Postcard exchange, #2 - registration thread

The process, some brief rules and guidelines.

INTRODUCTION
The Dyxum Postcard exchange is open to all members of the Dyxum community.

The intent of the exchange is to share prints of our own photographs with other like minded Minolta/Sony SLR users (& other hangers on!), whether Digital or Film, via sending them as post cards.

THE PROCESS
The exchange will be structured as follows:

• Registration - This will be a set period as announced in the initial call to exchange thread.
  
  Each member who wishes to participate in the exchange must register during the sign on period. Initially this is to be done by sending a PM (personal Message) to the organizer. This PM must include the members real name (for address usage), the address where postcards will be sent to and the number of postcards the member is committing to send out.
  
  From Exchange #2, the limit of number of cards you can nominate to send has been lifted. IN your registration, you need to specify how many cards you are going to commit to send. There will be a maximum number, dependent on the number of registrations and the number of cards everyone say they are going to send.
  
  For example, if there are 20 registrations and half say they want to send 10 and the other half say they want to send 20, the actual maximum is somewhere in between (I am still working out the maths!). Theoretically, those who say they want to send 10, should receive 10. Those who say they will send out 20, will actually only need to send out the figure in between and should receive the same number!
  
  IF you just wish to send the maximum, please state that in your registration.
  
  FOR THIS TO BE A SUCCESS, YOU MUST BE COMMITTED TO SEND THE NUMBER OF CARDS YOU NOMINATE
  
  You may also show your intent to be involved in the call to exchange, but please DO NOT POST YOUR ADDRESS DETAILS ON THE PUBLIC FORUM!!!
  
  Up until the close of registrations, you can remove your registration, but once registrations are done, it is taken that you are going to be included in the exchange. If you change your mind and don't want to be involved, no drama, but please let the organizer know before registrations are closed.
• Allocation of names - As soon as possible after the registration process has closed a semi random draw will take place and names will be allocated for each member to send postcards to.
  
  Where possible, the draw will be done in such a way that each member gets a good international cross section of names to send cards to.    
  
  Once the draw is done, each member will have their list of names PM'd to them. AS WE ARE DEALING WITH peoples details, CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP THEM PRIVATE. The names and addresses are to be used only for the purpose of the Postcard challenge.
• Print and Post - The second to last and most important step is up to you guys. Its time to get a printing and sending them out!
  
  How you print them and how you do your postcards is totally up to you. Keep in mind that some postal systems may have maximum sizes for postcards, so as a rough guide, printing standard 6 inch by 4 inch cards would be a good standard.
  
  You can print using home printers, but it may work out better in the long run to print using a mini-lab service (& probably cheaper).
  
  For doing the postcard backs, again its totally up to you. You will find that quite a few places will sell self adhesive backs, which may make the process just that little bit easier.
  
  Once you are done, address the cards (please get them right!), put the right postage stamp on for the destination and send them on their way!
• Receiving cards - Hopefully, over the following weeks you should start to receive postcards to your letter box. Enjoy the cards, marvel at others photography and be inspired!

Once the registrations are done and the print, post and receive process is well underway, a new thread will be started that can be used for feedback and other general discussion. Its a good idea to post that you have received a card, so's we know that they are hitting the mark. Its also a good idea to maybe make a comment or two about the cards that you receive.

With any luck, the whole process should be done and dusted over a two month period (one month aprox for registrations, one month for printing,sending and receiving). I think we will suck it and see with the first exchange and decide if we do it again and how regularly after that.

OK, so the process should be straight forward.

RULES
Now, without getting too wordy, I think there are a few common sense rules. Briefly:

• Be Committed - For this to be a success, the members who participate should be committed to seeing the process through. If you say you are going to send cards, please ensure that you do send cards!   If you do not fulfill your commitments, you will not be able to participate in another exchange until you do.
• Image guidelines - As this is done under the banner of dyxum, please ensure that the images you send conform to their guidelines. (I.E., no racist, sexist, violent, pictures depicting cruelty, drug use, sex or nudity)
• Text guidelines - Be nice to the person you are sending a card to!

SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES
OK, that's the official stuff out of the way. to help you on your journey think about the following guidelines:

• Theme - The theme is open subject, but it might be a good idea to show something local to where you live. Maybe show an image that was taken, say, within 100miles/160km of your home?
• Personalize your cards - Once you get the list of recipients, maybe it would be a good opportunity to do some research on the members on your list? Maybe you could personalize the message or the image on the card? Maybe you might be able to send them something that they may not normally look at and see? When receiving cards, look at what has been sent to you with an open mind.
• Don't be tempted to whack your card between two pieces of cardboard and put them in an envelope. Half the fun of sending and receiving postcards is how they end up at the other end. Sure, they might be a bit bent, but that adds to the character of a postcard.
• Maybe print some images that you may have never posted here before?
• Once all your postcards have been received (or if you get no notification, towards the end of the exchange period), maybe show what you had sent?
• Try not to be lazy! Try and make each postcard a different image

Don't forget, this is a Film Friendly activity as well!

If anyone wants to add to these rules or guidelines, just make a post.

Cheers and have fun!

Edited by Hoffy - 08 January 2010 at 00:09

I'd be happy to do 10.

TEN(10) is the standard, so it seems.
I'm in!

I've enough post stamps for abroad laying around.

And I'll try to make some darkroom prints myself, how many postcards can you get from one slide of A3 photo-paper?

Edited by Grubeater - 08 January 2010 at 02:57

I am in for 10 as well. This sounds like a great idea I am thrilled to be a part of.

I'm in for a second round ! 10 cards sounds good.

Count me in! 10 sounds cool :)

10 for me please !