Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    	I've seen one big giant card as well as global mail messages sent
    to the group. I would think that that would be fine.
    
    	Writing individual cards could be just as sticky as the "larger
    approach"  because what if you miss someone, or what if you send
    someone a card who didn't contribute (then they feel guilty)? Also
    think of the time involved in writing all of those cards!
    
    	People in the work situation realize that group efforts are just
    that, group efforts. I don't think anyone would be offended if you sent
    a group thank you.
    
    		Wendy who is busy enough sending thank you cards to
    individuals who have already sent gifts.
    
                  

    Cherie, 
    		When my group gave me a shower, there were individuals who 
    gave gifts and then there was a "group" gift, I sent each individual a 
    thank you card and then sent a thank you for the group gift using
    e-mail.  

    I sent a single thank-you note to the person who coordinated the
    shower and asked her to post it on the group bulletin board.
    
    --bonnie

    
    I also sent a single thank-you.  I bought a special card ("Thanks
    to All of You" or some such; not the normal 8 to a pack kind)
    The group secretary (who coordinated the shower) hung it on a 
    bulletin board and sent a mail message around telling everyone it
    was there for the reading.
    
    Carol

    From my experience, as a group secretary, thank you notes are sent by
    the individual and generally addressed to the manager (or supervisor)
    if he/she were involved in the gift and the group, by regular US Mail.  
    Generally my experience is that the card is first read by the manager 
    and then circulated throughout the group, usually with a circulation 
    slip attached.  After circulation the card is posted on the bulletin
    board.  
    
    If individuals do give gifts, over and above the group gifts, then they
    are sent individual notes.
    
    I belong to a social group, and have had several occations where they
    have sent me flowers, or other gifts.  I generally sent a note to the
    group secretary addressed to the members of the group.  It is read at
    the meeting and then left on the secretary's desk so members can see
    the card personally after the meeting.
    
    Just a couple ways I've had experience.
    Lyn

    
    
    	The group I work for also likes to give baby showers.  I
    	find it appropriate (and having been a secretary found
    	this to be the norm) to buy a card that says "Thanks to
    	All" - as mentioned before and send it to the attention
    	of the supervisor/secretar/manager who coordinated
    	the effort.
    
    	/Kim

    I handled my thank yous individually.  Since some of my group did not
    attend the shower and are not all located in the same facility that I'm
    in, I thought it appropriate to thank each one individually and let
    them know what the $$ they contributed went towards.  I know, in the
    past, I've given towards gift and had absolutely no idea what was
    purchased.
    
    So, depending on how close (same facility) your group is would depend
    on how you'd handle the thank yous.
    
    Julie
     
    
    
    

    I had two showers at work one from my group who gave me a gift from all
    of them and another shower from the other secretaries that I work with.
    
    So what I did, I sent a single Thank-you to my group and to the
    secretaries I send individual ones, mainly because they all gave me
    individual gifts.
    
    
    Liz

I would say that if a card was included with the names of all who participated
in the group gift, then individual thank-you notes are appropriate.  If it is
signed "From the Gang" or something similar and it is impossible to tell who
participated, then a group thank-you is acceptable.

FWIW

    When any type of party with gifts is given in my group the card
    is signed by anyone who wanted to whether or not they gave money,
    and a thank-you is either sent as an e-mail to the whole group
    or a single card is sent and posted on the bulletin board.
    	Linda

    I just wanted to add some recent personal experience to this.
    
    I am involved in a Fraternal organization, a couple months ago there
    were receptions held for each of the newly appointed State level
    officials, of which I am one.  As a state-appointed officer I have
    chosen a person who will travel with me througout the next year.  
     
    For the receptions a small token gift if expected to be given,
    realisticly though 30some-odd gifts can get expensive, even if you're
    only spending a few dollars on each.  So my traveling buddy and I split
    the cost of the 30-odd gifts, wrapping paper and gift cards between us,
    and we signed the gift cards from both of us.  In many cases only one
    thank you note was sent-usually to me, and it was presumed I would pass
    this note along to my associate, which I did, or at least mention in a
    phone conversation to her that I had received a nice (handwritten)
    thank you note from [whomever it was].
    
    As for me, I admit with embarassment that my reception was in mid-June,
    and I still haven't found the time to write thank you's.  I plan on
    doing them this weekend, and hope people will forgive my tardiness!
    
    I too will follow suit, and send one note and include the names of both
    people in it, when the gift is from two or more people.
    
    (a red-faced, embarassed)
    Lyn