the country. (I figure you often send things within your own country, so it isn't too difficult to figure that part out on your own )

Signing up for those with multiple pets... I don't want to make them sign up for each pet if they want each pet to be included in a gift. Many people have multiple dogs/pets and would like them to be included, but do not/cannot afford to enter once for each pet. Example 1 Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Ruby, Donner, Zack, Max This name would be given to somebody and the gift(s) they get for thier $$ limit will be for all the pets listed. Example 2 Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Ruby and Donner Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Zack and Max This person has now entered 2x. Name will go out to 2 different people. Person X will get Ruby and Donner to buy gift(s) for and Person Y will get Zack and Max to buy gift(s) for Example 3 Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Ruby Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Donner Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Zack Username: RedCricket Pets for this ticket: Max This person has now entered 4x. Name will go to 4 different people. Person R will get Ruby to buy gift(s) for. Person S will get Donner to buy gift(s) for. Person T will get Zack to buy gift(s) for. Person U will get Max to buy gift(s) for.

This is why we want to do some sort of delivery conf type of thing. The US you can get delivery confirmation for priority down to parcel post (not sure about media mail) - the cost looked to be $0.45 for priority, $0.55 for first class, and $0.55 for parcel post - for all weights - looks to be cheaper if you get your postage online But it looks like Canadian post, delivery conf isn't available when sending out of the country unless you use air mail - then it is already more expensive to send Again, you will have the option to say you don't want to send to somebody out of your country so you can avoid the higher postage... or before you go shopping for somebody in another country, check out the postage options you have to send with and see what the costs will be for light stuff and heavy stuff. For most people, this wouldn't be necessary, but people in the past have not received their gifts. We just want to come up with a system that will prevent that as much as possible.

For those shipping overseas/other countries, names will go out Mid November so that they have time to use the cheap mailing by boat/snail/squished bug method instead of having to use the more expensive air mail option. Rest of the names would go out the last week of November We will have an entry deadline, but like I think we have all done as organizers in the past, will take late entries up to a certain point as long as we get enough late entry people to sign up - it just means that you will need to do your shopping and shipping quickly. And as always, if you have issues getting something out on time, you can post to let the person know - but we will also want to know as well so that we can make sure your person KNOWS their gift will be late.

For those not in the US... how much is a receipt conf in your country? I know with the US - UPS and FedEx - you will know when the package has arrived to its destination With the post office, the receipt conf thing is only $0.70 (I think) Another option is we could ask that you respond to your ticket once you have mailed your package - relies on the honor system

Ok, we are getting ready to get things put together for Secret Santa (will not start collecting names and stuff until October). But, before we do so, I'd like to hear what you think would make it easier to sign up or be a participant We will likely do this through the GT ticket system... (Secret Santa Ticket) - you will submit a ticket for each time you wish to enter (see NOTE below) - we will ask if you are willing to send overseas/another country (yes/no/doesn't matter) - we will gather your user name, real name, and address - this info will ONLY go to the person you will have as a secret santa - we will create a Secret Santa Forum and allow guest posting, so if you have a question for your person, you can post as a guest to get the answers - money limit... I'd like to hear your suggestions, but I'm thinking maybe $20 plus shipping or maybe $25 and that would include shipping - but again, I would like to hear suggestions before deciding this (you can always go over if you wish and can afford to, but we don't want to set the limit too high so that we can get as many people able to join in as possible) - what do people think about REQUIRING a confirmation (when you go to the PO to send the package, you tell them you want a receipt conf - or UPS or FedEx or whoever) NOTE - submit once per time you wish to enter.... If you have 5 dogs and want to enter ONCE, submit ONE ticket and let us know it is for 5 dogs. If you have 5 dogs and want to enter FIVE times, submit FIVE tickets and you can say it is for 5 dogs each time, or you can list what dog it is for each time (so you enter once for each dog, or you enter 5 times each for all 5 dogs) - if you enter with one dogs name (and you have more than one), the person that gets your name (and dog's name) will be shopping just for that dog/human combination If you have 5 dogs and want to enter TWO times, submit TWO tickets and either say it is for all 5 dogs on each ticket or list the 2 dogs participating or break it up how ever you want Is this confusing? Is there a way we can make it less confusing? Any suggestions? Again, we should have something ready to go sometime in October. Names will go out by the end of November (earlier for those shipping overseas)

I think the new order of cards just arrived, so if you haven't put in your request for cards yet... we've got plenty again

That's what I've always used and others have used. Works wonderful

Anna, that was so quick. I'm so sorry.

Why not email/pm Jeff and ask for his mailing address. Goes right to his house

If you have not already done so, download and install IrFanView which can be found here. CLICK (800k) Open IrfanView click "File" then "Open" in the top menu bar select the photo you wish to optimize click "Image" then "resize/resample" in the top menu bar The bottom left box is the preserve aspect ratio, make sure it is checked so your image is resized without being smooshed in the set new size box, make sure the width and height are not larger than 400 make sure you select the "pixels" button. Lastly to preserve the quality select the RESAMPLE button on the lower right. It should look like this: Click "OK" Next in the upper left click "File" and then "save as" and save your image. Make sure that the JPG file type is selected, if not choose it from the drop down list.It should look like this: And presto, you are ready to upload to GT following the instructions on greytalk

Godspeed Sophia

Here is a list of GT business owners. Sorted by merchandise. Listed with the GT user name, what they sell (how it is sorted), AND their website. If you have 50 posts or more and would like to be added to our list, please PM me with your info (web address and what you sell). The list is NOT updated immediately upon your request. Dog Treats Burpdog - www.burpdog.com Dog Collars 2hounds - www.2houndsdesign.com Anne - www.majesticcollars.com TinyMityMo - www.LongDogLeather.com Yamaha_gurl - www.etsy.com/shop/CollarTown Dog Coats/Sweaters/PJs (dog clothing) celbee - coats - www.greyhoundfleecejackets.com Dog Art (paintings/drawings/sculptures/etc) Stoney - www.claygreys.com Misc Dog Stuff 3greys2cats - www.greyssoulfulreiki.com AnneGTS - www.sighthoundgoodies.com greytdecals - decals - www.decalzbysuzieq.com HoundWorks - hound-works.com Jester - www.etsy.com/shop/thescrappymutt jetcitywoman - pet stuff - somethingspecialpetsupplies.com

both of mine arrived critter and disease free

Kim, I'll be thinking of you, Jaeger, and Bill this evening as you help her cross the bridge. Godspeed sweet Jaeger

I'm so sorry, Alex. Thoughts to you and your family. Godspeed, Satin