Thoughts & suggestions

Ok, The clothing exchange is over and what a turn out we had! Thanks everyone for coming that was able to make it! It was a wonderful time meeting the newbies and seeing others again as well as getting some new clothes and not to mention seeing GWYN! I had mentioned to some at the exchange that the church is considering letting us to continue holding our event there- HOW MANY WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN? would you prefer to rotate locations or have maybe 2 there and 2 somewhere else? We normally were having them in January April July October My personal thoughts are-2 that way maybe someone in the northern and southern parts could hold one of the others and we could drive and visit them BUT if it would be better or doable we could have as many there as possible if everyone or majority preferred! It was a great place, plenty of room and the youth group was wonderful helping, being that they were just thrown in and had no clue as to what to do. I believe that the more they do it the better, faster and more enjoyable for them as well! Please lets all think about this! If we want to continue there, I don't mind hosting and setting the dates and so forth. I just don't want to step on anyones toes and want to give others a chance at participating- that being said, I would n't mind doing the exchanges either and maybe the others who want to organize something could do the in between monthly mixup gatherings such as- Hot Tub & Tea Sherri, Christmas Exchange- Floyd and ZBrends, Camping Hope- ets, if we put our heads together we could come up with some great get togethers- SO-- what are your thoughts what would we prefer to do How did you feel today went verses the other exchanges- I know that having there help and doing the charity donation was great! Let me know- Hugz Dawn PS Linda Kay-- I have some gift bag donations that were left at the church! We can get together and get those to ya, whenever- OOOOHHHH maybe when we can go on the motorcycle ride! I am so ready, I haven't been on one since I was probably 8-10 years old and NEVER with a woman driver! Look out Sarah Fisher, Linda is on her way! LOL let me know!

I wanted to thank everyone for the warm welcome! It was wonderful to finally meet everyone. The hoosier losers are a great group of people so supportive and friendly. I'm glad and excited to join such a fabulous group. I also wanted to thank Jan for the ride to and from Indy. The time just flew! God Bless Everyone Cheryl

Cheryl, It was wonderful to meet you! I am so glad that you were able to share a ride with Jan and help keep her company! i think the carpooling idea is great! Maybe we can get more Hoosier losers involved with the carpooling to the events! Wow what turn out we could continue to have! Even though you haven't had your surgery yet, it is fast approaching and you have already been inducted to the Hoosier losers! So welcome and good luck on your upcoming journey! Remember, there may be some bumps here and there but the final outcome is so rewarding, it takes time, but it does happen! Hope to hear your suggestions as well on the above post- EVERYONES opinion counts! Hugz Dawn Glad you enjoyed yourself and was able to meet us and make some new friendships- thats what it is all about!

I thought the place worked ot great! So Im all for coninuing to have it there. But Im wiling to travel foe the exchanfes, they are SO worth it!

Dawn I would surely support continueing the exchanges there. I like getting the young people's group involved. I like the idea of having you serve as chairperson for the clothing exchange project and that you find 4 to 6 people who would serve as assistants. I. E. a person or two to who would be responsible for the clothing set up, another responsible for the food session, a host or hostess to sign people in, getting people to make name tags, and serve as the person who welcomes people and explain to first timers how it all works. I think that gives you my general thought on this. I would nominate Ann and I for this task. Another thing that Ann and I talked about on the way home is the amount of food we have with everyone bringing in food, etc. May you could get a half dozen or more volunteers to sign up to bring food and drinks to each exchange. Just a thought. Dan

I wouldnt mind having another one where we had this one except I would say hold the entire thing downstairs and have a tip jar for those wonderful teens who pitched in!!!! I think I will send a donation directly to the church for this one!! Sorry I didnt stay and help clean up.. believe me it is not like me not to pitchin and help... 50 people wow!! and Dawn was a truely great hostess... OK we will plan the motorcycle ride Dawn you will have a blast!! Later this summer though I still have to watch the cold...I cant ride if it is to chilly or my bone freeze. Linda Kay

Dawn, I thought the church was a great location. They had plenty of parking and it was easy to get in & out of it. I hope that even with Super 70 going on, people didn't have too much trouble finding it. Once that is over, it will be very easy for people to come off Emerson to get there. I do agree with having everything on one floor (the basement). I felt like I was missing out on something all the time so I kept going from the main level to the basement and back. I did get my exercise..lol. As to the amount of food...of course I would feel to just leave it the way it is. I would suggest however that those who travel not worry about bringing food, bring bottles of water instead. We had ran out of that....and that is one thing you can always bring home and not worry about it spoiling. It may have looked like I had alot of food left over. Trust me, I didn't. Our 3 kids, sil, and 4 grandkids live within a mile of the church. I ran over the left-overs and they were happy to get take all of them except the spinach dip...lol. I know that it would seem unfair to have it on one side of town every time ..which is why it made it nice to have different people host it at different locations (Kokomo, Avon, East side, west side, north side, south side) but while people are considering all aspects of this, I can't help but to think that consistency would be good. If we had it in the same place each time, Karen wouldn't have missed it. I also agree that the church teens did a fantastic job helping out. It's my understanding that they even watched about 10 kids. How's that for above & beyond? I know that the church felt that we were giving their youth their April's community outreach and that by allowing them to donate the left-over clothing to what-ever charity, we were 'donating' to the church. I don't feel like that is enough of a donation either. I think a donation jar set up would be good. Dawn...you did a fantastic job with all of this. I don't know who-all was involved in helping you but everyone did great. Should you continue to have them there, please put me on your set-up/clean-up committee! I live maybe 5 minutes from there. If there is anything else I could do to help out, please let me know. Just don't ask me to stand in one spot to give out name tags. I do not do well staying put. Sherri

I agree with everything that was said... I think it was WONDERFUL having the kids there to help... They helped Vicki and I out alot because I couldn't lift those bags by myself at all... A tip Jar would be wonderful and I think holding the whole thing downstairs would have been easier... I'm all for having it at this place all the time... It had a big parking lot, it was easy to get to, clean... Good place... and I think the committee would be a wonderful idea as well. Jessyca

i agree it was a great place and the time spent getting to laugh with jessyca on the way there and home was cool thank you so much jessyca for the ride i had a blast . got tired but got a lot of nice clothes that i will be able to wear till the next one. i think i have had a small wow moment. ok the scales at the hospital on the day i went in for surgery said ( gulp) 408 and didnt weigh in each walk or everyday except the day i left i was at 409 but was told that was normal. well on saturday night jim and i went to wal mart and got a new movie and stopped he got dinner i got a cup of beans from taco bell ..lol date night for us. i am such a cheep date now.lol. well while he was setting up the movie in the dvd player for me i opened the scales and set them level on a hard woor dfloor like it says so got on let them set and then got on them again stood there waiting got off and looked down and it said 381.5 now that is a difference of 37 pounds since the day i went in.it says they are like hospital scales accurate up to .2lbs . i will know for sure wednesday if its true or not but for now i will take the small wow moment if even in my head. vicki

i need to proff read before i post typo queen that i am ... its a 27 pound loss..