LEP 2.0!

I can't believe that the first full year of LEP is coming to an end!

Wow. What a wild ride this was! I'm really happy that I got to spend so much time with all of you through the newsletter and the Facebook group in 2013.

I've got a whole lot of fun things planned for 2014, so don't go anywhere! If you need to renew your membership, or if you'd like to join LEP and become a member, I have a surprise for you:

The first 140 people to sign up for a 12 month subscription will receive a free LEP stationery pack. I'll even ship it to you no matter where you live at no extra cost! I know how much you all love stationery, so that's my little treat for you this year. (A $10 to $14 value depending on shipping location.)

Click here to join or to renew!

Cheers,

Julie AKA Super Sushi
xox

P.S.: The whole website has had a makeover, so make sure to visit every page to see what's new around these parts!

Super Squirrel Speaks!

Hello LEPmeisters! Laura (AKA Super Squirrel) here. Gather around folks, I have a little story to tell you:

Once there was a squirrel with superpowers. But with superpowers, there came great responsibility and one day...

SNNNOOORREEEEE...zzzzzzz....... Screw it, I'll just jump to the point:

I'm sad to announce that I've made the difficult decision to leave LEP and December will be my last month with the club. It's become increasingly difficult to juggle a full-time job and all the projects in my life, and in the interests of trying to achieve some balance, I need to scale back.

However, don't you worry: I'm leaving you in the very capable hands of Julie, and LEP will continue on without me. So YAY! You'll still have your trusted band of superhero penpals! Julie will have more info in the January issue of the newsletter about her plans for LEP and the changes that are in store for the new year.

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has made my time with LEP so enjoyable. When Julie asked me to be her partner on this project, I had absolutely no idea how fantastic and awesome it would become. I've been touched by everyone's generosity and kindness, and I am genuinely thankful to have met such lovely, lovely people. Thank you for all the kind comments, the occasional surprise mail, and for all the laughs.

Thank you also to my partner, Super Sushi, for asking me to come on this ride with her. It's been a wild one, and I know you will have great fun with her at the helm.

But, I'll still be around! You can always email me at pleasedeliverto@gmail.com (ridiculous posts about the perfection of Tom Hiddleston are especially appreciated). And if you're partial to snail mail (GASP! When did that happen?!), you can send messages / postcards / "Dude, you still owe me $5" notes and similar / dinosaurs to:

Laura
PO Box 20153 RPO Beverly
Edmonton, AB T5W 5E6
Canada

Again, thanks for your support and awesomeness. And I'll see you in the mail, LEPmeisters! Doot doot da doot doot.... DOOT DOOT!

LEP review by The Baking Balloonatic

Today we'd like to share with you how one of our members sees The League of Extraordinary Penpals. We swear that we didn't pay her, bribe her with stationery or promise rides on our rainbow unicorn to write this review. We just asked nicely!

So here's what Millie in Alaska (AKA The Baking Balloonatic) has to say about LEP:

In these days of social media, smart phones, tablets, and technology, one would think that a good, old-fashioned letter is something of a relic of a bygone era.

Or is it?

What if there were a way to combine the two? With a simple web search, finding people to write letters with is as easy as typing a few keystrokes into your favorite search engine. Many of the groups available to write letters are using social media to connect with one another and make new friends. Some are paid, some are free, but all have their own blend of people with interests as varied as their names.

One such group, the League of Extraordinary Penpals (or "LEP" as it is called by its members) is a paid group with over 200 members. The dues are reasonable and becoming a member allows access to a monthly newsletter that includes mail swap challenges (or "swallenges" as they're called), stationery offers, and a spotlight on a random member. It also offers access to an exclusive Facebook community where members can ask for new penpals, request help on a variety of subjects (from where to get new stationery or pens, crochet help, or even where to get some candy to try out).

One of the wonderful things about this group is that the admins are very personable, friendly, and are always willing to answer any questions in a positive and helpful manner. As a member, you are welcomed into a community of Trekkies, Whovians, moms, twenty-somethings, typewriter enthusiasts, and more. It is a place where anyone can feel at ease in this sometimes cold world of the Internet. By being a part of the LEP, you gain access to new friends, new penpals, and an entire new world of washi tape, typewriters, costumes, and alter egos.

