Pen Pal Group Vouch Thread

Interested in joining the Pen Pal Group but are not very well known on site.

Here's a place to chat with current members so we can get to know you a bit.

Post something about yourself and why you would like to join our little family of letter writing friends.

I would be interested in joining, but DAMN do you have a lot of rules and caveats.

That actually sounds like fun.

Tell us more.

I think creating a trust zone with a group of strangers is inherently difficult and this probably represents a best effort to create one. It's an interesting idea. I think anyone with about 20-30 minutes on their hands and could actually find my address, though it's of little consequence.

There have been 5 owners of the group since it started so the rules have been added to through the years.

Mainly the most important rule is to keep private info private.

Well basically we send postcards, letters, small gifts, holiday cards, Birthday cards, occasionally do swaps and whatever else anyone comes up with.

You participate as much as you like. But the more you do the more you will get out off it.

The main idea is to share a bit of your life with someone else.

Our current method of vouching members in is kinda slow for those applying especially if they are new or not well known so we thought that giving people an opportunity to interact with some of the current members will speed the process along and that's why this thread was created.

yes we do but it's all just simple stuff nothing to crazy

Here is a copy for everyone to see
***UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IN ANYWAY IS ANYONE IN THIS GROUP TO GIVE AWAY ANYONE'S ADDRESS, REAL NAME OR ANY OTHER PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN FROM ANY OTHER MEMBER IN THIS GROUP TO ANYONE NOT IN THIS GROUP OR POST IT ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS SITE OR ANY OTHER SITE! IF YOU ARE CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU WILL BE KICKED OUT OF THIS GROUP AND REPORTED TO THE SITE OWNERS!***

WRITING
1. I highly recommend getting/using a PO Box as a mailing address. This is especially good if you are nervous about posting your real address on the Internet. However, as mentioned above... the addresses are to be kept within this group... NO exceptions!!!

2. Everyone must post their address so that makes everyone fair game! It might be polite to ask but unless otherwise noted... go ahead and send out a letter or card!

3. It is not required that you continue to write to everyone that writes you. The idea here is to find people that you 'click' with and enjoy writing to.

4. If you have a hard time of thinking of where to start, check the members profiles before writing to them. That should give you an idea if you have similar interests! Also check the Our Favorite Things Thread and
What Do You Collect Thread

POSTING IN THE GROUP
1. If you have received mail, BE POLITE and promptly post that you have received it in the Mail Received Thread People like to know that their mail has reached it destination.

2. On that same note... if you are mailing something out... please post that you are in the Mail Sent Thread

3. At the beginning of each month, there will be a thread for that months events. Feel free to post your event.

4. Inappropriate threads and those pertaining to non-group material will be deleted.

MEMBERSHIP
1. If you know you are going grey and also know you will be back and would like to stay in the group, please e-mail me before you go grey. I will delete any member from this group that has gone grey for more than 2 months.

2. I will delete anyone that does not keep an active journal and/or does not make comments on the site. If you haven't updated your journal in three months... I will delete you.

3. LURKERS will NOT be tolerated! If you have not posted any kind of contact info, have not sent anyone a card or letter or posted anything in this group since joining, you have no reason to be here. You will be deleted!!!

4. Housekeeping threads will be posted once a year in January - if you do not post in them within the stated time frame you will be deleted and have to go through the vouch process again.

5. If you ARE deleted from the group for any reason, I will AUTOMATICALLY remove your address from any and all threads. This is for your own safety and peace of mind. Additionally I will remove any address from the thread upon request.

6. Once you are accepted into this group you will have one month to -
post your address

If you do not fulfill this simple request within the month, you will be AUTOMATICALLY removed from the group.

VOUCHING
To join you must have: friends, an updated journal (updated within last 3 months), and be on SG for at least 3 months. If you know that you will be going grey or anon please let me know if you will be back or not. If you go grey while waiting to be vouched for you will be removed from vouches till you come back. If after 2 months of being grey and I haven't heard from you that you will be back you will not be let in the group.

1. The following is the vouch process:

* anyone with two or more vouches is in

* anyone without a vouch will be put into the next vouch cycle for further consideration

* anyone with 1 vouch will have the opportunity to write to HQ, upon receiving a letter they will be allowed in the group and welcomed in the next new member thread. Letters must be sent out within in 2 months no exceptions.

2. vouch threads will be up for approximately 15 days.

3. if you see a member on the vouch thread that you have real reasons to NOT let in the group (ie creepiness) please let me know ASAP!!!

SWAPS{/B]
1. If you participate in a "swap" and fail to send your gift you will be banned from participating in any further swaps!!!

PROBLEMS? HELP?
Please report any issues you may have with someone directly to our group owner Giggles This group is private for a reason and I will not allow anyone to feel uncomfortable. I want you all to feel safe and happy in our little group.

**If anyone has any ideas for this group... please let me know!**

Giggles oink

yeah it is fun - I try to buy postcards from random places, and then ask who would like one and send out - others do the same. But I also have people who I are more like dedecated penpals and we exchange letters frequently. I love getting little 'hello how are you' postcards as much as the details letters. So it's something you can get involved in no matter how much time you have on your hands.

My application is pending.

I was actually a member of this group when it was just a baby. I've since left the site and rejoined.

It is fun to get random mail that are NOT bills. And I've gotten mail from all over. Just need to get back to writing again.

i love that group...
i have to start writing again...
i have lots and lots of stickers and cute little cards...

Anybody wanna vouch for me?

Aight, application pending.

You know I gots you.

same!... i love mike!...

YAY!!! DOUBLE YAY!!!

. . . . why are the two of you grabbing my ass?

yay

the rules seem like a lot, but really they come down to: don't be a douche.

I've been writing with some people for years now, and I've even met some of them in real life. sometimes we exchange more intimate letters, other times stories, and sometimes drawings and postcards.

getting mail that is not bills is pretty great. knowing that I'm making someone else smile the way a letter makes a person smile is also pretty great.

plus it gives me an excuse to buy those cheesy postcards. hahaha

I know i'm tired when i read that as a Pay Pal group.

i'm agree!!

THe November Vouch has started will end on the 15th

also I condensed the rules

I applied a few days ago. When will I know if I'm allowed in or not?

Also, if/when we are accepted, do we get to know who vouched for us? I like to know which of my friends are paying off.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

Something such as this would be lovely.

I know two people on the site that can vouch for me, one has been an active member for I believe over a year (a hopeful), the other only within the last three months has he joined.

So, if I may ask, is this thread the actual vouch thread? I looked up and down the page and did not see it.
: )