Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hello, fellow Haven members! I am happy to introduce a fun way to appreciate each other as honored members of our very special Guild! We will be doing a sort of a gift exchange! This idea came to me from an activity my neighbor does and the whole neighborhood takes part in! It is called BOO, now I will explain this to you...it may seem complicated but it's really simple and a whole lot of fun!



The way we play is that I will start off and chose a Haven member who is active, deserving and maybe I would like to get to know them better. I am sending them a special gift I've chosen with the word BOO! and a special letter in the gifting "Add a Message" Window when I gift them.

See here for a Quick Guide to the BOO Gifting. Then come back to this post for info on what to do when you've received the special BOO gift!

Step 1. When you receive the BOO gift, you select someone from Haven who's been active and who has posted recently, but someone who has not yet received two gifts.

Step 2. You choose a gift for them (it doesn't have to be expensive, but it should be something nice). Go to their profile-- and post the DECOY COMMENT to their profile. (The Decoy comment is in the next post)

(You can do step three before step two, either way!)

Step 3. Then you gift wrap what you're giving. Copy the BOO Message you've received into the Message window of the gifting page. Add YOUR name to the list anywhere, in the middle, top, bottom, anywhere at random on the list, that way your giftee don't know who sent them the gift!
For example:



Otherwise, if everyone always adds their name to the end, the person getting the gift knows who sent it!

There is a maximum of two presents per person! If you get a second gift, mark that you've received a second gift after your name in parantheses, like this: SuperKoolPartyGal101(two gifts)

Step 4. Send your gift! Be sure to check the box (under the "Add a Message" window) that says "Give this gift anonymously? (The recipient will only see your message)" .

Step 5. Return to this thread and check the post number above you. Number your post and say that you've received a gift. You can say what you've received if you want to, but you don't have to. You can thank your ghostly giver, and tell them (us) something you don't think we know about you that you'd like us to know about you.

About the gift: IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE (but it can be!) It should be something you know is nice to receive! A gift is a gift and each is special in its own way! We are also asking you not to pick you best friend. And it is fine to pick your best friend if you think they deserve it, but this is also a special opportunity to get to know someone you would normally never talk to! Remember this is as fun as you want it to be!



As of now, EVERYONE, mods included, can choose anyone at random from the Hogwarts Houses List, or the Sorting House thread or our Guild Members list. You go to your "Chosen One's" profile and post the DECOY COMMENT (see next post) in their profile. You can also send them a "DECOY gift" of "trash or treasure" (trick or treat!), or not.

It's ok when you go to their profile you see someone else has posted a BOO letter. Post your decoy comment anyway so they won't know if it's a decoy or the real gift, or who sent it.

Keep a list of those you send to (more on that later).

You can add whatever other greeting you feel to on their profile. You can tell them to watch for a surprise, even if you aren't sending them one. You can do this as many times a day to different people as you want. Include people in our Membership list and our Library subforum, who maybe haven't posted in a while.
Pick someone you don't know, or who has an interesting name, or whose posts you like!

When you send a decoy gift of even a trashy daily item gift (OR a really, really nice gift), include a message with the gift wrap saying some like:

BOO!!! This is not the official, Ministry approved BOO gift...you've been tricked with a Decoy gift! But open it anyway, it might be trash or it might be treasure...at least it's free! Remember to post that you've received a decoy gift in the BOO! thread at Haven's Halloween Events Forum to win another chance at the Gwee or Spree!




Keep a list of those you've sent DECOY COMMENTS to, and then come back to this thread and post how many you've sent to, but NOT their names! Save the list of the names you've sent to! As I said, more on that later! Check the post before you, and Number your post in order.

Each decoy letter you post on a profile =one chance
Each decoy gift you send=one chance
Each time you receive the real BOO gift =one chance
Each decoy gift you receive=one chance
Number your post accordingly.

For example: You send out 5 Decoy letters, and you receive one BOO gift. The post above you is #11. You list your post #12-17, and note you've sent 5 Decoys and received one Boo Gift.

When you post, Tell us a fun fact about you: what you've received if you want to, something you think we don't know about you that you'd like us to know!

The next person will read your post and number her/his post starting at #18.

After midnight on Halloween, LadyHealingHands will total the number of posts, and will pull a number randomly. The person with that number post will win their choice of a GWEE! or a 25,000 shopping spree in the Gaia stores!

The more people you send a BOO Decoy to, the more chances you have to win!

If you get a gift that is a decoy, mention you've received a decoy in your post so you might still get the real deal. The real one will have a special message and the list of names! Receiving a decoy gift also gives you another post (free chance) to win the Grand Prize!


Everyone loves a gift! And in the end if you don't get anything I will see what I can do to change that! I will be starting very soon so be on the look-out!
Check your profile to see that your wants and wish lists are up to date (and you've marked what you've bought or had donated), because some of us will be checking that to gift you! And most of the people reading this will most likely receive a gift because it means you're active! Let me know if I should add anything or make changes! Keep an open mind!

And you lucked out because you don't have to buy me a gift unless you chose to give one to me because I started and did not receive anything *chuckles* JUST KIDDING! Being in the guild is enough! So thanks for your patience and time! Have fun, keep the spirit, and I hope to see you all at the Ball!!

Your friend,
SuperKoolPartyGal101 ^^_^^

Go to the next post to get the coding and cut and paste the DECOY LETTER and GRAPHIC!

Reserved!



ninja

I'm afraid I don't understand...could you clarify?

I don't get how the decoy thing works...I like the Gwee prize...but I'm confused about the shopping spree...how does that work?

sorry...

*high five* LHH this is so cool!

POST 1

I sent out 5 decoy letters. But since I am going to draw the winner, I'm not eligible for the Gwee crying ! (The one going to a new home is asleep on my hat at the moment...

So the next post, label yourself POST 2 ONLY if you received the BOO Letter, or sent out decoys. Don't put a number in if you're just asking questions. I'll get mad if I have to re-number posts.
I'll subtract my one out and draw again if it's chosen.

So, now I say something I don't think people know about me. I won first place in my High School Science Fair - with a project called "Isolation of the stimuli that evoke aggressive response in male Betta splendens." a/k/a why Siamese fighting fish fight. I went on the state finals. I presented my very very scholarly research and I had decided to demonstrate. I must have found the only 2 pacifist fighting fish around--they just weren't interested. And I didn't even place in the state science fair....

OK - I'm awaiting news of the BOO letter (I did get a private PM so I know who has it)

So the next post, start off with POST 2

You got it Jade! That's the real letter! I edited the names out of your post so people won't know the order or who has it til they get it! We'd love to know if you got something good! And something about you you'd like us to know that you don't think we know, if you're ok with going back and editing your message. (You don't have to, but inquiring minds are curious).

Thanks for posting and good luck on winning the grand prize!

I'm not numbering my posts, so the next one who has received the letter, or who has sent a decoy is POST 3.

POST 9-13

I've sent out 5 decoy comments and one decoy gift. smile

(This is what I'm supposed to post, right?)