Take a break from the cold world of email and send a letter. Your mail carrier will thank you, as will those whose lives you touch from afar.

Back to School Sale!

Maybe you noticed, maybe you didn't... But we took a little break from blogging during the summer! Yes, we did. But that doesn't mean we were lazy and spent our whole days eating popsicles in the pool!

In fact, it's quite the opposite - we stayed pretty busy here at LEP Headquarters. You just couldn't see it on the blog... Except of course for those LEP members who have the amazing superpower of seeing through the screen. And if you do, please don't tell anyone that Super Squirrel always wears unicorn pajamas and that Super Sushi likes to work in her zebra print bathrobe. Thanks. After all, we have reputations to keep...

Anyway, we decided it was finally time to come out of hiding today to celebrate back to school with you in a very special way! Everyone who writes letters likes the back to school season, because it means that office supplies are on sale everywhere! Did you score a few pens, or some pretty notebooks maybe?

Now it's time for some letter writing supplies! And we have just what you need right here: LEP stationery sets! More specifically: unlined stationery sets. We actually have a big stack of unlined stationery sets waiting to be purchased by you. They're looking for new homes because they don't like the way we've been treating them lately. Please consider adopting a set or two! They're 50% off... And they all have names. When you buy a set during the back to school sale, you'll not only get a LEP membership card, you'll also get a card that states what your stationery set is named! Isn't that fantastic?! Yep, we think so too.

Unlined stationery

Every kit includes 25 sheets of writing paper that is fountain pen friendly. Each sheet is 5.25" x 8.25" or 135mm x 205mm (A5 size) and is thick enough for you to write on both sides if you wish to do so.

Every stationery order comes with a free membership card! And a free name card for your stationery! Yes, we are slightly crazy! (Just like our Australian friends...)

Available while supplies last!

ETA: THIS SALE HAS ENDED.

Super Sushi's turn!

Now that we know why Super Squirrel and some of our members penpal, let's see what Super Sushi has to say about this!

"Why do I penpal? To me, friendship is one of the most important things in life. And although I've been blessed with a good number of wonderful friends that I get to spend quality face to face time with on a regular basis, letter writing can take friendships to a whole new level. With a pen and paper in hand and all the time in the world to define my thoughts, it's enjoyable for me to be even more introspective and share my feelings with my friends.

I'm a very open person and I'm becoming less and less introverted as the years go by so I'm more at ease to be completely myself with others now, but this wasn't always the case. When I was younger, having penpals was a way for me to test the waters and meet other open-minded people who wouldn't judge me for who I was. Now that I'm more comfortable with myself, it's no longer a need I have, but meeting awesome people from all walks of life and from all parts of the world is still something that fascinates me! Discovering someone's life, habits, thoughts, feelings and dreams makes me feel close to them and opens my mind to new possibilities. Learning about new cultures or beliefs is pretty fun too!

Even though the friendships are really what I'm in it for, I have to admit that I've always loved stationery, so the opportunity to use pretty pens and papers, to send and receive mail art as well as to be creative is also fantastic. I have amazing penpals and I love every single one of them!"

- Julie, AKA Super Sushi

Super Squirrel Speaks!

Last week we asked our members a very simple question:

Why do you penpal?

We've heard from our members, now it's Super Squirrel's turn to share why she penpals!

"When non-snail mailers ask why I write letters, I often reply that I penpal because I like getting mail that isn't a bill or a flyer. That's my most superficial reason for penpalling and the easiest for people to understand if they don't write letters themselves.

The real reason I penpal is because of the connection, the friendship. I live in a city that very much makes me feel like a fish out of water. It's difficult finding people who like the things that I do, and like them the way (ie: to the same degree) that I do. But because of penpalling, I've been able to find people who see the world the same way I do. Penpalling allows me to connect with kindred spirits and bond over shared geek loves.

I also prefer writing as a method of communication. I'm a huge introvert, a total wallflower, and it's difficult for me to talk to people that I'm not 100% comfortable with. Words just refuse to come to me. But when it comes to letter writing, I can take the time to think about my words and how I want to convey my thoughts. It also saves me from saying something ridiculous that I will regret later, and from being interrupted and talked over by others. In other words, letter writing gives me a voice and a medium to be myself that I wouldn't otherwise have."

- Laura, AKA Super Squirrel

Why do you penpal?

