[clay]

Originally Posted by Gemme

"For 2017, the rule is if one of our projects is received by the wrangler more than seven days after the due date, or one of us drops out of a project for whatever reason, that person is welcome to continue posting but is not allowed to sign up for a group project again until six months from the latest date that the project was supposed to be due. No exceptions. This rule applies to participants and to wranglers. Wranglers must mail out projects within one week of the latest date that the projects were supposed to be due. In addition to waiting six months before being able to join a penpal project, the person who has not met the latest deadline must post directly on the penpal thread within a week of missing the latest deadline stating that they have not adhered to the deadline (reason is welcome to be included or does not have to be) and, most importantly, the date on which they will be able to return to participating in the penpal projects. They must scroll back and add themselves to the bottom of the list of any other participants who have not met the late date for any project for 2017. If that is not done, then the member is welcome to participate in the thread with "thanks" and reps and thread chat but not to participate in any future projects for 2017. The reason for this is personal responsibility, so that we have a running record right on the thread that is easy to refer back to when needed. And for the purposes of clarification, if someone drops out before the deadline to sign up has been closed then they are not excluded from future projects because they are still following the rules.

Example: Bitsy misses the late date for a project. Within a week of that late date she must scroll down and find the most recent list of people who have missed the late date in 2017 and copy that list to a new post and add herself. Bitsy's post would look something like this:

'Sorry, I had the bird flu and missed the late date of 2/14/17. I can start participating in new projects on 8/14/17. I have added myself to the list below:

1. Tony (missed the late date of 1/28/17, able to participate 7/28/17)
2. Bitsy (missed the late date of 2/14/17, able to participate 8/14/17)'

This rule must be posted in its entirety at the bottom of all new projects that are being wrangled so that members can thoughtfully consider whether we wish to commit to a new project."

That works for me too. I like the fairness of it as each person who is late gets the same time to do personal stuff outside of the thread as everyone else who has been late and I like the responsibility of it, which is really why we felt it necessary to create rules for tardiness anyway.

Any people considering wrangling need to take an extra moment to make sure that they are willing to abide by the rules for everyone, whether it's a friend or even your boo that is late. I think the wrangler mail out part of the rule will help with this because a wrangler must get all of the completed packages back out into the mail within a week of the late date or else risk getting their own self on the late list. I like a system of checks and balances.

On a related note, I can't wait to hear what you have in store, nanners!

I agree to the new rules & like that each person has a responsibility to post if they should miss a deadline & add themselves to the list.

One thing I see recurring a lot is this....we have an "original" due date the wrangler posts...and it has always said ON OR BEFORE a specific date. It seems to me this gets misinterpreted often...and participants see it as 'Oh good projects aren't actually due on say 02/14/17 but rather due by 02/21/17. ....SO we should take the responsibility to ensure if we are signing up take responsibility to adhere to that ON OR BEFORE specific date. The 1 week past original due date is a buffer of sorts, & sometimes IS necessary to get projects in by.

I am always so excited for NEW projects & getting completed ones, so I like when we get them in on original due date and not extend another week...it is good for a buffer, or emergencies that may/do come up in life...

Anyway that is something I want to see clearer for folks who do sign up...

Great job on New Rules for 2017!! Thanks!!!