We asked some of our members the following question, and this is what they had to say!

Why do you penpal?

"I pen pal for a few reasons. As a small child, my great grandparents wrote to me often and I'd draw pictures and write back to them. I loved getting my own mail as a child. After high school it was a way to keep in touch with friends, but after the social media sites appeared, many of us stopped writing. Sadly its how we've mostly lost touch, even if they're on my friends list, we don't talk much now. I still enjoy receiving mail that isn't a bill, or local store ad. That's how I discovered pen pal websites and eventually that all led me here to LEP. :) I also love getting to know people from far away that I probably wouldn't have met any other way. Now I have a stationery addiction and my husband says that I stalk the mailman, but that's part of the fun, right?? :)"

-Natasha, AKA Super Weasel (USA)

"I penpal for the same reason everyone does, don't they? It's an excuse to collect cute paper, stamps and stickers! Seriously though, it's interesting to be asked that, as I'm just starting out in penpalling again after an absence of over 20 years. When I was a kid, I loved receiving something that had been in the hands of another kid from the other side of the world - someone I may have had a lot in common with, or someone who was living a life very different to mine. I loved reading about these real people whose lives weren't in books or on TV. After years of interacting with people on the Internet, I've found myself becoming dissatisfied with how shallow and one-sided friendships can be now. These days making friends with people from all over the world is easy and commonplace. Sure, I can email someone and it arrives instantly, or I can read their Facebook to see what they've been up to, but the magic is gone. The ease and instant gratification seem to have lessened the meaning behind it. That's why I decided to take up penpalling again. I want to have friendships where I respect the person enough, to take the time to choose paper and pen, write out my letter by hand and physically take it to a post box. And it makes me feel honoured to think that someone else has done the same for me."

- Katie, AKA Apartment Cat (Australia) 

"I penpal for a few reasons:

a) to keep in touch with old friends who have moved elsewhere

b) to keep in touch with new friends that I've only met through penpalling

c) because I have an addiction to cute stationery

d) I get work delivered to home, so it's nice to get things that aren't work related. 

e) to be friends with people with similar interests and viewpoints"

- Rebecca, AKA SullenHearts (UK)

"I pen pal because I enjoy the friendships formed through snail mail. Sometimes it's easier to write down my thoughts and feelings on paper rather than speak of them verbally. I enjoy sharing a little piece of myself with someone else and I enjoy the thrill of getting a return letter and I enjoy sitting down with a cup of tea and reading of my friend's life and share with them their triumphs and struggles. I feel because I put forth the effort to write to someone, it makes me a better friend to those whom I see all the time."

- Tracey, AKA Unicorn Girl (USA)

"Why do I penpal? I find I can organize my thoughts best when I write. I can take my time to formulate sentences and find the right words. I like the slow depth of writing, the unhurried pace of contemplation. Also, I like building friendships with people I wouldn't otherwise meet -- people all over the world! And of course the heart-jumping excitement of finding a special letter just for me in the mailbox. Lord Byron really did say it best: "Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company." Yes, it's pretty special."

- Bonnie, AKA Bonstar (Canada)

"Why do I penpal? This is an interesting question. The truth is I have always loved receiving letters and postcards, when I was child I had some friends who only came to my village on holidays, the rest of the year we wrote each other long letters. I still remember how excited I was when the postman gave me my letters, it was a magical moment. On the other hand, I love stationery things, I become crazy when I visit other countries and I see the beautiful things that they have in their stationery shops (in Spain there isn’t many). For both reasons, and because I live now far from my family and boyfriend (I feel very alone sometimes), when I knew about Postcrossing first and then about LEP, I have decided to return to writing letters and meeting new people from over the world. See you soon!!"

- Verónica, AKA Sailor Ver (Spain)

"I like pen palling as I like to know about people. I am naturally nosey and I like to hear about what you have been up to and the stories you have to tell. I like to know that people do the same things as me, see things like I do and if not also get a whole different perspective on someone else's life. Writing is also very therapeutic. You can get completely lost reading and replying to a letter and being able to share things with people you know will appreciate it and that you will get the same back is very special."

- Emma, AKA Data Girl (UK)

"This is such a good question! And really, there are so many answers. When I was younger, I had a couple penpals here and there, and I loved getting letters in the mail! Then, as I got older, the travel bug hit me, and I am fascinated with new places in the world. I have "met" so many interesting new friends because of penpalling, and I consider these ladies to be friends just the same as the ones I can call on the phone. In fact, there is something more special about getting a letter in the mailbox than picking up the phone to make a call or send a text. I have met only one of my penpals, but I hope in the future that changes. Penpalling is important to me, and I hope to continue for many years to come!"

- Georgette, AKA The Valiant Android (USA) 

"I started penpalling when I was 7yo. I grew up on a farm so didn't have much interraction with other kids my age, plus I was super shy and not very good at making friends. My nanna thought writing letters might be a good way for me to establish friendships with other kids around my age. My first penpal was the same age and also lived on a farm. Her name is Karyn, and we are still friends. What I discovered pretty quickly is that writing is my preferred method of communication. It gives me time to think out and clarify what it is I want to say. It also makes me feel as though I'm being listened to, that someone is interested in what I have to say everytime they reply. I'm not being interrupted and I don't have to worry about saying something stupid. I can write about shared interests with people and establish long-lasting friends with those who understand and appreciate how I think, why I like what I like, and how I see the world. Actually, that's my favourite thing about penpalling: Finding kindred spirits. In "real life" they are hard to come by, but in the world of penpalling I've found many. Some of my longest, bestest friends EVER started out as penpals. As someone who is introverted and shy, I'd probably feel incredibly lonely if I didn't have all my wonderful pals."

- Sarah, AKA Mesmer (Australia)

"I started to pen pal when I was fifteen years old. Originally, I started so I could talk to others who were anime/manga fans. Since I lived in a small town that didn't have many anime fans and I wanted to be associated with others who shared my interests. As I got older I fell in love with receiving mail so I expanded outside anime pen pals. Which is good since like much of my original pals, I have mostly outgrown anime. I still pen pal because it's my preferred method of social interaction. I'm not a social butterfly, opting to spend time in small groups or at home rather than going out. So talking to others in letters makes me feel more social than I really am (lame right?) also it's nice to be able to occasionally vent in a letter without judgement."

- Reannon, AKA Sweet Trap (Canada)

"Ever since I can remember I’ve had a thing for stationery, postcards, paper, pens, stickers etc. Doesn’t every little girl? My daughters did but they outgrew it. I never did. I’ve also always loved the thought of getting mail. The anticipation of waiting for the mailman, hearing the mail truck on the next street over and the excitement of finding something delivered to me. Something fun that someone else somewhere around the world took the time to send me. But it’s not just about the goodies and finding things other than junk in the mailbox. I’ve always been a little awkward socially. I have a hard time making friends and just talking to people sometimes. I’m your typical wallflower. The girl sitting in the corner at the party talking to the person she came with and observing all that’s going on around her wishing she had the nerve to participate. Pen paling gives me the chance to participate. Even if “hiding” behind pen and paper. It gives me a way to connect with people in a way I don’t always feel comfortable with in real life. It gives me the chance to meet people I would probably never have come in contact with otherwise... or talked to if I did! It still may take a letter or two for me to “come out of my shell” so hopefully people I’ve written to so far haven’t found me too boring to start out and will give me a chance. So glad I found LEP and hope I can make some lasting friendships along the way!"

- Lynn, AKA Eagle Eyes (USA)

"I enjoy sending and receiving letters because I love to connect and get to know different people and places! There is nothing like coming home and finding a letter from a penpal on the door mat, opening it up (carefully obviously!) and getting a snapshot of people's lives and what they are sharing!"

- Kelly, AKA Miss Dotty (UK)

"I really enjoy getting to know people on a one-to-one basis, and you learn so much pretty quickly about what another person thinks and feels when you communicate through writing. Unlike with verbal communication, I can read and re-read my letters, and I can take my time to think through what I want to say before writing my responses, eliminating some of the awkwardness of the immediacy of conversation. I'm also a little shy and reserved when first meeting people in person, and meeting someone through writing actually eliminates most of the shyness. I do still find those intro letters pretty difficult to write -- kind of like creating a dating profile, only for pen friendship instead of romance. The connection with my penpals definitely makes my life better. Plus, there's such a rush of happiness when you find a letter from a treasured penpal in your mailbox!"

- Maria AKA Mail Wonder Woman (USA)

And you... Why do YOU penpal?!